Chapter 43
The faint glow of dawn filtered through the thick clouds over Emilio Bianchi’s encampment, casting a gray light on the men gathered in a makeshift war room. Tents and supply crates littered the muddy ground, and armed mercenaries moved like shadows, checking their weapons and pacing in anticipation. Emilio stood at the center of it all, a towering man with graying hair and cruel, calculating eyes. His scarred face was split into a grim smile as he listened to Arianna outline the next phase of her plan.
“The Venettis are fractured,” Arianna said, pacing in front of a large table covered in maps. “Marco is distracted, and his forces are disorganized. We hit them where it hurts—weak outposts, supply chains, and men who are loyal but under-resourced.”
Emilio’s sharp gaze flickered to the map. “You’re certain their defenses are weak in these areas?”
“I’ve seen the reports,” Arianna replied confidently. “Marco’s spread too thin. Carmen’s the one holding the pieces together now, but that only creates more opportunities for us. His men are uneasy. Traditional allies don’t like taking orders from her. Use that.”
A low chuckle rumbled from Emilio’s throat. “A man like Marco, allowing a woman to fight his battles for him—it’s pathetic.”
Arianna’s lips curled into a smirk. “Which is why it won’t last. Carmen’s authority won’t go unchallenged for long. Marco’s supporters will start looking for someone to blame. The cracks will widen, and when they do, we’ll break through.”
Emilio leaned closer over the map, pointing to the eastern edge of Venetti territory. “We’ll start here. A series of quick strikes—cut off their resources, bleed them dry. We hit them hard and disappear before they can respond.”
“Perfect,” Arianna murmured, her eyes glittering. “By the time they realize what’s happening, they’ll be fighting ghosts.”
Emilio straightened, his grin widening as he turned to his second-in-command. “Prepare the men. We move by nightfall.”
Arianna stood back as the room buzzed with movement, Emilio barking orders and his men scrambling to prepare. She watched them with satisfaction, the pieces of her plan falling neatly into place. Marco Venetti had doubted her, trusted Carmen instead, and now he would pay the price.
She turned toward the exit, her smile sharpening as she whispered to herself, “Let’s see how long you can hold it together, Marco.”
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Back at the Venetti estate, the great hall was alive with activity, but the tension was unmistakable. Men shuffled in and out of the war room with grim faces, weapons being inspected and orders whispered. The losses were mounting. In the last two nights alone, two Venetti outposts had been hit, their supplies destroyed and loyal men killed or captured.
Marco paced near the far end of the room, his fists clenching at his sides as Sergio Montini and Luca stood at a large table, reviewing reports of the latest attacks.
“They’re coordinated,” Sergio said, frowning as he tapped the map with a gloved finger. “These aren’t random strikes. Whoever’s leading them knows exactly where to hit us.”
“It’s Arianna,” Luca said quietly, his voice edged with frustration. “She’s not acting alone. She’s got resources—mercenaries.”
“And she’s moving faster than we are,” Sergio added. “If we don’t tighten our defenses, she’ll bleed us dry before we can retaliate.”
Marco pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration etched across his face. “We’ll regroup,” he muttered. “We just need time to get our forces back in line.”
“We don’t have time.”
Carmen’s voice rang clearly through the room as she stepped inside, her chin lifted, her gaze sharp. Every head turned toward her, though some of Marco’s older, more traditional allies exchanged wary glances.
She walked straight to the table, placing her hands flat on the surface. “Sergio’s right. Arianna’s strikes are precise, which means someone inside her camp is feeding her intel. We need to cut her off and rebuild our position.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” one of Marco’s advisors, Pietro, asked, his tone skeptical. “We’re losing men faster than we can replace them. We don’t even know where she’s getting her resources.”
Carmen didn’t hesitate. “We focus on defense first. She’s targeting outposts and supplies because they’re easy to pick off. We reinforce the eastern territories—Sergio’s men can help.”
Sergio nodded. “I’ve got men who can hold those lines.”
Carmen continued, her voice unwavering. “Next, we send a clear message. Arianna wants chaos, but the neutral families don’t. They don’t want a war. We bring them to our side—promise protection and stability. If we stand together, Arianna’s strikes will lose their momentum.”
“Neutral families?” Pietro sneered. “And who will negotiate that? You?”
Carmen’s gaze snapped to him, her voice like steel. “Yes. I will.”
The room fell silent, every pair of eyes locked on her. Pietro’s lip curled in disdain, but he said nothing further.
“She’s right,” Luca interjected, stepping forward to stand beside Carmen. “The men need direction, and Carmen’s giving it to them.”
Marco had remained silent through it all, standing back as he watched Carmen take control of the room. She looked fierce, confident—so much like the woman he had fallen for all those years ago. But now, she was different. Stronger. Hardened. And for the first time in weeks, he saw her as more than just someone trying to prove her innocence.
She was leading them.
Marco finally stepped forward, his voice carrying across the room. “Carmen’s plan holds. Sergio, take your men to the eastern territories. Luca, I want every resource we have on Arianna—find out where she’s hiding and who she’s working with. No more surprises.”
The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement as Sergio nodded and Luca turned to carry out the orders. The men filed out one by one, leaving only Carmen and Marco standing near the table.
Carmen exhaled softly, straightening as she turned toward him. “It’s a start,” she said quietly.
Marco studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “You’re taking a big risk,” he said finally. “Putting yourself out there like this.”
She met his gaze, her eyes hard. “Someone has to. You’re losing their trust, Marco. If you want to lead, you have to start fighting for them again.”
Marco flinched slightly, her words hitting too close. “And what about you?”
“What about me?”
“You’ve been winning allies,” Marco said, stepping closer. “Gaining influence. What happens when they start listening to you instead of me?”
Carmen’s brow furrowed, and her voice sharpened. “I don’t want your empire, Marco. I want to save it. I want to save what’s left of this family before Arianna tears it apart.”
Marco nodded slowly, though his expression remained tense. “And after that?”
Carmen held his gaze, unflinching. “After that, we’ll see if you’ve earned my trust back.”
The words hung between them like a challenge, but Marco didn’t argue. He couldn’t. Carmen turned and walked away, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor as she disappeared through the doors.
Marco stayed behind, his chest heavy with the weight of everything unsaid. Carmen had taken charge, and her strength was undeniable. But deep down, Marco couldn’t ignore the unease in his gut.
The balance of power was shifting, and for the first time in his life, Marco Venetti didn’t know where he stood.
