A Few Hours Later.
The living room was drowned in a thick, suffocating darkness.
At the center sat a motionless figure: Fabio, tied to a chair, his wrists bound tightly behind his back, his ankles strapped against the wood. His head hung heavily forward, damp strands of hair stuck to his sweat-covered forehead. Unconscious, he already looked like a broken man before even understanding what was happening to him.
Across from him sat Lorenzo.
Leaning back on the couch, staring blankly into the void. His half-closed eyes burned with cold fury. In his right hand, he slowly spun a black pistol between his fingers as if it were a toy. His other hand tapped nervously against the armrest, a slow, steady, terrifying rhythm. Silence ruled the room. Not a sound. Even the ticking of the clock seemed to have stopped.
Upstairs, Chloé paced anxiously around the bedroom. Her heart hammered violently in her chest, her palms sweaty. She hesitated: go downstairs and risk seeing everything, or stay quiet like Lorenzo had ordered her to. Finally, she sat on the edge of the bed, grabbed her phone, and quickly dialed her best friend Valentina.
A few seconds later, Val's familiar voice answered.
Val (softly)
_ Hello? Hey Chloé, how are you, beautiful?
Chloé (trembling voice)
_ Not good at all, Val... I think Lorenzo's about to do something stupid. Something irreversible, and I don't want to witness it.
Val (surprised)
_ Wait… what? I don't understand anything. Breathe, calm down, and tell me what he's planning to do.
Chloé (sighing)
_ No… forget it. I can't say anything, really. Tell me about you instead. Did you see Marco again?
Val (slightly ironic)
_ Marco? Nope… haven't heard from him since you and your dear husband disappeared from the face of the earth.
Chloé (small smile)
_ You miss him, don't you? Admit it, you kinda liked him.
Val (laughing softly)
_ Yeah… maybe a little. But it's been three months now. No number, no address. And honestly, if he really wanted me, he would've tried to see me again. I don't wanna dream for nothing.
Chloé (sighing)
_ Maybe you're right. But we'll be back soon. And with a little luck, Marco will show up again.
Val (indifferent)
_ If you say so…
Meanwhile downstairs, Fabio began to stir. His eyelids slowly opened, the weak chandelier light reflecting in his confused eyes. He painfully lifted his head and tried to move… only to immediately feel the ropes cutting into his skin. Panic rose inside him.
Fabio (shouting)
_ Chloéééé! What the hell is this?! Why the fuck am I tied to this chair?! Chloéééé!!!
He struggled violently, the chair creaking beneath his desperate movements. Useless.
Still seated, Lorenzo slowly lifted his eyes toward him. Without saying a word, he stood up, walked to the switch, and turned on the light.
Fabio froze.
What he saw chilled him to the bone.
There was nothing human left in Lorenzo's gaze anymore. It was a mixture of rage, disappointment, and restrained madness. A dark energy radiated from him, the kind of energy carried by a man ready to burn everything down.
Fabio (trembling voice)
_ Lorenzo… man, what is this? Why did you tie me up? What did I do? Where's Chloé? Listen… I swear nothing happened between her and me. She was the one who—
Lorenzo hurled the glass of whiskey in his hand against the wall.
The crash exploded through the room.
Then he roared.
Lorenzo (red eyes, growling voice)
_ Shut your fucking mouth, Fabio!
Shut it before I make you regret ever being born! In here, I'm the one who talks. You stay quiet!
The thunder in his voice made the walls vibrate. Fabio instantly fell silent, his hands shaking uncontrollably. His breathing became short and frantic.
Lorenzo inhaled slowly, trying to contain the volcano erupting inside his chest. But every word from Fabio, every memory, reignited the hatred flowing through his veins.
He slowly approached him like a predator. His boots echoed heavily against the floor with every step.
Lorenzo (low icy voice)
_ You played me, huh? Say it… did you enjoy betraying me? Tell me how long it took you to build your little bullshit plan against me. One year? Two? Four?
Answer me, you traitorous bastard!
Fabio looked up at him, terrified, unable to speak. His entire body trembled, the ropes digging into his flesh, but he didn't care. He knew the man standing before him wasn't the Lorenzo he once knew.
This wasn't his friend anymore.
This wasn't his brother anymore.
This was the beast. Ready to punish betrayal with blood.
Fabio (calmly)
_ I don't know what you're talking about, and untie me right now, I—
Aaaaaaaah!
Before he could finish, Lorenzo smashed the gun violently against his head. The impact split his skin open instantly, blood streaming down the side of his face.
Lorenzo (furious)
_ Don't play with my nerves, Fabio… or should I say Enzo. At least have the decency to act like a real man and admit you're a traitor. Admit that you played me while pretending to be my friend when in reality, you were my fucking enemy.
A suffocating silence fell over the room.
Fabio felt his throat tighten, his heart pounding violently.
And then he understood.
Lorenzo knew everything.
Lorenzo (enraged)
_ You changed your identity. You manipulated everything so our paths would cross. You made sure to become my friend. You pretended to be one of mine all these years… when really, it was you. You, the son of a bitch threatening me from the shadows. Fuck, now I understand everything. You had access to my house, my information, my entire life. You planted hidden cameras everywhere, spying on me day and night, and threatening me became easy for you. You're a coward, Fabio. A fucking coward.
