Chapter 36- Weakness
Dante “Explain to me.” I kept my voice dangerously soft as I studied the report in front of me, “how they knew exactly when to hit the Valentini
Marco shifted slightly, the only sign of discomfort he’d allow himself to show. We sat in my private office at the Romano tower, city lights casting shadows through bulletproof glass as night fell.
“The timing was too perfect,” he said finally. “They knew when security rotations changed, when shipments were most vulnerable. Internal knowledge.”
“A mole.” The word tasted bitter. “In which family?”
“Boch, possibly.” He met my eyes steadily. “The attacks are too coordinated, too precise. They know Valentini operations, yes, but they also knew exactly how to counter our protection measures.”
I stood, moving to the window with measured steps. The cry spread below like a chess board pieces moving in patterns only visible to those who knew where to look
“List our pets
Marco pulled out his tablet, ever efficient. “Among the Valentinis three mid–level managers with access to shipping schedules. Two security coordinators who recently requested traders. The new accountant who—”
“Higher.” I turned back to face him “Someone with enough authority to access both families information. Someone who could coordinate this level of sabotage”
Understanding downed in his eyes. “You think it’s someone in the inner circle.”
“I think.” I chose my words carefully, that whoever is behind this knows too much about both families weaknesses. Our defensive protocols. Our business operations. My jaw clenched. “Our personal lives.”
The avasination attempt,” Marco said e
quietly,
“Was perfectly timed.” My hands curled into fists at the memory. They knew our security patent, our escape routes. Knew exactly where to find
“Sir..” Marco hesitated, which was unusual enough to make me focus on him fully. There’s something else you should consider.” “Speak freely.”
“The attacks they’re not just targeting business operations. They’re psychological Personal” He strolled through his cables. “The Korean deal was Lucia’s project. The dock workers were loyal to her father. Even the timing of the warehouse Fire-
“When she was distracted on the hospital.” Ice formed in my stomach as the pattern emerged. “They’re not just attacking the families. They’re targeting her specifically
“Testing your weakness. Marco’s voice was carefully neutral “Or perhaps creating one.
I moved back to my desk, needing the solid mahogany under my palms to ground me. I don’t have weaknesses.”
“With respect, sir.. Marco met my eyes with the directness of long service. “We both know that’s no longer trie
The words hung between us, heavy with implications I wasn’t ready to face. Because he was right- somewhere between the contract and the chaos. between the bullets and the blood, Lucia had become more than just a political alliance.
She’d become my weakness
And someone knew
“Increase her security detail,” I ordered, already reaching for my phone. “Full protection protocols, no exceptions”
“She won’t like that.”
I don’t care what she likes.” But even I heard the lie in my voice. “I care about keeping her alive.”
“And if she suspects why!” Marco’s question carried weight. “If she realizes these attacks are centered on her?
‘She’s too focused on her family right now.” I pulled up the hospital security feeds, watching Lucia move between her father’s and brother’s rooms with quiet efficiency. Let her think this is just about the Valentini empre.“”
“Lying to your wife, sir?” A hint of disapproval crept into Marco’s tone. “Is that wisel
“She’s not=“I started automatically, then upped Because the denial felt hollow now. Coutract or not, business arrangement or not. Lucia had become something I wasn’t ready to name,
“The mole,” I said instead, redirecting “I want a complete analysis of everyone with access to both familles operations. Background checks, financial records, personal commections–everything.”
“Including family members”
“Everyone.” I met his eyes steadily. “No exceptions”
He nodded, understanding the weight of the order. “And in the meantine”
Chapter 36 Weakness
“We watch. We wait.” I turned back to the window, the city’s lights blurring as I focused on reflections. “Whoever this is, they’re playing a long game. Testing reactions probing defenses.”
“Creating chaos to see how we respond,” Marco finished. “Using our protective instincts against us.”
“Yes.” I smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “Which means we give them exactly what they expect. Increase security, show concem, react
predictably…
“While we hunt them from the shadows.” Understanding dawned in his eyes. “Make them think their plan is working.”
Teople get careless when they think they’re winning,” I picked up a chess piece from my desk – the black queen, elegant and lethal. “They make mistakes. Reveal themselves.”
“And when they do!”
My fingers tightened on the piece until I felt the carved edges bite into my palm. “Then they learn something.”
Marco stood, recognizing dismissal in my tone. But he posed at the door. “Sir… about Lucia….”
“What shout her!”
“Just..” He chose his words carefully. Sometimes acknowledging a weakness is the first step to turning into strength.”
The door closed behind him before I could respond. I stared at the chess piece in my hand, thinking about weaknesses and strengths and the dangerous space between
Because he was right – Lucin had become my weakness.”
- s. The one soft spot in my carefully constructed armor. The thing my enemies could use to hurt me most..
My phone buzzed–Lucia’s Exce lighting up the screen
“The doctors think Papa can be released tomorrow,” she und without preamble. “But the Korean investors want another meeting first.”
Til handle the investors.” I kept my voice steady despite how her presence, even through the phone, made my pulse quicken. “You focus on your
father.”
*Dunte..” She hesitated, and I could picture her bating her lower lip the way she did when choosing words carefully. “Thank you. For everything these past few days.”
“You don’t need to thank me “You’re in hovered on my tongue, but I swallowed it back. “Just stay safe.”
“Always so protective.” But there was warmth in her voice that hadn’t been there before. “I can take care of myself, you know.”
“I know.” I thought of the mole, of targeted attacks, of how seeing her in danger made my carefully constructed control crack. But you dont have
Suence serriched for a moment, heavy with everything we weren’t saying
I should check on Lea,” she said finally.
“Lucia” Her name came out rougher than intended.
“I love you” pressed against my teeth, demanding release. But I couldn’t say it Not yet. Not with unknown enemies watching waiting to use any weakness against us.
“Nothing. “I said instead “Good night, rara.
Iset the phone down carefully, staring at the chess piece ill clutched in my other hand. The black queen. Beautiful Powerful. Essential, Like her.
“Sir!” Taylor appeared in the doorway. The new security protocols are in place. And we’ve identified several potential information leaks” “Good” I set the queen hack on my desk, rebuilding walls of control. “Keep watching. Keep waiting. When our mole makes their move…” “We’ll be ready.”
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