Chapter 14 - THE PRISON OF KINGSThenty-four hours later, the atmosphere inside the Orelio compound had entirely shifted. The flickering emergency lights of the secret underground archive had been replaced by the cold, sterile bars of a high-security holding cell carved deep into the limestone foundation beneath the estate.
Dante sat on a low concrete bench, his hands resting on his knees, his face shadowed in the dim light. The wound on his shoulder thundered with a dull, throbbing ache, but it was nothing compared to the hollow betrayal gnawing at his chest.
Elina paced back and forth inside the cell, her boots clicking rhythmically against the stone floor.
"Stop pacing," Dante muttered without looking up. "It won't open the door."
"I have every right to pace!" Elina stopped, turning to glare at him. "I was serving sea bass three days ago! Now I'm locked in a medieval dungeon because my long-lost twin sister is a megalomaniac mafia queen and your sister is her partner in crime!"
Dante finally raised his head, his dark eyes meeting hers. There was no anger left in them—only a grim, heavy exhaustion. "You're right. You shouldn't be here. This is my world. I brought you into it the moment I let you hold my son."
"Where is Leo?" Elina’s voice softened, the anger fading into genuine worry. "Elena took him, didn't she?"
"She's his mother," Dante said quietly, though his jaw clenched at the thought. "She won't harm him. He’s her leverage against me... and her insurance policy against the Moretti family."
Before Elina could respond, the heavy steel door of the cell block clanked open. Footsteps echoed down the corridor, accompanied by the sharp click of heels.
May you like
Elena stepped into view, flanked by two guards. She looked immaculate, wearing a tailored charcoal suit, holding a steaming cup of espresso as if she were strolling through a corporate high-rise rather than a prison block.
"Diarizing your execution is such a tedious task," Elena remarked casually, stopping just outside the iron bars. Her eyes flicked to Elina. "And as for you, sister... I have a proposition."
Related Stories
