Betrayed From Within

The room was dark, and the air felt heavy as the shadowy figure stepped closer. I tensed, ready for another fight. Beside me, Luca and Isabella raised their weapons, their eyes sharp and focused.

“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt.

The figure stepped into the dim light, revealing a man with silver hair and piercing eyes. He looked calm, as if he had all the time in the world. “My name is Anton,” he said, a faint smile on his lips. “And I believe you’ve stumbled into a game far bigger than you realize.”

“I’m done with games,” I snapped, keeping my eyes locked on him. “What do you want?”

“Not me,” Anton said, his gaze shifting to the map on the table. “But your father and the entire De Luca family’s downfall. The city is just the beginning.”

The tension in the room grew thicker. Luca took a step forward, his gun aimed at Anton’s chest. “Why should we listen to anything you say?”

“Because the people coming for you are already here,” Anton replied, his voice low. “And they have help from someone you trust.”

A chill ran down my spine. “What are you talking about?”

Anton’s eyes met mine. “One of your bodyguards. Someone close. They’ve been feeding information to your enemies.”

The words hit me like a punch. “No,” I whispered. “That can’t be true.”

Isabella moved closer, her expression grim. “It’s not unheard of. Loyalty is a fragile thing in this world.”

I shook my head, refusing to believe it. “My guards have been with me for years. They’ve protected me, fought for me—”

“Think back,” Anton said smoothly. “Strange looks. Unexpected absences. Accidents that shouldn’t have happened. Surely you’ve noticed.”

I tried to think, my mind racing. Was it possible? Had someone I trusted turned against me? My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of footsteps echoing through the hidden chamber. We turned to see a familiar face emerge from the shadows—Matteo, one of my oldest and most loyal bodyguards.

“Matteo?” I said, relief flooding me. “Where have you been? We were under attack.”

His eyes darted to Luca, then to Isabella, before settling on me. There was something off about his expression—cold, detached. “I’m here now,” he said, but his voice lacked its usual warmth.

Luca’s grip on his weapon tightened. “Back away, Amara.”

I hesitated. “What? Why?”

“Just do it,” Luca said, his voice low and dangerous.

Confusion swirled in my chest. “Luca, he’s my guard. He’s saved my life more times than I can count.”

“Exactly,” Luca said, his eyes never leaving Matteo. “It makes him the perfect spy.”

Matteo’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “You’re smarter than I thought, Romano.” In one swift motion, he drew a knife and lunged toward me. I stumbled back, my heart pounding as Luca intercepted him. The two clashed, their movements fast and brutal.

“Why, Matteo?” I shouted, my voice breaking. “Why are you doing this?”

He laughed, the sound harsh and bitter. “You think loyalty comes without a price? Your family took everything from mine. I’m just collecting what I’m owed.”

Luca landed a hard punch, but Matteo barely flinched. “You betrayed Amara for revenge?” he spat, blocking another strike.

“Revenge is just the start,” Matteo sneered, eyes glinting with malice. “She’s a pawn in a much bigger game. One that ends with every last De Luca destroyed.”

The words stung, and I felt a mix of anger and heartbreak. How could someone I trusted so much be working to hurt me? I grabbed a metal rod from the table and stepped forward. “I’m not a pawn,” I said, my voice shaking with fury. “Not anymore.”

Matteo spun to face me, his knife glinting in the dim light. “You think you can fight me, little princess?”

“I know I can,” I said, gripping the rod tightly.

We circled each other, the tension crackling. Matteo lunged, and I sidestepped, swinging the rod with all my strength. It connected with his arm, and he grunted in pain. But he recovered quickly, his knife slicing through the air. I barely managed to dodge, the blade grazing my shoulder.

Luca charged in, tackling Matteo to the ground. The two of them struggled, their movements wild and desperate. Isabella joined in, kicking the knife from Matteo’s hand. He roared in anger, but he was outnumbered. Together, they pinned him to the ground.

I stepped closer, breathing hard. “Was any of it real, Matteo? Or was I just a job to you?”

For a moment, something like regret flickered in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, his voice low. “You’re already marked, Amara. They’ll come for you. They won’t stop.”

“Who?” I demanded. “Who’s behind all this?”

He smiled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Before any of us could react, Matteo twisted suddenly, breaking free from Luca and Isabella’s grip. He lunged for a hidden vial in his pocket and swallowed its contents. Within seconds, his body went limp.

“No!” I cried, dropping to my knees beside him. “Matteo!”

It was too late. Whatever poison he’d taken acted fast. His eyes stared blankly, and the last bit of life left him. I felt cold all over. This was a betrayal I never saw coming—a wound that cut deeper than any blade.

Luca placed a hand on my shoulder. “We need to keep moving. Whatever he knew, others know too.”

I nodded numbly, wiping away a tear. “This isn’t over,” I whispered. “Not by a long shot.”

As we turned to leave, a faint beeping sound caught my attention. I looked down and saw a small device in Matteo’s pocket flashing red. “It’s a bomb,” Luca said, his face pale. “We have to go—now!” The device started counting down, and we sprinted toward the exit, the seconds ticking away.