Shattered Vows: A Mafia’s Fall

Chapter 13- A Choice In The Dark

Aurora blinked as she emerged from the alley with Lena at her side. The hooded stranger led them through a narrow side street while the sound of the engine from the approaching vehicle grew louder. Aurora’s heart hammered in her chest as the stranger pulled them into a hidden doorway behind a rusty old wall. He pushed the door open and motioned for them to slip inside.

They found themselves in a long, dim corridor with peeling paint and scattered debris. The only light came from a few cracked windows high above, and the sound of distant city life made the place seem both eerie and empty. The hooded stranger did not say a word as he guided them along the corridor. Every step felt heavy with danger, and Aurora gripped the ledger tightly against her chest. She still did not know if they could trust this man, but she had little choice.

At the end of the hall, they reached a small, secure room. The stranger pulled the door closed behind them and finally removed his hood. His eyes were cold and steady as he met Aurora’s gaze. “This is a safe room for now,” he said in a low voice. “We have only a few minutes before they find you here.” His tone was firm, and his hands were steady as he inspected the room’s door and windows.

Lena shifted uneasily beside Aurora. “Who are you? Why are you helping us?” she asked.

The man paused for a moment before replying. “I go by the name of Rocco. I once worked for the people you are trying to expose, but I turned away from their ways. I have lost too much because of their greed, and now I help those who have the courage to fight back.”

Aurora’s mind raced. She remembered the betrayal of Vince and the painful shock of Matteo’s lies. At least here was someone who seemed to be on their side. “Do you know anything about the ledger?” she asked, her voice low but steady.

Rocco nodded. “I have seen these names before. Your ledger holds evidence that can bring them down, but it can also make you a target for the rest of them.”

Aurora swallowed hard. “Then we have to act fast. I need to reach the person who can use this evidence,” she said, recalling Antonio’s safe house and the plan they had set earlier.

Rocco frowned. “Antonio is good, but sometimes the best help is not to run forever. What you hold is a ticket to a long war. You must decide if you want to keep running, or if you want to stand and fight for the truth.” His eyes searched Aurora’s face, as though he wanted to be sure she understood the weight of his words.

Before Aurora could answer, a muffled sound of footsteps and voices outside the safe room made them all freeze. The sound of heavy boots echoed in the corridor, and someone shouted urgently from outside the door, “They are here!”

Rocco cursed softly and sprang to the door. He quickly checked the lock and whispered, “We do not have much time.”

Aurora looked at Lena. Both women knew that their next steps mattered. They had two choices now: follow Rocco’s lead and stand their ground here to fight, or run again into the night and risk never getting answers at all.

Aurora’s mind flashed back to the sound of Vince calling her name in desperation, to the betrayal that had started it all. She thought about the ledger in her arms. “I have to end this,” she said quietly. “I will not run in fear forever. I want to fight for the truth. I need help I can trust.”

Lena nodded, her face hard with determination. “I am with you, Aurora. Whenever you're ready.”

Rocco studied them both for a long moment. “There is a door through the back of this building,” he explained. “It leads to a tunnel that comes out near the warehouse district. From there, you can reach a safe zone where a small group of fighters waits. They have the connections, and they will spread your evidence far and wide. But you must move now.”

Just then, a crash was heard from the corridor. The door rattled as voices grew louder. “They are breaking in!” Rocco hissed. With no time to lose, he bolted toward the door and pushed it open a crack, peeking outside.

Aurora and Lena did not wait. Clutching the ledger, the two women followed Rocco down a set of steep, creaking stairs that led to a basement corridor. The tunnel smelled of damp earth and old metal. Every step in the darkness felt as if it could be their last.

They moved silently, guided only by the faint light from Rocco’s flickering torch. Footsteps behind them grew louder, and the sound of shouted orders carried through the tunnel. Rocco signaled for them to press against the wall. “They are close,” he whispered. “I will make a stand at the next fork in the tunnel. Once we reach that point, you have to choose: run alone to the fighter’s safe zone, or wait for me. I might not make it.”

Aurora’s eyes burned with urgency. “Rocco, please, don’t leave us,” she pleaded.

He shook his head, his jaw tight with determination. “I have no choice. I must hold them so you can get away with what you have. I believe in what you do, and I will do what I can. Now, hurry.”

Rocco turned and disappeared deeper into the tunnel, leaving Aurora and Lena to move forward. The tunnel branched at a dark junction. Aurora paused, her heart racing as she listened for any sign of danger. Lena looked up at her, eyes filled with worry.

“Our only way out is the left tunnel,” Aurora said. “That is where the safe zone is supposed to be.”

Lena hesitated. “But if we leave without him, what if they get him?”

Aurora’s voice trembled but held firm. “We know that once we get to the safe zone, we can fight back with the evidence. Rocco made his choice. I trust we have to keep moving.”

They took a deep breath and stepped into the left tunnel. The narrow space opened into a hidden passage that led to the old warehouse district. The air was thick with the smell of rust and dampness, and faint light showed the outline of abandoned buildings above. Outside, distant sounds of sirens and shouting filled the air.

At the end of the tunnel, they found a heavy metal door. Aurora gave it a cautious push. Beyond lay a small courtyard, deserted and cold under the night sky. Rain fell in a slow, steady drizzle that made the ground muddy. A battered sign above the door read “Safe Zone.” It was a modest building with barred windows, far from the city’s gleaming lights, but it promised protection.

They slipped inside quietly. The room was small and sparse: a couple of chairs, a table, and a single flickering lamp. Aurora sank onto one of the chairs while Lena kept a lookout by the door. Aurora opened the ledger again, turning the pages slowly as she tried to find a starting point among the names and deals. Every name was a clue, every number a reminder of how deep corruption went.

Before they could plan what to do next, the door suddenly banged open. Both women tensed, hands reaching for weapons. A figure stood in the doorway, soaked by the rain and breathing hard. It was Rocco. He had a small cut on his cheek and his eyes were tired but determined. “I managed to slow them down,” he said, his voice low, “but I cannot hold them much longer.”

Aurora rushed to him. “Rocco, thank you. I am so sorry you had to—”

“Save it,” he interrupted softly, not looking at her. “We do not have much time. They are regrouping outside. I have hidden a radio in this room that should contact our fighters. I will use it to give them our location. When help arrives, you must leave immediately with Lena. I will stay behind to buy you some time.”