The Cracks Within

The compound was quieter than usual after the attack, but the silence wasn't comforting. It was suffocating. Dante's men, normally loud and confident, moved with caution, their eyes darting suspiciously at one another. No one trusted anyone, and that paranoia only worsened as days passed without answers.

I spent most of my time shadowing Dante, feeling safer in his presence despite the tension radiating from him. He was relentless, interrogating his men one by one, digging for the traitor. But as the days stretched on with no breakthroughs, his frustration grew.

---

The Interrogation

Victor called me into the study one evening, his expression grim. "You should see this," he said, leading me down the hall to the basement where the interrogation room was located.

Inside, Dante stood before Maria, his posture stiff and his eyes cold. Maria, still bound to the chair, looked paler than before, her defiance worn down by days of confinement.

"You're testing my patience," Dante said, his voice low but laced with menace. "If you know something, now is the time to speak."

Maria gave a bitter laugh. "And risk my life for what? You'll kill me either way."

Dante stepped closer, his presence was overwhelming. "I'm not known for mercy, Maria, but I can promise you one thing: betray me, and I'll make your end slow. Help me, and you'll at least get a clean death."

Her eyes darted between Dante and Victor before landing on me. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of recognition—or was it desperation? I couldn't tell.

"You think I'm the problem," Maria said finally, her voice shaky. "But the real threat isn't me. It's someone you trust. Someone close."

Dante's jaw tightened, but he didn't speak. I felt a chill run through me as Maria's words hung in the air. Was she lying? Or was the traitor someone within Dante's inner circle?

Victor crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "You keep saying the same thing, Maria. If you can't give us a name, what good are you?"

Maria hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I don't know the name. But I overheard something. A meeting. They're planning to take Dante down, and Lorenzo's at the center of it."

Dante's eyes narrowed. "When? Where?"

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's happening soon. And they're not stopping until you're dead."

---

The Plan

Later that night, Dante gathered his closest allies in the study. Victor, Nico, and a few other trusted men were there, their faces grim as Dante outlined the situation.

"We need to find out who's leaking information," Dante said, his tone sharp. "And we need to act fast. If Maria's telling the truth, Lorenzo is planning something big."

Victor nodded. "We could set a trap. Feed false information and see who takes the bait."

"It's risky," Nico said, his brow furrowed. "If the traitor catches on, it could backfire."

Dante leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "It's a risk we'll have to take. We can't afford to sit and wait for them to make the next move."

I stayed quiet, listening as they debated strategies. Dante's world was one of constant danger, but this felt different. The stakes were higher, the lines blurrier. And for the first time, I wondered if we were in over our heads.

---

A Moment of Doubt

After the meeting, I found Dante in the courtyard, staring up at the night sky. The moonlight cast a pale glow over him, highlighting the tension in his features. I approached cautiously, not wanting to disturb him.

"You don't have to stay out here," I said softly. "It's cold."

He glanced at me, his expression softening slightly. "I needed air."

I stood beside him, wrapping my arms around myself to ward off the chill. "Do you think it's someone close to you? Someone in your inner circle?"

Dante's jaw clenched. "I don't know. But I can't rule it out."

The weight of his words settled heavily between us. I couldn't imagine what it must feel like to doubt the people you trusted most. To wonder if the person standing beside you might be plotting your downfall.

"You'll figure it out," I said, trying to sound confident. "You always do."

He turned to me, his eyes searching mine. "And what about you, Nelly? Do you trust me?"

The question caught me off guard. "Of course I do," I said quickly. "Why would you even ask that?"

He looked away, his expression unreadable. "Trust is a fragile thing, Nelly. Once it's broken, it's hard to repair."

---

The Trap is Set

The next morning, Dante put Victor's plan into action. He summoned his men and gave them a detailed briefing, outlining a fake shipment that was supposedly crucial to his operations. The goal was simple: see who would relay the information to Lorenzo.

As the day unfolded, I watched the compound with a growing sense of unease. Every interaction felt charged, every glance loaded with suspicion. The men were on edge, their loyalty tested in ways they hadn't expected.

By evening, the tension was palpable. Dante's men had reported back, but there was no sign of betrayal. Either the traitor was lying low, or they were more cunning than we'd anticipated.

---

A Shocking Revelation

As I prepared for bed that night, there was a knock at my door. Victor stood there, his expression grim.

"We found something," he said simply.

I followed him to Dante's office, where Nico and a few others were waiting. On the desk was a small recording device, its red light blinking ominously.

"We found this hidden in one of the guest rooms," Nico explained. "It's been recording for days."

Dante picked up the device, his face darkening. "Who was staying in that room?"

Nico hesitated. "One of the recruits. He's missing now."

The room fell silent as the implications sank in. The traitor had been right under our noses, watching and listening the entire time. And now, they were gone.

Dante slammed the device down on the desk, his frustration boiling over. "Find him," he ordered. "I don't care what it takes. Find him and bring him to me."

Victor nodded, already heading for the door. But as I watched Dante, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The traitor might have been exposed, but the real danger was still out there.

---

The Calm Before the Storm

In the days that followed, the compound buzzed with activity as Dante's men searched for the missing recruit. But even as they closed in on him, I couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was coming. Maria's warning echoed in my mind, her words taking on a new weight in light of recent events.

Lorenzo wasn't just a threat—he was a ticking time bomb. And unless we found a way to stop him, it was only a matter of time before he struck again.

But as I stood by Dante's side, watching him prepare for the inevitable confrontation, I knew one thing for certain: no matter what happened, I wouldn't let him face it alone.