Chapter 74: A Letter

Ana
Our return to base was silent. The shadows of the night grew longer as we delved into the compound. Martin and Luisa walked by my side, both lost in their thoughts. The constant threat of infiltration and the recent capture of the intruder had put us all on high alert.
Upon arrival, I went straight to my office, leaving instructions for Martin to tighten security. We needed more men, more eyes on every corner. I sat down at my desk, staring at the scattered reports. I felt a mix of exhaustion and despair, but I couldn't afford to falter.
"Ana," Martin appeared at the door, his face grim. "We've done as you requested. Security is tightened and the intruder is being interrogated."
"Thank you, Martin. Any news?"
"Nothing yet. But I'm sure we'll get something out of him."
I nodded, feeling a constant pressure in my chest. I stood up and walked over to Paolo's crib. His soft breathing was the only sound in the room.
"This is all for you, my love. I can't let anything or anyone hurt you."
At that moment, Luisa entered the room, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"Ana, we need to talk."
"About what?"
"About the future. About what we're going to do from now on. We can't keep going on like this, waiting for the enemy to strike. We have to take the initiative."
I approached her, trying to gauge her intentions.
"What are you proposing?"
"We need to reorganize our operations. Be more strategic. And that means making tough decisions."
"Tough decisions like what?"
"Like reshuffling our leadership. We need someone who can make quick and efficient decisions. Someone who won't let emotions get in the way."
I felt a knot in my stomach. I knew where she was going with this.
"Are you suggesting that I'm not capable of leading?"
"It's not that, Ana. You're a great leader, but right now we need someone who can make decisions without hesitation. And you're too emotionally invested."
Fury began to burn within me.
"Do you think I can't do my job because I'm emotionally invested? Everything I do is for Paolo, for this family."
Luisa sighed, as if fighting an internal battle.
"I know. But that's precisely why we need to be strategic. We can't let our emotions cloud our judgment."
"And what do you suggest then?"
"I suggest you take a step back. Let Martin and I handle the operations for a while. In the meantime, you can focus on taking care of Paolo and planning our next move."
I felt a mixture of anger and helplessness. But I also knew that Luisa was right in one respect: my emotions were getting in the way. Maybe if I stepped out of the game, just for a moment, I could figure out how to defeat Luisa. Maybe Nick and Carol could help me with that. It's true that my mind is a mess right now, but if I leave it in their hands, success will be guaranteed, or at least I hope so.
"Alright. But I want to be kept informed of everything. I'm not going to be a mere spectator."
"Of course. You'll have access to all the information and you can intervene when you see fit. Martin will be the one doing the work, technically I'll be the leader."
Oh, of course my position is all she cares about.
I nodded, knowing this was the best option for now. I turned to Martin.
"Are you okay with this?"
"Yes, Ana. I think it's the best thing for now. But you'll always have the final say."
I sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility. But I knew I had an ally on my side when he winked at me. He was on my side like he always had been.
"Alright. Let's get started then. We can't let our enemies defeat us."
Luisa nodded and left the room, leaving me alone with Martin.
"Thanks for your support, Martin. I know it's not easy."
"I'll always be here for you, Ana. No matter what."
I smiled at him, feeling a small sense of relief. I wasn't alone in this.
That night, after leaving Paolo with his nanny, I headed to my office. I needed to review all the reports, to understand every move. But before I could focus, a call from Nick interrupted my thoughts.
"Ana, I have some important information. I think we've identified the leaders of the rival faction."
"Who are they?"
"A new group, but well-funded. They have connections in several cities and are trying to expand rapidly. They had more allies than we did here in Steelney."
"We have Nick on our side."
"For now."
"Yeah, I don't want to trust anyone blindly, but I think for now Nick is on our side. Back to the topic of the enemies, do you know where they are?"
My phone started ringing at that moment, an incoming call from Nick. Well, right on time.
"Nick, we were just talking about you."
"I hope it's good things, I heard you have a group of mobsters on your heels. It must be hard not to know anyone in this world... oh, wait, you know me."
"Nice to meet you then, do you know where they are?"
"Not for sure, but I have some leads. I could share them with you, but I'll need something in return."
"What do you need, Nick?"
"I need access to your contacts in Europe. We're planning an expansion and your network could be very useful."
I sighed, knowing that every deal with Nick came with a price.
"Alright. You'll have access, but I want quick results. We can't let this faction get ahead of us."
"You'll have it, Ana. We're in this together."
I hung up the call and sank into the chair. Threats were coming from all sides and I had to be ready to face them. Luisa was right in one respect: I couldn't afford to be emotional. I had to be strategic, cold, and calculating.
That night, as I reviewed the reports and possible strategies, I felt a renewed determination. I wasn't going to let anyone defeat us. I wasn't going to let anyone take Paolo away from me or destroy what I had built.
The next morning, I called a meeting with all the leaders. We needed to be on the same page and act quickly.
"We've identified the rival faction. We don't know all the details, but we have some leads. I need everyone to be prepared for any eventuality. We can't afford any mistakes."
Luisa took the floor, detailing the additional security measures and defense strategies.
"In addition, we need to be proactive. We can't just wait for them to strike. We need to find their bases and destroy them before they can move against us."
I nodded, feeling the determination in each of those present.
"We're not going to let them defeat us. We're going to fight with everything we have. For our families, for our future."
The meeting broke up and everyone went back to their respective tasks. I stayed for a moment, watching each of them. I knew this was going to be a long and arduous battle, but I was ready to face it.
That night, after making sure Paolo was okay, I sat down at my desk and wrote a letter to Dante. A letter I could never send, but one that helped me keep hope alive.
"Dante, I miss you more than words can say. Every day is a struggle without you, but I promise to keep going. For Paolo, for us. I don't know where you are, but I hope you're in a better place. I won't let your sacrifice be in vain. I'll find a way to keep us safe and fight for our future. I love you always, Ana."
I put the letter in a drawer and fell onto the bed, exhausted but determined. I knew the road ahead was difficult, but I wasn't going to give up. I had a family to protect and a legacy to uphold. And I wasn't going to let anything or anyone stop me.