In the Shadows of the Mafia Lord

sol

" I muttered to myself, ste

sharp voice over my shoulder. "

My stomach churned. Santiago had always been cold, but tonight there was something

motherfucker!" I hi

nderstand," he growled. "If you care a

pear into the crowd. But as I turned back to the balcony,

w? And if he did, why was

oing through the empty space. He didn't even flinch, leaning b

I'm the enemy?" I demanded, m

his dark hair. "Because you're askin

ser. "Why does everyone act like my father's na

uldn't answer. But then he stood, closing the distan

voice low but lethal. "Your father was a traitor,

ungs. "You... you

back. "If I hadn't stoppe

scream or kiss him and that terri

o a storm of rage and confusion. I sat in my car outside the clu

myself," I whispered,

her's empire had crumbled years ago still smelled of smoke and betrayal. I walked thr

or ghosts,

out of the darkness, his face half-hidden b

t of this," he said, pull

imed to have been my father's closest ally. W

he said, lighting a cigarette wi

?" I de

om like the walls had ears. "You w

efore he could answer, the door burst op

oo late. The first shot rang out, and I s

urned their attention to me. My hands shook as I reached for the

houted, aiming a

"You don't h

he man fell, clutching his chest. The others hesitated,

ained notebook, the final cl

before Rafael's car pulled up beside m

," he o

until you tell me what

ng a dangerous game, Marisol. That notebook won't

it?" I challenged myself, yanki

I saw fear behind his anger. "If you keep

shaking with resolve. "Then

ind raced with possibilities. What door did it open? What secr

es. It was old, the kind of key that didn't belong in

e had a small locked cabinet he never

destroyed in the fire.

headed out into the night, my heart

Memories hit me like a wave as I stepped through the broken doorway

rds creaking under my weight. The cabine

k. It turned smoothly, and the door creaked open

breath catching as I pul

nts. Transactions that tied

tood out, circ

ago V

e hell

s voice was sharp, cutting thr

e club when he confronted me

I shot back, clutching the ledger ti

house is dangerous. You d

" I snapped, shoving the ledger

s, his expression darkening

e," I said bitterly. "W

ilence spo

pressed, stepping closer. "

firm but not painful. "Drop th

ng away. "You don't get to

drink. Her face lit up when she saw me, but her smil

said, sliding into the

w. "What kind of tro

g the ledger on the table. "Does

in, lowering her voice. "He's b

e every

working on something big, something that could've changed everything. But whe

what?" I

hadows," she whispered. "If you're diggin

outskirts of the city. I knew it was a trap, but I

ting for me, his presen

id, his voice low and grav

as," I demanded, gripping th

think you're read

es," I snapped. "

interrupted, stepp

t you won't like

ed by rage and desperation. When it was over, the sc

whispered, "Santiago...

club, Rafael was waitin

" he said, his t

oice," I said, my

the room feel smaller. "This ends now, Ma

ontrol me,"

iercing. "You're walking a dangerous line. If

ke that risk," I said, m

ch both tender and firm. "You don't

stand," I whispered

yes filled with something I couldn't qui

, his voice heavy with finality. "

h anymore. I wanted the t