The evening sun cast long shadows across the estate as Vanessa paced the grand hall, her thoughts unsettled. Vincenzo had become more elusive, his once open and commanding demeanor replaced by guarded glances and whispered conversations. She had tried not to let it bother her, but the growing distance was suffocating.
Her hand instinctively rested on her stomach, a grounding gesture amidst the chaos in her mind. The mansion felt emptier than usual, its silence almost oppressive. She needed to clear her head. Turning towards the window, she stared at the mountain in the distance, its jagged peak a silent witness to so many of Vincenzo's secrets.
A sudden sound broke through her reverie—the slow creak of the main door. Vanessa's pulse quickened. She turned, half-expecting Vincenzo, but instead, Lucia entered, her sharp features shadowed by unease.
"Lucia," Vanessa called softly, her voice breaking the stillness. "Is something wrong?"
Lucia hesitated, glancing around the room before stepping closer. "Vanessa, we need to talk. Alone."
Vanessa frowned but nodded, leading Lucia towards the study. Once the door clicked shut, Lucia leaned against it, her usually composed demeanor cracking slightly.
"You trust Vincenzo, don't you?" Lucia asked, her voice low.
Vanessa's frown deepened. "Of course I do. Why are you asking me this?"
Lucia's dark eyes searched hers, as if weighing her next words carefully. "There's something you need to know. Something Vincenzo has been keeping from you."
Vanessa's heart skipped a beat. "What is it? Just tell me."
Lucia crossed her arms, her expression grim. "There's been a leak in the organization. Someone is feeding information to our enemies, and they're getting bolder. I've been tracking their movements, and... I think you're their next target."
The words felt like a slap. Vanessa staggered slightly, gripping the edge of the desk for support. "Why me?"
"Because you're his weakness," Lucia said bluntly, her tone devoid of sympathy. "Everyone knows how much Vincenzo cares about you. If they can't get to him, they'll come for you."
Vanessa's breath hitched. Her mind raced with questions, doubts, and fears. "Does Vincenzo know?"
Lucia hesitated before nodding. "He suspects, but he won't say much. He's trying to handle it alone, to protect you. But Vanessa, this is bigger than him. Bigger than us."
Before Vanessa could respond, the heavy sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. Lucia stiffened, her eyes darting to the door just as it swung open.
Vincenzo stood in the doorway, his presence commanding as always. His dark eyes narrowed, flicking between the two women. "Lucia," he said, his voice cold, "leave us."
Lucia hesitated, casting a glance at Vanessa. "Think about what I said," she murmured before slipping out of the room.
As the door closed, Vincenzo's attention shifted to Vanessa. His expression softened, but his eyes carried the weight of a storm brewing within.
"Vanessa," he began, stepping closer, "what did Lucia say to you?"
"She told me the truth," Vanessa replied, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. "That someone is after me. That I'm your weakness."
Vincenzo's jaw tightened, and he averted his gaze briefly, as if the admission pained him. "You are my weakness," he said finally, his voice low but firm. "But you're also my strength. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
Tears welled up in Vanessa's eyes. She reached for his hand, gripping it tightly. "Vincenzo, I'm not afraid. But I need to know everything. Who's betraying us? Who's putting our family in danger?"
Vincenzo cupped her face, his calloused hands surprisingly gentle. "I don't know yet," he admitted, his voice laced with frustration. "But I'm close. And when I find them..." His tone darkened, a promise of retribution hanging in the air.
Vanessa shivered, not from fear but from the intensity of his resolve. She rested her forehead against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.
"Promise me," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Promise me you'll come back to me. No matter what happens."
Vincenzo's arms tightened around her, his lips brushing against her temple. "I promise. Always."
Unbeknownst to them, a shadow moved outside the window, a pair of unseen eyes watching their every move. The betrayer was closer than they realized, and the next strike was already in motion.