Chapter 78
Carmen stood in the dimly lit study, her fingers tracing the edge of the map spread out on the desk. Every instinct screamed at her that Marco was walking into a trap. Rafael Moretti was too cunning to be caught off guard, too calculating to leave his stronghold vulnerable.
Luca stood across from her, his arms crossed and his face grim. “He’s not going to listen, Carmen. You know how he gets when he’s like this.”
“I know,” Carmen said quietly. “That’s why we have to act now.”
She turned to Sergio Montini, who sat in a nearby chair, his cane resting against his leg. “I need you to gather as many reinforcements as you can. Quietly. We don’t want Rafael catching wind of this.”
Sergio raised an eyebrow. “You’re planning a backup strike?”
“No,” Carmen replied. “I’m planning to save my husband if things go wrong.”
The next morning, Marco’s strike team departed the estate with precision and purpose. Carmen watched from the courtyard, her heart heavy as the cars disappeared down the long, winding drive. She stood tall, her expression calm, but Luca, standing beside her, saw the tension in her posture.
“He’ll be okay,” Luca said.
Carmen turned to him, her voice steady. “I’m not waiting to find out. Let’s move.”
***
Rafael Moretti’s estate loomed on the Sicilian coastline, a fortress perched atop jagged cliffs. Marco’s team moved through the dense forest surrounding the compound, their steps silent and their weapons at the ready.
“Stay sharp,” Marco said, his voice low as they approached the outer perimeter. “This ends today.”
The first signs of trouble came quickly. As Marco’s men breached the gates, alarms blared through the compound. The supposedly quiet stronghold erupted with activity as guards poured out, weapons drawn and ready.
“It’s a trap!” Luca’s voice crackled over the radio.
Marco’s jaw clenched as bullets flew, the quiet infiltration turning into a full-blown firefight. His men scrambled for cover, returning fire as Rafael’s forces closed in.
“We’ve been set up!” one of Marco’s men shouted, ducking behind a stone wall.
Marco gritted his teeth, firing back at the advancing guards. “Hold your ground! We’re not going down without a fight.”
