Chapter 43: Doubts grow

Dante
The drive to the house where I was staying with Uncle Marco and the rest of the mafia seemed endless. Beside me, Ana's mother Luisa sat in silence, her expression unreadable. My mind was filled with questions, and I knew now was the time to get some answers.
"Luisa," I said, breaking the silence as I watched the scenery whizzing past the car window, "I need to understand all of this. Why disappear for so many years? Why now?"
Luisa turned her head towards me, her dark eyes meeting mine.
"I know you have many questions, Dante," she replied in a calm voice. "And I'm willing to answer them, but I want you to understand that everything I did was to protect Ana and our family."
I sighed, trying to remain calm.
"You've already said that, but I need more details. Why couldn't you just stay and protect them from close by? Why the need to hide?"
Luisa looked out the window for a moment before responding.
"The death of Antonio, my husband and Ana's father, was a devastating blow. It wasn't an accident or a random attack. There was a conspiracy behind his murder, and I knew the same threat loomed over Ana and me. Disappearing was the only way to keep us safe while I figured out who was behind it all."
"And did you find out?" I asked, my fingers drumming impatiently on the steering wheel.
"Partially, yes," she replied. "I know there's someone very powerful behind this, someone who wants to destroy our family and take over everything Antonio built. But I still don't have all the pieces of the puzzle."
I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. If she couldn't find anything concrete after years of investigation, I didn't know how she expected Ana and me to help her uncover it. It didn't make much sense to me, but we would have to trust her.
"Why now, then? Why decide to come back right now, just when Ana's about to marry Paolo? I don't understand the point of wanting to go through with this wedding when deep down I know you don't want Paolo."
"Because the timing is crucial," Luisa said, her voice firm. "Ana is in a position where she can unify the forces we need to confront our enemies. Paolo can be a powerful ally, but he can also be a threat if we don't handle this correctly. Besides..."
"Besides what?"
"There's a clause in the will that Ana's grandfather left," Luisa said, her voice low and serious. "My father-in-law was a man of many riddles. The thing is, for Ana to have more power, she had to be married. And to get even more money, she had to give us the next Salvatore leader."
"Are you talking about pregnancy?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
She nodded.
"Ana needs to have a baby with a powerful leader," she said. "That's the only way the Salvatore lineage will continue. With Paolo, we can achieve that, but he can also become a threat."
"What do you mean he can be a threat?" I asked, feeling a knot of worry in my stomach.
"Paolo is loyal to Ana, that's clear," she said. "But he also has his own interests and ambitions. We need to make sure his interests are aligned with ours, not against them."
I listened in silence, absorbing all the information. I knew she was right, but I also knew that my feelings for Ana complicated everything. The idea of her marrying Paolo filled me with jealousy and despair.
"Luisa," I said after a moment, "you know I love Ana. I've always loved her. I can't bear the thought of her spending the rest of her life with Paolo."
Luisa looked at me with a mix of understanding and determination.
"I know, Dante," she said. "But you must understand that love is not always enough in our world. There are difficult decisions to be made, and sometimes those decisions are not the ones we want, but the ones we need."
The car stopped in front of the house, and we both got out. We walked together to the entrance, where Marco was waiting for us. His face was grim, reflecting the tension of the moment.
"Marco," I said, nodding to him, "Luisa has crucial information that we need to discuss."
"I still can't believe you're alive after all this time," Marco said. "I know you have doubts, Marco. I'll answer them all, but I need your attention right now."
"You still sound as demanding as my brother. Come in, I'm dying to hear what you have to say."
Marco nodded and led us inside. We sat down in the living room, and Luisa began to explain everything she knew. She talked about the threats, the conspiracies, the enemies who were still lurking in the shadows. Every word she said added weight to the situation, and I knew we were in a precarious position.
"So, what's the plan?" I finally asked, looking at Luisa.
"The plan is simple," she replied. "We need to unite our forces, both with Paolo and with other potential allies. We must be prepared for any attack and make sure we're one step ahead of our enemies."
Marco nodded, his face serious.
"I agree. We need to be united and strong. But how can we trust Paolo? How do we know he doesn't have his own plans?"
"We'll know in due time," Luisa said. "For now, we must proceed with the wedding. That will solidify our alliance and give us the opportunity to observe Paolo closely."
I felt a knot in my stomach as I heard those words. The idea of Ana marrying Paolo hurt me deeply, but I knew Luisa was right. We needed to be united and strong.
"So, we're moving forward with the charade between Ana and Paolo?" I said, my voice firm even though my heart ached.
"Yes, Dante," Luisa replied. "And in the meantime, we must be prepared for anything. The safety of Ana and the stability of our family depend on it."
I nodded, knowing that I had to put my feelings aside and focus on what was best for everyone. I looked at Marco, and he met my gaze with a determined expression.
"We're in this together, Dante," Marco said. "We'll protect Ana and face any threat that comes our way."
"Thank you, Marco. I know we will."
Luisa stood up, preparing to leave.
"I need to get back before someone sees me. Word will spread soon, and then we'll need to be on high alert. There are many people who want me dead."
I watched her leave, feeling a mix of hope and worry. I knew the path ahead would be difficult, but I also knew we weren't alone. We had our allies, and together, we would face any challenge.
There were so many unknowns, so many hidden threats. But there was also an unwavering determination to protect Ana and secure our future.
"Dante, are you okay?"
I nodded, though my mind was filled with conflicting thoughts.
"Yeah, just... a lot to think about."
Marco came over and put a hand on my shoulder.
"We'll get through this, Dante. We've done it before, and we'll do it again. But we need to be focused and united."
"I know," I said, looking at Marco with gratitude. "And we will be. I won't let anyone or anything destroy us."
We stood in silence for a moment, sharing a tacit understanding of the gravity of our situation. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I also knew that together, we could face anything.
"Let's get to work," Marco finally said. "We have a lot to do."
We left the living room and started planning our next steps. Every move was crucial, and we couldn't afford any mistakes. But as I looked around, seeing my comrades preparing, I felt a surge of determination.
Together, we would face any threat. And together, we would protect Ana and secure our future. No matter how many obstacles we faced along the way, I was determined to overcome them and ensure the safety of our family.
The sun was starting to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. I knew the night would bring more challenges. I don't know how or when, but I will get my way. Ana will open her eyes at some point and realize what kind of person Paolo really is. She's not in love with him, she's just confused.