The villa hummed with a tense calm. The Shadow was defeated, his network shattered, but the underworld never truly rested. Elena moved through the halls, heels clicking softly against polished marble, eyes sharp and calculating. Every move they had made in the past weeks had been part of a single purpose: not just survival, but dominance.

Enzo appeared behind her, dark eyes scanning the room. His presence alone was grounding, a constant reminder that no matter the chaos outside, they had each other. “You’re thinking too much,” he murmured, brushing a hand along her shoulder.

“I’m not thinking,” Elena replied, voice steady. “I’m planning. Every alliance, every territory, every potential...