Marco rubbed his temples, exhaling sharply as he stormed into his office. His head was pounding.
The fight with Carmen, Matteo crying, Ella getting shoved—it was too much. Carmen was spiraling. Matteo was confused. And Marco? He was exhausted.
All he wanted was a moment of silence, a chance to breathe before he went back to handling his collapsing empire.
But then—he saw it. Right there. In the center of his desk. A thick stack of files, neatly placed. And on top?
A single note. Written in bold, careful handwriting.
THE TRAITOR.Marco’s chest tightened. He stiffened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. His gut twisted violently. This wasn’t just some random paperwork. This was a message.
A warning.
His eyes darted around the room, his instincts on high alert. Who had been in here? His office was always locked when he wasn’t inside. His guards were stationed outside his door at all times.
So how the hell did this get here? His hand hovered over the files, hesitating for a fraction of a second.
Then, with a sharp breath, he grabbed the note, flipping through the first few pages.
His heart stopped. His breath hitched violently. The blood in his veins turned ice cold.
Because there—in black and white, staring straight back at him—
Was proof.
Proof of someone leaking information. Proof of business deals collapsing because of inside sabotage. Proof of betrayal. And at the very bottom, the final page.
A list. A name. And when Marco saw it—
His hands shook. His pulse pounded so hard he thought his skull would crack. His vision blurred with rage.
Then—
He let out a roar of fury, his voice thundering through the house.
“CARMEN!”