Chapter 14: He Was Right

Ana
I sat in the living room of my house, surrounded by those closest to me in this world of shadows and secrets. Valeria, my uncle Marco, and Dante were in front of me, each with a different expression on their faces: concern, distrust, even anger.
I took a deep breath before speaking, knowing that what I was about to say would not be well received.
"I have accepted the alliance with Paolo." My words echoed through the room, filled with a determination that I barely managed to disguise my uncertainty.
Valeria frowned, her gaze filled with concern.
"Ana, are you sure about this? Paolo is dangerous, you can't trust him."
My uncle Marco remained silent for a moment, his cold eyes assessing me carefully.
"We may be able to profit from this alliance. With Paolo on our side, it will be easier to defeat him when the time comes."
The idea made me uncomfortable, but I also recognized the logic in my uncle's words. Even so, something inside me resisted the idea of using Paolo as a pawn in our power game.
Dante, on the other hand, couldn't contain his indignation.
"How can you even consider this, Ana? Has he brainwashed you?"
I looked at him sadly, feeling the gap widening between us with every word he spoke.
"Paolo hasn't brainwashed me, Dante. He simply gave me valuable information that I don't intend to share with either you or my uncle Marco."
My response only seemed to increase his anger, but I no longer cared. I had made my decision, and I would not let anyone make me doubt it.
"I ask the three of you to trust me," I said, meeting their gazes one by one. "I know this alliance may seem risky, but I believe there is a chance it will work. And if there is a chance to protect our family, I cannot afford to ignore it."
There was a tense moment of silence as my words echoed through the room. I knew I hadn't convinced everyone, but I also knew I couldn't afford to back down. I had chosen my path, and I was determined to follow it, no matter the consequences.
Valeria and Ana
After the meeting with my uncle Marco and Dante, Valeria and I were left alone in the office. The atmosphere was charged with tension, as if a clash of storms was about to break out.
"Ana, please, talk to me." Valeria looked at me with concern, her voice full of pleading. "I know something is bothering you. Tell me what's going on."
I looked at her with determination, refusing to give in to her insistence.
"I'm sorry, Valeria. I can't tell you anything. I need to keep this information under wraps for now."
Valeria frowned, her expression a mix of frustration and confusion.
"But Ana, I'm your best friend. You should be able to trust me."
Her words hit me like a punch in the stomach. I knew I was hurting Valeria, but I also knew I couldn't afford to be weak at this moment. I had to hold my ground, even if it meant sacrificing our friendship.
"I'm sorry, Valeria. I can't do it." I stated firmly, resisting the urge to give in.
Frustration erupted in Valeria, her face flushed with anger.
"This isn't fair, Ana! I need to know what's going on!"
"Why are you so angry? We've always had things we couldn't tell each other until the time was right."
"Dante is right, you've been brainwashed."
The tension between us reached a boiling point, the words we had been holding back for so long finally surfacing in an explosion of pent-up emotions.
"That's not true!"
"You trust that psychopath Paolo more than you trust us, your family!"
"Are we seriously talking about trust? You've been acting weird since yesterday, Valeria!" I exclaimed, blurting out a truth that had been burning inside me. "Who says you're not working with my uncle Marco behind my back?"
The silence that followed was deafening, our gazes clashing in the middle of the tension-filled room. Valeria seemed shocked by my accusation, her expression a whirlwind of emotions I couldn't decipher.
"That's not true, Ana!" she finally shouted, her voice trembling with emotion. "How could you even think that of me?"
She stood up from her chair in a fury, her eyes flashing with a mix of hurt and betrayal. I watched her in silence, feeling the weight of my words hanging in the air between us. It was a truth that had come out before I could stop it, and now I would have to deal with the consequences.
After the heated argument with Valeria, I found myself alone in the office, the weight of our words still heavy on my shoulders. It was then that my phone rang, breaking the tense silence that filled the room.
"Hello?" I answered, feeling a lump in my throat as I waited for Paolo's response on the other end of the line.
"Ana, it's Paolo." His voice sounded serious, concerned. "I've sent one of my men to protect you. I don't trust anyone in your house right now, so if you need anything, just go to the black car in front of your house and he'll help you."
Surprise washed over me at his unexpected action, but I also felt a wave of gratitude towards him for his concern.
"Thank you, Paolo. I appreciate it," I said sincerely.
"You're welcome, Ana. Just keep your eyes peeled. You never know what could be going on."
His warning echoed in my mind as I hung up the call, leaving a sense of unease in my gut. What was really going on in this game of power and betrayal that I was trapped in?
Determined to find answers, I left the office in search of Dante. According to Paolo, he might be able to help me clear up some things. But what I found when I reached a nearby room was completely unexpected.
Dante and Valeria were together, so close it looked like they were about to kiss. They both immediately pulled away when they noticed my presence, but the damage was already done. A wave of confusion and pain washed over me as I struggled to process what I had just witnessed.
"Ana..." Dante muttered, his voice filled with apology and discomfort.
"It's not what it looks like."
"I think it is, you know? I felt bad for not knowing what the heck happened to you, I told Valeria who seemed pretty calm about it, even said she could fix things with you, but I don't think that's possible anymore."
"It's not what it looks like," Valeria spoke this time, "we were discussing something important."
"Important, huh? Were you talking about the lingerie you'd be wearing tonight?" I scoffed sarcastically. "So that's why you changed on me, because you wanted to be with Valeria."
"I don't want to be with her, I want to be with you."
I let out a natural laugh.
"Yeah, right. I'm glad I found this out and could see it with my own eyes, Paolo was right about everything, about all of you, I don't regret kissing him yesterday, he's the only person I'll trust from now on, thanks for taking care of that."
But in that moment, I couldn't listen to their explanations. All I could think about was the feeling of betrayal that was consuming me, the idea that maybe there was a deeper reason why Dante had distanced himself from me.
Without a word, I turned and walked out of the room, leaving Dante and Valeria in an uncomfortable silence. I didn't know what to think or feel at that moment, but one thing was for sure: things between us would never be the same again.
The encounter with Dante and Valeria left a bitter taste in my mouth, but before I could fully process what I had just witnessed, I ran into my uncle Marco in the hallway. His gaze was serious, full of the authority that had always characterized his presence.
"Ana, you have an important mission to lead tomorrow," he said without preamble. "It is your responsibility as the new leader of the mafia."
His statement hit me like a thunderbolt, reminding me of the responsibilities that now rested on my shoulders. Although my mind was full of confusion and pain, I knew that I couldn't let that affect my duty to our family.
"I will do it," I replied firmly, my voice barely a whisper filled with determination.
Without waiting any longer, I left the house, fury burning inside me. Without stopping to think, I headed straight for the black car that Paolo had sent to protect me. I got in without hesitation and asked the driver to take me to Paolo's house.
The drive was short but full of tension, my mind buzzing with thoughts as I anticipated the meeting to come. When we arrived at Paolo's mansion, he himself opened the door, his face lit up with a genuine smile when he saw me.
"Ana, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?"
Although his expression was welcoming, I could see the shadow of concern in his eyes, as if he knew something was wrong.
"Tomorrow, as allies, we will lead an important mission," I mentioned, getting straight to the point. "I want you by my side fighting, and no one else."
The sincerity in my words was evident, my voice firm and determined as I spoke. I knew that Paolo understood what was at stake, what this opportunity meant for both of us.
"I'll be delighted, I knew we would benefit from our new alliance."