Lorenzo stepped closer, jaw clenched tightly. He grabbed Fabio by the hair, yanked his head backward violently, and forced him to look him straight in the eyes.
Lorenzo (bloody voice)
_ Look at me carefully, motherfucker. I'm gonna show you what happens when you play with me. I swear to God you're gonna regret every fucking second of your betrayal.
Fabio (provocative)
_ I'm not scared of you, Lorenzo De Santis. Believe me, you don't even make me shiver with fear, I—
Aaaaaaaaah!
Lorenzo punched him square in the face with brutal force. Blood sprayed from Fabio's lips. He grimaced in pain… but then a nervous laugh escaped him.
He burst into hysterical laughter.
Fabio (laughing)
_ Ah… poor Lorenzo. How pathetic. You thought you were all-powerful, the king of the world… and you didn't even realize your worst enemy was sleeping right beside you. I—
Lorenzo (shouting)
_ SHUT THE FUCK UP, ASSHOLE!
Another punch landed, even more brutal than the first. Fabio's body jerked backward, yet he kept laughing. A twisted, uncontrollable laugh that only drove Lorenzo deeper into madness.
Lorenzo (furious)
_ You thought you could fool me, huh? It's over. I'm sending you to join your whore sister in hell.
The moment those words left his mouth, Fabio stopped laughing instantly. Rage flashed through his eyes.
Fabio (furious)
_ Don't you dare talk about her like that, bastard! My sister was not a whore!
Lorenzo (red with rage)
_ Your sister was the worst kind of traitor! I loved her, damn it! I loved her like a madman! She was my first love. I gave her everything: my life, my secrets, my business, my cartel… and you know what? Your bitch sister stabbed me in the back! She lied to me, manipulated me, betrayed me for three fucking years. She was on a mission, sent by my worst enemy to seduce me, destroy me, ruin me! And me? Like an idiot, I loved her enough to die for her! I sacrificed everything for her! I even let my own sister die because of her!
Lorenzo's voice trembled with rage, hatred, and pain intertwined.
Lorenzo (losing control)
_ I had a choice: save my little sister or save yours. And you know what I did? I told the kidnappers to spare your sister instead. I traded my sister's life for hers… because I loved her. And what did she do? She betrayed me. She destroyed me. What did you expect, huh?! That I'd let her live after that? That I'd make her the mother of my children?! Answer me! Did you want me to give her a medal for fucking ruining me?!
Fabio (screaming in rage)
_ You had no right to take her life, you bastard! I don't care about your reasons. My sister didn't deserve to die. She didn't deserve to be murdered by you!
Lorenzo (enraged)
_ Well, I did it! And believe me, if I had to do it again, I would. That bitch deserved even worse after what she did to me!
Fabio (shouting)
_ You'll pay for this, Lorenzo! I swear I'll bring you down. You, your empire, your fucking family… I'll destroy all of you!
BOOM!
The gunshot exploded violently through the room.
Fabio (screaming in pain)
_ AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
Lorenzo had shot him in the leg.
Fabio screamed in agony, his body shaking uncontrollably as blood spread across the cold floor. Lorenzo remained standing, emotionless, his icy gaze filled with pure hatred.
Lorenzo (bloody voice)
_ The one who's gonna destroy the other here is me, Fabio. And that bullet? That's for trying to rape my wife while pretending to be some cheap driver.
Fabio (furious)
_ Even if you kill me, you'll still be destroyed. Believe me, I'm far from stupid.
Lorenzo (furious)
_ If you think you can blackmail me, you're out of your damn mind, asshole. I don't bend. You're not leaving this place alive.
Fabio (red with rage)
_ If I die, your entire cartel goes down with me, and you'll end up in prison exactly where you belong, you piece of—
BOOM. BOOM.
Before he could finish, Lorenzo pulled the trigger.
Two cold shots rang out.
The bullets pierced Fabio's head. His body snapped backward heavily, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
The silence afterward was worse than the gunfire itself.
Lorenzo stood frozen for a few seconds, the gun still warm in his hand. Then, without triumph, he let it fall to the floor. The metallic sound echoed briefly through the room.
Finally, he collapsed onto the couch, exhausted, staring at the lifeless body of the man he had once called brother… his enemy revealed at last.
A drop of blood still slid slowly from the corner of Fabio's jaw.
And suddenly, a tear rolled down Lorenzo's cheek, betraying a silent, unbearable pain.
At that exact moment, Chloé came running into the living room.
She froze instantly.
Fabio's lifeless body sat before her, head tilted back unnaturally.
Her mind refused to process it.
Her trembling fingers covered her mouth as if to hold back a scream.
Chloé (shaking voice)
_ You killed him? Lo… Lorenzo, you killed him?
Lorenzo (deep voice)
_ Go upstairs. Pack your things. We're leaving this house right now.
Chloé (panicking)
_ Answer me, Lorenzo! Did you kill him?! But why am I even asking? It's obvious you did! Have you gone insane?! How can you kill someone like that? Are you a murderer?!
