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The silence that follows is deafening. In the background, I hear Stefano cursing, fighting. There are more sounds of struggle.
"Explain." Just one word, but it’s loaded.
"You know I'm pregnant." The words come out clear, firm. "Carrying the next generation of the Rega family. The future of his empire."
More silence, but I know what they are thinking.
"I can offer you this leverage, along with everything I know about his operation," I continue. "Every route, every contact, every piece of intelligence I’ve gathered while working at the club. Things even Stefano doesn't know I found out."
"Ava, NO!" Stefano's voice, desperate now. "Don't you dare!"
"Interesting." The Fiori voice cuts him off. "Very interesting. And what do you want in exchange?"
"A trade. Me for him. Simple, clean." I pace as I talk, the movement helping me think. "You get his heir, his secrets, and a way to control his empire for a long, long time. All he gets is his life—kind of."
"And why would you offer this?"
"Because I'm a survivor." The truth slips into my lie, making it stronger. "Because I know which way the wind is blowing. Because I'd rather be on the winning side."
There are more struggling sounds in the background and more cursing in Italian.
"You realize," the voice says carefully, "that once you're here, there's no leaving. No running. No games."
"I understand perfectly." My free hand rests on my stomach, protecting our child even now. "Do we have a deal?"
The pause feels endless. In the corner of my eye, I see Tomasso shaking his head, Tony crying silently.
"Deal," the voice finally says. "Come alone. I'll text you the location."
"Ava!" Stefano's voice, more desperate than I've ever heard it. "Don't do this! Please!"
I end the call before his pleas can break my resolve.
Time to move.
I grab Tomasso's car keys. They're heavy in my hand. They weigh more than just metal. They are heavy with fate.
"Keep him safe," I tell Tomasso. Not a request. A command.
“You can’t go alone. We don’t know where they’ve moved him. Let me?—”
“Your team was of no use, Tomasso.” I sigh. “Besides, they will know if I’m being followed. But be ready in case I need backup. I’ll find a way to contact you.”
Tony looks shell-shocked, tears tracking through the dirt and bruises on his face. "Ava, no. You can't?—"
"I can." My voice doesn't waver. It’s a con artist's trick. Confidence is its own weapon. "And I will."
Tomasso steps forward, something like respect and terror mixing in his eyes. "This is suicide.”
I laugh, but there’s no humor in it. "Been practicing that my whole life."
The hallway stretches before me, hotel luxury feeling like a prison more than ever before. Each step feels like a countdown, like I'm walking toward something that will change everything.
Which, I suppose, I am.
My fingers trace the wedding ring Stefano forced on me today. Gilded cage, he called it. Protection disguised as possession. But right now? It feels like my only connection to something real.
To him.