Rain poured against the massive windows of the Romano penthouse.
The storm had fully arrived.
Lightning flashed across the sky, briefly illuminating the dark city beyond the glass.
Inside, the atmosphere felt just as heavy.
Elena stood near the window, staring out at the endless lights of the city.
Somewhere out there…
Marcus Virelli was watching.
That thought made her uneasy.
Behind her, Alessandro and Adrian were still discussing strategy near the table.
"He sent the photo five minutes ago," Adrian said.
"Yes."
"That means he has someone close."
Alessandro's voice was calm, but dangerous.
"Very close."
Elena turned toward them.
"Are we sure he's not just bluffing?"
Adrian shook his head immediately.
"No."
"Why?"
He turned the tablet toward her.
Several security camera images appeared.
All taken around the building.
Entrance.
Parking garage.
Nearby rooftops.
"He's been watching this building for hours."
Elena's stomach tightened.
"So he knew we'd come back here."
"Yes."
She crossed her arms.
"That's creepy."
Alessandro stepped closer to the screen.
"Zoom in."
Adrian tapped the screen.
One of the images enlarged.
A figure stood across the street.
Half hidden in the shadows beneath a streetlight.
The image was blurry.
But the silhouette was clear.
A man.
Watching the building.
Elena frowned.
"Is that him?"
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
"Then who?"
"Probably just someone observing."
Alessandro's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Or the assassin."
Elena stared at the screen.
"That's comforting."
Adrian suddenly grabbed his phone.
"I'm sending the image to the security team."
"Good."
Alessandro turned toward Elena.
"From now on, you don't leave this building without protection."
She raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds like a prison sentence."
"It's temporary."
"Define temporary."
"Until Marcus Virelli is dead."
Elena sighed.
"Fantastic."
She walked toward the couch and sat down heavily.
"Do you know how crazy this sounds?"
Adrian looked up.
"This world is crazy."
She leaned her head back.
"I married into the wrong family."
Alessandro didn't respond.
Instead he walked toward the window again.
His gaze moved across the dark streets below.
Marcus Virelli.
The name brought back memories he hadn't thought about in years.
Seven years ago, Marcus had controlled one of the most powerful criminal empires in Europe.
Ruthless.
Brilliant.
Dangerous.
But he had made one mistake.
He had challenged Alessandro Romano.
And Alessandro had destroyed everything he built.
At least…
That's what everyone believed.
Behind him, Elena spoke again.
"So what exactly did you do to him?"
Alessandro didn't turn.
"I ruined him."
Adrian added quietly,
"Financially, politically, and strategically."
Elena blinked.
"That sounds thorough."
Adrian nodded.
"Marcus lost his empire in less than six months."
She looked at Alessandro.
"And you thought he was dead?"
"Yes."
"Clearly not."
Lightning flashed outside again.
Thunder followed seconds later.
Adrian suddenly spoke.
"There's something else."
Both of them looked at him.
"What?"
He turned the tablet again.
"I tracked the message he sent."
"Can you find his location?"
"Not exactly."
Elena groaned.
"Of course not."
"But…"
Adrian zoomed in on a digital map.
"…the signal came from somewhere within two kilometers."
The room went quiet.
Elena slowly looked toward the window again.
"Two kilometers?"
"Yes."
"That's basically next door."
Adrian nodded.
"He's close."
Alessandro's expression hardened.
"Too close."
Elena stood up and walked toward the window again.
The rain blurred the city lights into streaks of gold and white.
Somewhere out there…
Marcus Virelli was watching her.
Studying her.
Waiting.
She turned back toward Alessandro.
"You know what bothers me?"
"What?"
"He's treating this like a game."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"That's exactly what it is."
Elena crossed her arms.
"Well I hate games."
Alessandro studied her for a moment.
"Unfortunately…"
His voice was calm.
"…we're already playing."
Adrian's tablet suddenly beeped.
He looked down quickly.
His expression changed.
"What?"
Adrian turned the screen toward them.
Another message had arrived.
Unknown sender.
The message contained only one sentence.
"Let's see how well you protect her."
Below the message was another photo.
This one wasn't from the gala.
It was from outside the penthouse building.
Taken just seconds ago.
Elena's car.
Parked in the private lot.
And standing beside it…
A man in a dark coat.
His face partially visible under the streetlight.
Elena felt a chill run down her spine.
"That's the guy from the security camera."
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Alessandro's voice turned deadly calm.
"Security."
He pressed a button on the wall.
Within seconds, a guard answered through the intercom.
"Yes, sir?"
"There's a man near the car in the private lot."
"We see him."
"Bring him in."
"Yes, sir."
The connection ended.
Elena looked at Alessandro.
"You're just… inviting him inside?"
"He's already here."
Adrian nodded.
"Better to control the situation."
Elena sighed.
"You people have very strange problem-solving methods."
A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened.
Two security guards stepped out.
Between them was the man from the photo.
His hands were restrained.
His face calm.
Too calm.
Elena immediately noticed something strange.
He wasn't struggling.
He wasn't nervous.
He was smiling.
The guards pushed him forward.
"We found him near the parking area."
Alessandro stepped closer.
"Who are you?"
The man looked directly at Elena.
Then back at Alessandro.
His smile widened slightly.
"Just a messenger."
Adrian frowned.
"From Marcus Virelli?"
The man nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Elena groaned.
"Of course."
Alessandro's voice was cold.
"What message?"
The man's eyes moved toward Elena again.
Then he said quietly:
"Marcus says the game has officially started."
He paused.
"And you've already lost the first round."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"What does that mean?"
The man smiled again.
"Look outside."
Everyone turned toward the window.
Elena's eyes widened.
Down in the parking lot…
Flames suddenly exploded from the direction of her car.
The vehicle erupted into a violent fireball.
The explosion lit up the rain-soaked night.
Shockwaves rattled the penthouse windows.
Elena stared in disbelief.
"That…"
She swallowed.
"…was my car."
Behind her, the messenger laughed quietly.
Marcus Virelli's war had officially begun.