Chapter 9: Nothing to Lose

Ana
The minutes felt like days, and my mind couldn't stop replaying the conversation over and over again. Dante's words echoed in my head like an endless loop. "Ana, I don't love you." His voice was cold, distant, as if he were speaking to a stranger.
I collapsed onto the couch, my phone trembling slightly in my hand. I needed to talk to someone, to Valeria. She always had a clear perspective on things, and now more than ever I needed her clarity.
I dialed her number and waited, listening to the ringtone. Valeria answered on the second ring, her cheerful voice contrasting with my mood.
"Ana! How are you?"
I swallowed hard and tried to keep my voice steady.
"Val, we need to talk. It's about Dante."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Valeria responded, her tone now serious.
"What happened? Are you okay? Trouble with the bodyguard?"
"I don't know, Val. Today he told me he doesn't want to be with me anymore. That he doesn't love me, and as if that wasn't enough, I almost died."
Her disbelief was evident in her voice.
"What? What do you mean he doesn't want to be with you? But until recently everything seemed to be going well between you two. What exactly did he tell you? Wait a minute..." she sounded even more incredulous, "What do you mean you almost died?"
I sighed, remembering the coldness in his eyes.
"It was so... strange. He acted like I was the one to blame for everything. There was a chase, it's a story I'll tell you later, the point is that from that moment on I ran into Paolo, he said he loved me, and from then on things got weird with Dante."
Valeria was silent for a moment, and I could imagine her biting her lip, thinking.
"That doesn't make sense, Ana. Dante has always been straightforward. If something was bothering him, he would have told you before. Do you think there's something more to this? Because it's weird that Paolo shows up out of nowhere with a confession like that."
"I don't know. It's all been so sudden. He didn't even look me in the eyes while he was talking. I felt like I was talking to another person, and I haven't even stopped to think that much about Paolo."
Valeria sighed on the other end of the line.
"Ana, we can't deny that you felt something very strong for Paolo and, to be honest, I doubt that a feeling like that will go away."
It was something I refused to think about. Paolo, us, and now what's going on with Dante, not to mention the huge amount of work I have on my plate, I don't know how I'm going to deal with all this.
"You tend to get quiet when you know I'm right."
"It's a lot to think about, Val."
"So what are you going to do now?"
I shrugged, even though she couldn't see it.
"I don't know. I don't want to lose him, but I can't force him to stay either."
"Ana, you know I'll always be here for you. Maybe you need to give him some time, but also talk to him and clear things up."
Her words comforted me a little. Valeria always had that ability to make me feel like things could be fixed.
"Thanks, Val. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You don't have to thank me. You know I love you and I'll always be here for you. For now, try to get some rest and tomorrow will be another day. Maybe with a clearer mind you can see things differently."
“Yes, you’re right. I’ll try to get some rest. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Take care, Ana. And remember, no matter what happens, you’re not alone.”
I hung up the phone and leaned back on the couch. Valeria’s words gave me a little hope, but the uncertainty still weighed heavily on my chest. What had changed in Dante? And why so suddenly? I needed answers, but I knew that only time would reveal them.
I had just hung up the phone when I heard a knock at the door. I looked at the clock: it was late, too late for unexpected visitors. My heart started to beat faster, an instinct ingrained in me for years in the family business. I got up from the couch carefully, approaching the door with silent steps.
Just before I reached it, I took a look through the peephole.
On the other side, with an unsettlingly calm expression, was Paolo Di Marco. My breath caught in my throat for a moment. What was he doing here?
I opened the door, knowing I wasn't alone. I felt the presence of our guards approaching, ready to intervene if things went wrong.
“Paolo, what are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice firm and neutral. “Are you here to finish what you started? I'm still alive, for your misfortune.”
He smiled in a way that always managed to make my hair stand on end and at the same time made me feel a tingle on my skin.
“Ana, is this how you greet an old friend?”
