Chapter 61
The Venetti estate was quiet in the early morning hours, but the tranquility shattered as Luca stormed into Marco’s office, his face etched with urgency.
“They hit us,” Luca said without preamble, throwing a folder onto Marco’s desk.
Marco frowned, his brow furrowing as he opened the folder. Photos of smoldering shipping containers, destroyed equipment, and bloodstained docks filled the pages.
“What happened?” Marco demanded, his voice tight.
“They raided the port,” Luca replied. “A coordinated attack—mercenaries armed to the teeth. They didn’t just hit the shipments; they crippled the entire operation. It’s a total loss.”
Marco’s grip tightened on the folder as he scanned the damage. “How many men did we lose?”
“Five dead,” Luca said grimly. “Another eight injured. And we lost millions in product and equipment.”
Marco slammed the folder shut, the weight of the attack pressing down on him. “This wasn’t random.”
“No,” Luca agreed. “This was the Consortium. Their fingerprints are all over it.”
Marco’s jaw clenched, anger simmering just below the surface. “They’re escalating. Trying to send a message.”
Carmen appeared in the doorway, her expression sharp as she took in the scene. “What’s going on?”
Marco looked up, his frustration evident. “The port was attacked. The Consortium’s making their move.”
Carmen stepped closer, her gaze flicking to the folder on the desk. “How bad is it?”
“Bad,” Luca said. “They knew exactly where to hit us. They’ve cut off a major part of our supply chain.”
Carmen’s lips pressed into a thin line as she processed the information. “They’re not just sending a message. They’re testing us. Seeing how we’ll respond.”
“And how do we respond?” Marco asked, his tone sharp.
Carmen met his gaze, her voice steady. “We don’t react. Not yet. If we move impulsively, we’ll be playing right into their hands.”
Marco exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “So we just sit back and let them hit us again?”
“No,” Carmen said firmly. “But we need to be smart about this. We need to understand their strategy, their next move. If we’re going to stop them, we have to think like them.”
***
Later that evening, Marco stood on the balcony overlooking the estate’s courtyard. The weight of the day hung heavily on him, his mind racing with questions and doubts. The Consortium was a threat unlike any he had faced before, and for the first time in a long time, he felt uncertain.
The sound of footsteps drew his attention, and he turned to see Carmen approaching. She stopped beside him, her expression calm but serious.
“You’re brooding,” she said softly.
Marco chuckled bitterly. “Maybe I have a reason to.”
Carmen crossed her arms, leaning against the railing. “This isn’t just about the port, is it?”
Marco hesitated before speaking. “I feel like I’m losing control. The men are restless, the attacks are escalating, and I don’t have the answers.”
“You don’t have to have all the answers,” Carmen said gently.
Marco glanced at her, his brow furrowing. “That’s not how this works.”
“It can be,” Carmen said, her voice steady. “If you let it.”
Marco looked away, his hands gripping the railing. “You think I don’t know I’ve made mistakes? That I haven’t pushed people away? I’ve been trying to hold everything together, but it feels like the harder I try, the more it slips through my fingers.”
Carmen placed a hand on his arm, her touch grounding. “Then stop trying to do it alone.”
Marco turned to her, his expression raw. “I don’t know how.”
“You start by trusting me,” Carmen said softly. “Not just as your wife, but as your partner.”
Marco searched her face, the vulnerability in his eyes cutting through his usual defenses. “You’d still stand with me? After everything?”
Carmen smiled faintly. “Marco, we’ve been through too much for me to walk away now. But if we’re going to face this, it has to be together. No more division. No more doubts.”
For a moment, Marco said nothing, the weight of her words sinking in. Then he nodded, his voice low but resolute. “You’re right. I can’t do this without you. And I don’t want to.”
Carmen’s smile grew, and for the first time in weeks, Marco felt a flicker of hope.
He reached for her hand, his grip firm but gentle. “I need you, Carmen. Not just by my side, but as my equal. Will you stand with me?”
Carmen squeezed his hand, her voice filled with quiet strength. “Always.”
The tension between them began to ease, replaced by a shared resolve. The battle against the Consortium was just beginning, but for the first time, they were facing it together.
As the night deepened around them, Marco and Carmen stood side by side, ready to take on whatever came next. Together, they were stronger. And together, they would fight for their family, their empire, and their future.