Her voice cracked apart chaotically. Her eyes searched desperately for answers in Lorenzo's emotionless face.
Lorenzo (rage trembling in his voice)
_ Chloé, go upstairs and pack your things. We're leaving now.
Chloé (panicking)
_ No… no, this can't be real. I can't believe this. You're not a murderer, Lorenzo. Tell me I'm dreaming. Tell me it's not true that you killed someone in cold blood.
Lorenzo said nothing.
His gaze remained empty, lost somewhere far away.
Chloé stood frozen, waiting for answers that never came, her heart beating painfully against her chest.
Chloé (crying)
_ You told me you had unfinished business with him. You told me to help you knock him out, and stupid me… I helped you. I helped you kill a man. You're a disgusting murderer, Lorenzo. A killer.
Her words sliced through him like blades.
How could he explain? How could he tell her that even dead, that man had destroyed his life more than anyone else ever had?
Chloé (crying)
_ I'm leaving. And trust me, you'll never find me again. I'd rather sleep in the streets than stay near a murderer. I thought I knew you, Lorenzo… but this? No. I refuse to stay beside someone who takes lives like this.
Without wasting another second, she rushed toward the front door.
Lorenzo (firmly)
_ Chloé, come back here. Stop acting like a child. Let me explain. This isn't what you think.
She stopped with her hand on the doorknob and turned toward him.
As Lorenzo stepped closer, she slapped him hard across the face.
SMACK.
The sound echoed sharply.
Her own palm burned afterward, but she didn't back away.
Lorenzo (calmly)
_ Chloé, please let me explain. Yesterday I told you Fabio was my enemy, remember? He deserved to die. You have no idea how much that bastard destroyed my family.
Chloé (red with anger)
_ Shut up, Lorenzo. Yes, you said he was your enemy, but you never said you were planning to kill him! Who the hell do you think you are? You think you have the right to play judge and executioner? What do you want from me? A kiss? Congratulations because my husband's an assassin? Maybe I should hug you too? How could you kill someone, Lorenzo?!
Lorenzo (calmly)
_ Calm down. Let me talk.
Chloé (crying)
_ I think I don't know you at all. I knew you were dangerous, controlling, dominant… but a murderer? Never. Yes, I love you more than I ever imagined possible, but I will never stay beside a man who takes other people's lives.
Lorenzo (calmly)
_ You have no right to judge me. You know nothing about what I've suffered. Nothing.
Chloé (furious)
_ Don't try to excuse what you did. I'm leaving. And don't even try to come near me.
She turned to leave again.
Lorenzo grabbed her arm firmly, spun her around, and pulled her against him possessively. She struggled immediately, fear flooding her eyes.
Chloé (screaming)
_ Let me go, Lorenzo! I don't want you touching me like this. Let me go right now!
Lorenzo (calmly)
_ I'm not holding you prisoner. But listen to me. You know who I am now. I'm not perfect. I have secrets. I'm dangerous. And yes… I'm a murderer. But I don't kill innocents or weak people. I just want you to know that I—
Chloé (furious)
_ That what?! That you'll kill me too if I go to the police and tell them you murdered Fabio? Is that it?!
Lorenzo (calmly)
_ No. If I kill you, it'd be like killing myself. I just want you to know that I love you. Even if I'm not proud of all this… I'm hopelessly in love with you. And if one day you want to understand my world and live this dangerous love with me… then come to me. I'll tell you everything. Absolutely everything about my past and my present.
Chloé felt her heart tighten violently inside her chest, as if something deep within her had shattered.
Her hands trembled. Her lips shook.
She tore herself from Lorenzo's arms and stumbled backward until her back hit the wall behind her. Her terrified eyes moved constantly between the man she loved… and Fabio's lifeless body still slumped in the chair.
Her mind refused to believe it.
Everything around her felt unreal, suffocating.
And for the first time… Chloé was afraid of him.
A cold, visceral fear that froze her blood.
The man she loved so deeply… could he truly be capable of something like this?
Part of her screamed no. That this was all a nightmare she would wake up from.
But the scene before her eyes didn't lie.
Burning tears filled her eyes.
She tried to speak, to say something… anything. But no sound came out.
Her gaze met Lorenzo's empty, haunted eyes.
And that was the final blow.
Without another word, she turned around, nearly stumbling as she rushed out of the room. The door slammed behind her, leaving only painful silence behind… and a broken man alone in the middle of his own demons.
Lorenzo remained standing there, staring at the closed door.
Then slowly, he turned back and sat on the couch again, breathing heavily while staring at the corpse as though Fabio's death still wasn't enough to calm the storm inside him.
The hatred was still there.
But something else was surfacing too.
Something fragile.
Cold regret.
Silent sorrow.
Lorenzo (inner voice)
_ I killed a man… a traitor, yes… but also a brother-in-arms. And Chloé…
His chest tightened painfully.
Lorenzo (inner voice)
_ She looked at me like I was a monster. Maybe she's right. Maybe that's what I really am.
His eyes slowly closed. A tear slipped down his face.
Lorenzo (inner voice)
_ And maybe a man like me doesn't deserve to be loved.
To be continued…