Before I could answer, I heard the familiar sound of weapons being loaded. Our guards appeared, surrounding Paolo with their guns drawn. Among them, I distinguished Dante. His face was tense, a mix of jealousy and anger flashing in his eyes as he saw Paolo so close to me.
“Lower your weapons, Dante,” I said firmly, keeping my eyes on Paolo.
Dante hesitated for a moment, but in the end he gave the order with a gesture. The guards lowered their weapons, although they remained attentive, ready to act.
“What do you want, Paolo?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
He took a step closer, his gaze fixed on mine.
“I needed to see you, Ana. There are things we need to discuss... in private.”
I felt the tension in the air, and not just between Paolo and the guards. Dante was about to explode, but he remained silent, his eyes fixed on Paolo.
“I have nothing to discuss with you,” I replied, trying to keep my voice cold and controlled.
Paolo raised an eyebrow, his smile widening.
“Are you sure about that? There could be information that interests you.”
I hesitated for a moment, and Paolo noticed. I couldn't risk ignoring a possible advantage, but I couldn't let him feel in control either.
“Let's talk, but not here,” I finally said. I gestured towards Dante. “Keep everyone on alert. I don't want any surprises.”
Dante nodded, but not without giving Paolo a threatening look. I felt a knot in my stomach as I saw his expression. It was clear that he didn't like the situation at all.
I took Paolo to a small private living room inside the house. I closed the door behind us, trying to calm my nerves. Paolo sat down on the nearest couch, watching me with that look that always seemed to see beyond what I was showing.
“Speak.”
“Ana, you know that my interest in you is genuine,” Paolo began, his tone softer than I expected. “But I also know that this is complicated. Not only because of your family, but because of Dante.”
My heart skipped a beat when I heard Dante's name on his lips.
“What does Dante have to do with all this?”
“Everything, Ana. His loyalty to you, his love... make him weak. And that could be dangerous for you.”
I felt anger rising within me.
“Weak? Why? Because he doesn’t want to admit his feelings? That doesn’t make him weak, Paolo. And it’s none of your business.”
Paolo stood up and approached me.
“I just want you to be safe, Ana. And being with him could put you at risk.”
I walked towards the door, signaling that the conversation was over.
“Get out of my house, Paolo. And don’t show up again without warning. I won’t be so lenient next time.”
“Ana, I know you don’t trust me, and I don’t blame you for that. But I need us to meet tomorrow. There are important things you need to know, things I can’t say here.”
I looked at him, feeling a mix of curiosity and distrust. What could be so important? However, before I could answer, I felt Dante approaching again. His gaze was full of concern and pleading. I knew what he wanted to say without words: don’t go.
“Where and when?” I asked, deliberately ignoring Dante’s gaze.
Paolo smiled, satisfied.
“Tomorrow at three at the old warehouse near the port. No one else, just you and me.”
Dante stepped forward, his eyes almost pleading.
“Ana, I don’t think that’s a good idea…”
“You’re paid to protect me, Dante, not to give your opinion,” I interrupted him, without looking at him. “I’ll go, Paolo. But if this is a trap or some kind of game, I assure you you’ll pay dearly for it.”
Paolo nodded, his smile disappearing.
“I understand. See you tomorrow, then.”
I watched him leave, and the door closed with a click behind him. I turned to Dante, whose expression had changed from concern to a kind of contained pain.
“Why are you doing this, Ana?” he asked in a whisper, almost more to himself than to me.
I sighed, feeling the weight of the decision I had just made.
“Because I need to know, Dante. I can’t go on like this, in the dark. If Paolo has important information, I can’t ignore it.”
He looked down, clenching his fists.
“Just... be careful. I don’t trust him, and neither should you. Ana, I just want you to be safe.”
“I will be.”
I stood there, looking at the closed door, with the feeling that something big was about to happen. Something that would change everything.
I knew I had to face it. For me, for my family, and in a way, for Dante too.