Chapter 9

• The heavy wooden door creaked open, and Dante Mancini strode into the living room, his presence commanding and imposing. Ricco followed closely behind, his eyes scanning the room with a mix of caution and anticipation. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the faint sound of Luca’s labored breathing filled the air.
• Marco stood off to the side, flanked by two of his men, who were holding Luca roughly by the arms. Blood trickled down Luca’s face from a fresh cut above his brow, his shirt torn and stained. The sight of him, battered yet unbroken, ignited a fire in Dante’s chest.
• “Look who we have here,” Dante said, a cold smile creeping across his lips as he approached. “Luca, my dear stepbrother. You’ve made quite the mess for yourself, haven’t you?”