Chapter 46
The war room buzzed with tense energy as Carmen leaned over the table, pointing to the map that sprawled across its surface. The blueprint of the Venetti central shipping hub was marked with faint lines of red—fake weak spots she’d carefully chosen to look enticing to Arianna’s forces. Around her, Marco’s men stood in a loose half-circle, their faces marked with varying degrees of skepticism.
“This is where they’ll focus their attack,” Carmen said firmly, tapping her finger on the north side of the map. “It looks vulnerable, but it’s a trap. We’ll funnel them in and close the exits before they realize what’s happening.”
Pietro—one of Marco’s senior men—let out a scoff, crossing his arms over his chest. “You really think Emilio Bianchi is stupid enough to walk into this?”
Carmen lifted her gaze to him, her expression steady. “I think Emilio is smart enough to take what looks like an easy win. Arianna’s desperate for a show of strength, and that makes her reckless. If we’re precise, we can wipe out half her forces in one night.”
The murmurs of discontent rippled through the room again, quieter this time. Pietro shook his head, his lip curling in disdain. “And who’s running this operation? You?”
Carmen’s spine stiffened. “Yes.”
Pietro’s laughter was bitter, the sound grating. “I don’t answer to her.” He turned to Marco, his voice sharp. “Is this really what we’ve come to? Taking orders from her? From Montini’s allies? Marco, this is madness.”
Marco, who had been silent through most of the meeting, finally stepped forward. The room fell quiet instantly, all eyes turning to him. He met Pietro’s gaze coldly, the flicker of command returning to his voice.
“You’ll take orders from whoever has the best plan,” Marco said sharply, his tone brooking no argument. “And right now, that’s Carmen.”
Pietro’s expression faltered, his defiance shrinking under Marco’s icy stare. “But—”
“I’m done hearing excuses,” Marco continued, his voice low but lethal. “You don’t like it? Then leave. Walk out that door, and don’t bother coming back.”
The challenge hung in the air like smoke, heavy and unrelenting. Pietro swallowed hard, glancing at the others in the room, but no one moved. Marco’s gaze swept across his men, daring them to argue, but silence reigned.
Finally, Pietro dropped his arms, muttering, “Fine.”
Carmen’s gaze remained locked on Marco, surprised but unwilling to show it. He had made his decision—and he had done it publicly. That counted for something.
Marco turned to face the rest of the men, his voice carrying. “We execute Carmen’s plan exactly as she’s laid it out. Anyone who deviates from the strategy will answer to me. Understood?”
A chorus of murmured “Yes, boss” followed, though the tension lingered in the air like an unspoken threat. Marco stepped back slightly, his gaze flicking toward Carmen. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and an unspoken understanding passed between them.
This was her battle to lead. But it was his show of support that made it possible.
________________
Night had fallen, and preparations for the ambush were nearly complete. The shipping hub was alive with activity—men moving equipment into position, weapons being checked, and whispered orders being passed through the ranks. The tension was palpable, each person bracing for the bloodshed to come.
Carmen stood alone near the edge of the loading docks, her hands tucked into the pockets of her coat as she stared out at the darkened water. The faint hum of the city beyond barely reached them, drowned by the distant sound of waves lapping against the pier.
She didn’t flinch when Marco approached, though she heard his footsteps long before he stopped beside her. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the quiet between them stretching like a fragile thread.
“You handled the room well today,” Marco said finally, his voice low.
Carmen didn’t look at him. “I shouldn’t have had to.”
Marco sighed, running a hand through his hair. “They’re not used to this—taking orders from someone who isn’t me.”
“Not someone,” Carmen corrected softly. “Me.”
Marco didn’t argue, though his jaw tightened. “They’ll get over it.”
“And what about you?” she asked, finally turning to look at him. “Will you?”
Marco frowned, confused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Carmen’s gaze searched his face, her voice quieter now. “You’ve always let your pride blind you, Marco. To Arianna. To me. To the people who matter most.”
Marco swallowed hard, his chest tightening. “I know I’ve made mistakes.”
Carmen nodded slightly, the faintest ghost of a smile tugging at her lips, though it was tinged with sadness. “I know you’re trying. But the question is… will it be enough?”
Marco stared at her, shaken by the weight of her words. “Carmen…”
She looked away, her gaze drifting back toward the water. “I still love you, Marco. I think I always will. But love isn’t enough to fix this—not on its own.”
Marco’s breath caught at her confession, the words hitting him harder than he expected. “Then what will fix it?”
Carmen turned back to face him, her eyes clear and unyielding. “You have to prove that you’ve changed. Not just to me, but to everyone. To the men who doubt you. To our child. You need to be better than the man Arianna made you into.”
Marco nodded slowly, his voice rough but steady. “I will.”
Carmen didn’t answer right away. She simply studied him, as though trying to decide whether to believe him. Finally, she said softly, “We’ll see.”
They stood in silence for a long moment, the sound of the waves filling the space between them. Despite everything—despite the hurt and the broken trust—there was something fragile and unspoken that lingered between them.
A sliver of hope.
“Tomorrow,” Marco said, breaking the quiet, “everything changes.”
Carmen nodded, her gaze fixed on the dark horizon. “Let’s hope so.”
Marco watched her for a moment longer before turning and walking away, leaving her alone once again. Carmen stayed where she was, her hands still tucked into her coat pockets, her mind turning over everything that had been said—and everything that hadn’t.
Tomorrow, the battle would come.
And for better or worse, it would decide everything.
