Page 31 of Until It Ends

As he leaves the room, Enzo follows close behind, casting a conflicted look at me before disappearing through the door.

Leonardo turns to me, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and admiration. "You're playing a dangerous game over that girl, son," he says.

"I know," I reply. "But it's a game I intend to win."

Thirty-One

Valeria

Isettle into the deep, hot bath, trying to find some relief from the exhaustion that has consumed me these last few days. I am always tired, and no amount of sleep seems to be enough anymore. My body aches when I move, even though lying in bed is what drains my energy these days. But even in the bath I can't escape the fear that lurks within me.

I've never been pregnant before, and I don't know what to expect. I don't have anyone to talk to. The nurses are all loyal to Polo and his sons and I can't be too careful around them.

I'm going to leave. I have money saved up and my plan is already in place. I became a nobody years ago and I can do it again for the sake of myself and my baby.

The door flies off its hinges with an ear-shattering crash, and I recoil in terror as Rocco storms into the room. My pulse races faster than a galloping horse as the realization strikes me that I'm alone and defenseless against this monstrosity. Fury glows in his eyes like burning embers, and I know he will feast on my vulnerability. Polo and Enzo have gone to a meeting.

"What are you doing here?" I manage to stammer, trying to cover my vulnerable state with my arms.

Rocco's eyes narrow as he yanks me out of the bath, my wet skin making me shiver. He sneers as he sees me covering my pregnant belly, his cruel gaze piercing through me.

"Trying to hide something, Valeria?" he mocks, throwing a robe at me. You're knocked up, aren't you? You can't keep secrets from me." He lifts the stolen phone I hid under the mattress as if it makes him proud to have found it. "You've been spreading our secrets too just like you've been spreading your legs...sister."

I try to hold back tears, knowing resistance will only make things worse.

He yanks me out of the room and into the back yard. My feet slip on patches of loose gravel, and my knee painfully rubs against a log. He holds tight to his grip around my wrist, squeezing with all his might every time I try to wrench free. The crunch of dry leaves and the squeak of branches sets my teeth on edge as we pass through the garden. A scream threatens to escape my lips, but I bite back against it, trying in vain to keep quiet. My nails dig hard into my hand until they draw blood, and I use that pain to hold onto my sanity as he drags me behind him.

"You don't have to do this, Rocco," I plead.

He doesn't hesitate to make his intentions clear. "Dante is going to pay for everything he's ruined," he seethes, his voice dripping with venom. "And you're going to help me make sure of that."

I bite back a retort, knowing better than to provoke him further. He straps me into the seat and races along some back roads. No one else is in the car with us. No bodyguards, soldiers, no one else. That tells me that Rocco has acted on his own.

He slams on the brakes suddenly and my body lurches forward. He yanks me out of the van directly onto the ground. We're in the woods, it seems.

With every step, my heart sinks as I realize we're not heading to some fancy mansion or hotel this time. I can feel the dread building up inside me as we approach a dilapidated shed in the middle of nowhere.

The foul smell of decay and death fills the air, and I hear the unsettling hiss of a snake nearby. Rocco shoves me inside, and I stumble on the uneven ground. Panic overwhelms me as he locks the door, leaving me trapped in this dark and filthy prison.

"You'll stay here until Dante returns all the assets he took from us," Rocco says, his voice harsh and unyielding.

"I had nothing to do with this," I protest, but my words only seem to fuel his anger.

"You have everything to do with this!" he snaps, his face contorted with rage.

As he leaves me handcuffed and tied up alone in the darkness, I hear the sound of the snake or snakes once more. I curl myself up into a fetal position on the sand and wait.

In the silence, I can't help but wonder how things spiraled out of control so quickly. The love I once thought could bridge the divide between our families now feels like a distant memory, overshadowed by the darkness that engulfs us all.

I close my eyes, trying to shut out the fear and uncertainty that consume me. My mind races with thoughts of Dante and the danger he now faces because of me. I want to protect him, to shield him from the wrath of my own family, but I feel helpless, trapped in this filthy shed with no way out.

I cling to the hope that someone will come looking for me, that Polo or Enzo will realize something is wrong. But deep down, I know that Rocco has planned this carefully, ensuring that I'm isolated and vulnerable.

As I wait for the chance to break free, I take comfort in the life growing inside me. My child gives me hope, a reason to keep fighting, and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is still light to be found.

Thirty-Two

Dante

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