Page 24 of Secret Bratva Twins

The hunt is over.

Chapter Ten - Chiara

The hum of the engine fills the quiet of the car as I drive along the familiar winding roads leading back to my farmhouse. The sun is dipping lower in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the Montana countryside. It’s peaceful here, and most days, I let myself believe that peace will last.

The kids were particularly energetic this morning, and as much as I adore them, it’s exhausting. Two nearly four-year-olds are no easy feat, especially when they both decide to team up against me with their relentless curiosity and endless questions.

Leo’s determined little frown when he tries to build with his blocks, and Alyssa’s giggles as she chases butterflies in the backyard—they’re the highlights of my day. Still, there are moments when I wish for just a little more time to myself, to breathe and remember who I am outside of being their mother.

Groceries sit in the back seat, a hodgepodge of fresh produce, snacks for the kids, and a bottle of wine I’ll likely never get to drink. My errands stretched longer than expected, as usual. Living in a small town means nothing is close by. It also means safety—or so I thought.

My phone buzzes on the passenger seat. I glance at it briefly before reaching over to answer, the name “Dante” flashing on the screen. A knot of unease forms in my stomach. Dante never calls unless it’s important.

“Dante?” I say, pressing the phone to my ear. My tone is casual, but I grip the wheel tighter, already bracing myself for bad news.

His voice is steady but urgent. “Chiara, listen carefully. I’ve been watching things closely, and it seems Lorenzo has been keeping tabs on me. I think he knows.”

The air in the car feels heavier. “Knows what?” I ask, my voice sharper than I intended.

“About you,” he replies without hesitation. “I can’t be certain, but there’s a strong chance he’s discovered where you are.”

The blood drains from my face. My grip on the wheel tightens until my knuckles turn white. “Why would Lorenzo care about my whereabouts? He’s been content ruling his empire in Italy and ignoring me for years.”

Dante sighs, and the sound only adds to the growing weight in my chest. “I’m not sure, but I overheard something concerning. He had a meeting with Serge today.”

My heart stops for a beat, then thunders back to life. “Serge?” I echo, barely able to get the word out.

“Yes.” Dante’s tone is grim. “Whatever Lorenzo is planning, it can’t be good. If he’s aligned himself with Serge, it’s a problem.”

“Why would Lorenzo meet with Serge?” I demand, my voice trembling. “He has no reason to….”

My words trail off as realization dawns. Lorenzo doesn’t care about me—not in the way a brother should. But he does care about power. And if Serge offers him leverage, there’s no doubt he’d sell me out in a heartbeat.

“He’s scared of you,” Dante continues, cutting through my thoughts. “Even from thousands of miles away, your presence is a threat to him. People in the Vinci empire still see you as a legitimate heir, Chiara. If you ever returned, you could challenge him. That’s enough for him to want you gone.”

The bitterness in my laugh surprises even me. “Challenge him? I have two kids to raise, Dante. I’m not interested in his games or his empire.”

“It doesn’t matter what you want,” Dante says firmly. “It matters what he thinks you want. If he’s working with Serge—”

I don’t let him finish the thought. I know where it’s going, and I don’t want to hear it. “Serge has no reason to care about me anymore,” I say, though the words feel hollow. “It’s been four years. He probably moved on the moment I left.”

Dante’s silence says otherwise.

“Dante,” I press, needing him to say something, anything, that doesn’t feed into my worst fears.

“Serge isn’t the kind of man to let things go,” Dante finally says, his voice low. “You know that better than anyone.”

A chill runs down my spine. Memories of Serge flash through my mind—his intense eyes, the way he could command a room with a single glance, the rare moments of tenderness that always left me conflicted. I’ve spent the last four years trying to erase him from my life, but no matter how hard I try, he’s always there, lurking in the shadows of my mind.

“If Lorenzo’s meeting with Serge was about me…” My voice breaks, and I take a shaky breath. “What do I do, Dante?”

“You need to be prepared,” he says, his tone softening. “If they come for you, you can’t let them catch you off guard. I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe, but you need to be ready to act if it comes to that.”

I glance in the rearview mirror, as if expecting to see Serge’s car behind me. The countryside stretches out around me, vast and empty, but it suddenly feels suffocating.

“I can’t let them find me,” I whisper, more to myself than to Dante.

“You won’t,” he assures me. “We’ve stayed ahead of them this long. We’ll figure it out.”

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