Chapter 52
The smoke from the burning compound swirled into the night sky, casting an eerie orange glow over the forest. Marco and Carmen stood just outside the ruins, their breaths ragged and their bodies covered in soot and grime. Around them, their men moved quickly, securing the area and tending to the wounded.
Carmen leaned against a crate, her hand resting lightly on her stomach as she tried to catch her breath. Marco stood a few feet away, his gun still in hand, his eyes fixed on the smoldering wreckage.
“She’s dead,” Carmen said finally, her voice quiet but certain.
Marco didn’t look at her. “We don’t know that for sure.”
Carmen frowned, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “She triggered the explosives herself, Marco. No one could have survived that.”
Marco’s grip on his gun tightened, his jaw clenching. “Arianna always had a way of slipping through the cracks. Until we see a body, I’m not taking any chances.”
Carmen sighed, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she let her gaze drift to the ruins, the heat from the fire still radiating against her skin. “Her last words,” she murmured. “What do you think she meant?”
Marco finally turned to her, his brow furrowed. “About someone waiting in the shadows?”
Carmen nodded, her expression troubled.
Marco exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “It could be a bluff. Or it could mean exactly what it sounded like—she wasn’t working alone.”
“Then we’ve only won half the battle,” Carmen said softly.
Marco stepped closer, his voice firm but edged with weariness. “We’ve won enough for tonight.”
Carmen glanced up at him, her eyes searching his face. “Have we?”
For a moment, the weight of their victory felt heavier than the fight itself. They had taken down Arianna’s fortress, scattered her forces, and sent a clear message to anyone who stood against them. But at what cost?
“She’s gone,” Marco said after a long pause, his voice softening. “That’s enough for now.”
Carmen nodded slowly, though the unease in her chest didn’t fade. “We need to get back. There’s too much to rebuild.”
Marco reached out, his hand brushing against hers. “We’ll rebuild together.”
Carmen didn’t pull away, though her grip was light. “We have to be better, Marco. For this family. For the future.”
He nodded, his eyes steady. “We will be.”
The Venetti estate was quiet when they returned, the tension of the battle giving way to exhaustion. Carmen barely made it through the front doors before the first sharp pang struck her.
She stopped in her tracks, her hand flying to her stomach as a gasp escaped her lips.
Marco was beside her in an instant, his face etched with concern. “Carmen?”
She gripped his arm tightly, her eyes wide. “It’s the baby.”
Marco’s heart pounded as he shouted for help, his voice echoing through the halls. Within moments, the staff was rushing to her side, guiding her to the bedroom as Marco followed closely, his fear etched into every line of his face.
“Breathe,” he said, his voice tight but steady. “Just breathe.”
Carmen shot him a look, though there was a faint flicker of humor in her eyes despite the pain. “Easier said than done.”
The hours that followed were a blur of urgency and anticipation. Carmen gripped the bedframe tightly, her face pale but determined as the contractions came harder and faster. Marco stayed by her side, his hand firmly clasped in hers, his own tension melting into quiet awe as he watched her fight through every moment.
“You’re doing amazing,” he murmured, brushing damp strands of hair from her face.
Carmen shot him another look, this one sharper. “Don’t patronize me, Marco.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips despite the gravity of the moment. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the cries of a newborn filled the room. Carmen collapsed back against the pillows, tears slipping down her cheeks as the midwife placed the baby in her arms.
“It’s a boy,” the midwife said softly, her own smile warm and tired.
Carmen looked down at the tiny, squirming bundle in her arms, her heart swelling with a love so fierce it took her breath away. She glanced up at Marco, who stood frozen, his eyes wide and his expression unreadable.
“Marco,” Carmen said gently, holding the baby toward him.
He hesitated for only a moment before taking the child into his arms, cradling him as though he might break. The baby’s cries softened, his tiny fist gripping Marco’s finger as Marco stared down at him, his chest tight with emotion.
“Hey, little guy,” Marco murmured, his voice shaking slightly. “It’s me. Your dad.”
Carmen watched him, her exhaustion giving way to a soft smile. “He’s perfect.”
Marco nodded, his eyes never leaving the baby’s face. “He is.”
The weight of everything—Arianna, the war, the empire—faded for a moment as Marco looked at his son. This tiny, fragile life was their future. Their hope.
Marco turned to Carmen, his voice quiet but resolute. “I promise you, Carmen. I’ll build a safer world for him. For us.”
Carmen’s smile grew, though tears shimmered in her eyes. “We’ll do it together.”
Her voice was soft but strong as she reached out, her hand resting lightly on Marco’s arm. “We’re stronger together.”
Marco nodded, his heart full as he held his family close.
For the first time in years, he felt something he hadn’t dared to hope for.
A new beginning.
