Ethan and I stepped out of the hospital into the cold, gray morning. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds, and the air felt heavy, as though it was carrying the weight of everything that had happened. I pulled my coat tighter around me, trying to shield myself from the chill, but it wasn't the cold outside that was making me shiver—it was the storm brewing within me.
As we walked toward the car, Ethan's phone buzzed, cutting through the quiet. He glanced down at the screen, his brow furrowing. "It's Lucas."
A knot of anxiety tightened in my chest. I didn't trust Lucas Bennett completely, but he was the link to Ferraro, and we needed him to play his part if we had any hope of taking down Castellano. I watched as Ethan answered the call, his voice low.
"What's the update?"
I couldn't hear Lucas's response, but I saw the way Ethan's expression darkened. Whatever Lucas was saying, it wasn't good news. My heart skipped a beat as I waited, my stomach twisting with nerves.
"Yeah. We'll be there," Ethan said, before hanging up and turning to me. His face was set in a grim mask, and I braced myself for what was coming.
"What did he say?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"There's been a development," Ethan replied, his voice tense. "Ferraro wants another meeting. Tonight."
"Tonight?" I repeated, my pulse quickening. "Why? We just met with him."
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, clearly as frustrated as I was. "Apparently, Ferraro has new information about Castellano's next move. Something big."
I frowned, suspicion gnawing at me. "Do you believe him?"
"I don't know," Ethan admitted, his voice laced with uncertainty. "But we don't have much of a choice. If Castellano's planning something, we need to know what it is. And Ferraro's the only one who can give us that information."
I hated how true his words were. We were trapped in a dangerous game, and the pieces were shifting faster than we could keep up. Ferraro had already proven himself to be slippery, always keeping one foot in both worlds—ours and Castellano's. We couldn't trust him, but we couldn't afford to ignore him, either.
"Where's the meeting?" I asked, my heart sinking at the thought of walking back into another trap.
"An old casino on the outskirts of town," Ethan replied. "Lucas says it's neutral ground, but we'll be going in prepared."
Prepared. The word did little to ease the growing sense of dread inside me. Neutral ground didn't mean safe ground, and I knew better than to expect things to go smoothly. We were about to meet with one of Castellano's top men in the kind of place where deals went south, bullets flew, and promises were broken. And yet, we didn't have a choice.
I glanced back toward the hospital, where William lay recovering, still too weak to be part of this. The thought of leaving him behind, vulnerable and out of the loop, made my stomach twist. But he was in no condition to come with us, and I had to accept that—for now.
"We need to keep William informed," I said, my voice tight. "He'll want to know what's happening."
Ethan nodded, pulling out his phone to send a quick text. "I'll update him. But we can't wait around for his approval. Ferraro wants to move quickly, and so do we."
I swallowed hard, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
We drove in silence for most of the ride. My mind was racing, replaying everything that had led us to this moment. Castellano. Ferraro. My father's empire. It felt like I was constantly walking through quicksand—every step pulling me deeper into the darkness, every decision fraught with danger.
Ethan was focused, his eyes scanning the road ahead, but I could feel the tension radiating off him. He was always calm, always steady, but even he seemed to be bracing himself for what was to come.
The casino loomed ahead as we pulled up—a dilapidated building with neon signs flickering dimly, the ghost of its former glory still visible in the chipped paint and cracked windows. The parking lot was mostly empty, save for a few scattered cars and the unmistakable shadow of a man standing near the entrance, waiting.
Lucas Bennett.
He nodded in our direction as we approached, his expression unreadable. "Ferraro's already inside," he said, his voice low. "You ready?"
I wasn't. But that didn't matter.
"Let's go," Ethan said, his tone curt. He gestured for me to stay close as we made our way into the casino, the old, rusted door creaking loudly as it opened.
The inside of the casino was just as desolate as the outside—rows of old slot machines covered in dust, tables abandoned, the smell of stale smoke lingering in the air. The lights overhead flickered dimly, casting long shadows across the room, and the quiet hum of machines created an eerie backdrop.
Ferraro was waiting at a small table near the back, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He gave us a slow, calculating smile as we approached, his fingers drumming on the table.
"I didn't expect you to come so quickly," he said, his tone light but laced with something darker. "I assume Lucas told you why we're here?"
"We're here because you said Castellano is making a move," Ethan replied, his voice cold. "What do you know?"
Ferraro's smile widened slightly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Ah, straight to business. I like that." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he studied us. "Castellano's been making moves behind the scenes, but he's about to go public with something big. He's planning to take back control of your father's empire—by force."
My heart skipped a beat, and I felt the blood drain from my face. "What do you mean, by force?"
Ferraro's gaze flicked to me, and there was something unsettling in the way he looked at me—like he was enjoying this far too much. "Castellano's not going to wait for you to come to him. He's coming for you, Alice. And he's not playing around anymore. He's going to make sure you're out of the picture for good."
A cold dread settled over me, the weight of his words sinking in. Castellano wasn't just threatening me—he was preparing to destroy everything. My life, my family, my father's empire. He was coming for it all, and he wasn't going to stop until he had it.
"How?" Ethan asked, his voice sharp. "What's his plan?"
Ferraro's smile faded, and his expression grew more serious. "He's planning to seize control of several key assets in your father's company. He's already bought out a few of your board members, and he's going to make a public move soon—something that will destabilize the company and force you out."
"Bought out board members?" I repeated, the shock of betrayal hitting me like a punch to the gut. I had suspected there were people in my father's company who weren't loyal, but hearing it confirmed was like having the ground ripped out from under me.
Ferraro nodded. "He's been working behind the scenes for months, but now he's ready to make his move. And once he does, your position in the company will be worthless. He'll have full control."
Ethan's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with anger. "And what do you want in return for this information?"
Ferraro's eyes gleamed with amusement, as if he had been waiting for that question. "It's simple. Once Castellano is out of the picture, I take control of what's left."
There it was—the devil's bargain. Ferraro wasn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart. He wanted power, and he saw Castellano's fall as his chance to grab it.
"You're asking us to trade one enemy for another," I said, my voice hard. "You think I'm going to let you step into Castellano's shoes and take over my father's empire?"
Ferraro leaned forward, his smile gone, replaced by cold calculation. "I don't need your permission, Alice. Castellano's going down, with or without you. The question is, do you want to survive the fallout?"
The air between us crackled with tension, and I could feel Ethan tense beside me. Ferraro was right about one thing—Castellano was going to fall. But the idea of Ferraro taking his place, of trading one ruthless leader for another, made my stomach churn.
Before I could respond, a loud crash echoed from behind us. I spun around, my heart pounding in my chest as I saw the source of the noise.
The casino doors had burst open, and a group of men—armed and dangerous—stormed inside.
Ferraro's eyes widened in surprise, but I could see the flash of recognition in his gaze. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath.
Castellano's men had found us.
And there was no way out.