Chapter 86
The Venetti estate was a whirlwind of activity as Marco moved through the halls, issuing orders and listening to reports from his men. The battle against Rafael was over, but the scars of war lingered. Families who had stood by the Venettis were grieving their losses, and tensions simmered beneath the surface of even the most loyal allies.
“Enzo,” Marco said, addressing one of his trusted men, “I need a full report on our territories by the end of the day. Prioritize the regions hit hardest during the war.”
“Yes, boss,” Enzo replied, bowing slightly before leaving the room.
Marco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His empire, once strong and unyielding, now felt fragile. He couldn’t shake the weight of responsibility pressing on his chest.
As he turned to leave the study, he found Carmen standing in the doorway. She looked poised, her expression calm but thoughtful.
“You’re working too hard,” she said softly.
Marco gave her a small smile. “Comes with the territory.”
Carmen stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. “You don’t have to do it alone, Marco. Let me help.”
“You already are,” Marco replied.
“Not enough,” Carmen said, her voice firm. “We need more than brute strength to rebuild. We need alliances, trade, trust. Let me handle that side of things.”
Marco hesitated. For years, he had been the one to shoulder the burden, the one to make the hard decisions. But as he looked at Carmen, he saw her strength, her intelligence, and the calm resolve that had carried them through the worst of it.
“Alright,” Marco said finally. “But you tell me if you need anything. We do this together.”
Carmen smiled, relief softening her features. “Together.”
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The next day, Carmen sat in the main dining room with a group of smaller family heads and neutral faction leaders. The room was quiet but tense as she addressed them.
“Rafael Moretti’s defeat was only the beginning,” Carmen said, her voice steady. “The Consortium’s chaos left gaps in power and security. That’s where we come in.”
One of the leaders, a man with graying hair and sharp eyes, frowned. “And why should we trust the Venettis? Your war brought destruction to all of us.”
Carmen didn’t flinch. “Because we’re not just offering protection—we’re offering stability. Join us, and you’ll have a seat at the table. We’ll work together to ensure your territories are secure and your businesses thrive.”
Another leader leaned forward. “And what do you expect in return?”
“Loyalty,” Carmen replied simply. “We’ve seen what happens when division takes root. But united, we can rebuild stronger than ever.”
There was a moment of silence before the graying man nodded slowly. “You’ve got my attention. Let’s talk terms.”
Carmen allowed herself a small smile, feeling a flicker of hope.
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That evening, Carmen found Marco on the terrace, overlooking the estate’s gardens. The moon cast a soft glow over the landscape, and the air was cool and still.
“How did it go?” Marco asked as she joined him.
“We’ve got their interest,” Carmen said. “It’s a start.”
Marco wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “I knew you’d handle it.”
Carmen rested her head against his shoulder, her voice quiet. “Do you think we’ll ever feel normal again? Like we’re not always fighting to hold everything together?”
Marco tilted his head down to kiss her temple. “I don’t know. But I do know one thing—we wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.”
Carmen looked up at him, her eyes glistening. “We wouldn’t have gotten this far without each other.”
Marco cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. “I’m proud of you, Carmen. You’ve shown me what real strength looks like. And I promise, I’ll never take that for granted again.”
Her lips curved into a soft smile. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
As their lips met in a tender kiss, the world around them seemed to fade away. For a moment, there was no war, no tension, no loss—just the love that had carried them through the darkness.
Together, they stood on the terrace, ready to face whatever challenges the future held, as long as they had each other.
