The villa had never felt more fragile. Though Elena and Enzo had quelled the threat of betrayal within their ranks, the city outside pulsed with unrest. Every corner, every alley, whispered danger, and the distant hum of engines at night reminded them that enemies lurked everywhere. Trust was fragile, and power came with a price — one they could not afford to pay.

Elena stood in the private study, her fingers tracing the edge of the silver dagger Enzo had gifted her after the docks’ battle. Her eyes, dark and determined, reflected the flickering candlelight, but her mind was sharper than any blade. She had sensed it earlier in the...