EPISODE 7 — THE KING’S FINAL PROMISE chapter1-5
1711 Words
CHAPTER ONE
THE MORNING AFTER
The city was quiet.
For the first time in years, Adrian Valenti woke without reaching for the weapon beside his bed.
Sunlight entered through the curtains.
Mia was sleeping beside him.
He watched her for a moment.
Her hair was spread across the pillow.
Her face was peaceful.
She looked exactly like the woman he had fallen in love with years ago.
A simple girl.
A woman who had walked into his life without knowing who he really was.
A woman who had somehow survived every secret surrounding his family.
Adrian smiled.
He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
Mia opened her eyes.
“You’re staring again.”
“I like looking at you.”
“That’s creepy.”
He laughed.
“You married me.”
“Unfortunately.”
She smiled.
Adrian pulled her closer.
For a few minutes, neither of them spoke.
Then Mia noticed something.
“You’re wearing the ring.”
Adrian looked at his hand.
The old Valenti ring.
The ring that had belonged to generations of his family.
The ring that had once represented power.
“I thought you destroyed it.”
“I did.”
“Then?”
“This is different.”
Mia looked at it.
“Where did you get it?”
Adrian hesitated.
“It was in my father’s things.”
“Rafael?”
“Yes.”
Mia frowned.
“Why did he give it to you?”
“I don’t know.”
Adrian turned the ring over.
There was an engraving on the inside.
A sentence he had never noticed before.
THE LAST KING MUST CHOOSE.
Mia read it.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
She sat up.
“Then we’re not finished.”
Adrian smiled.
“Maybe.”
Mia sighed.
“Why does every peaceful morning with you become a mystery?”
“Because apparently my family doesn’t know how to leave me alone.”
She laughed.
Then a knock came from downstairs.
Adrian immediately became alert.
Mia noticed the change in his expression.
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know.”
He got out of bed.
“Stay here.”
She grabbed his arm.
“No.”
“Mia.”
“We’ve been through this.”
He looked at her.
She smiled.
“You don’t get to leave me behind anymore.”
Adrian shook his head.
“You’re impossible.”
“And you love me.”
“Unfortunately.”
They walked downstairs together.
Rafael was standing in the foyer.
His expression was serious.
Adrian frowned.
“What happened?”
Rafael held up an envelope.
“This arrived this morning.”
Mia looked at it.
There was no name.
Only the Valenti seal.
Adrian’s smile disappeared.
“Who sent it?”
Rafael shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Adrian opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed him and Mia on their wedding day.
On the back was a message.
YOU WON THE WAR.
Beneath it:
NOW PAY THE PRICE.
CHAPTER TWO
THE LAST ENEMY
Adrian immediately increased security.
Mia wasn’t surprised.
She had seen that expression before.
The expression he wore whenever danger was close.
“Adrian.”
He looked at her.
“Yes?”
“Whoever sent that wants you afraid.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“You are.”
He didn’t answer.
Mia stepped closer.
“You’re afraid for us.”
“Yes.”
She took his hand.
“Then don’t hide it.”
Adrian sighed.
“I spent my whole life believing fear was weakness.”
“And now?”
“Now I know fear means you have something worth protecting.”
Mia smiled.
“Exactly.”
Rafael entered.
“We found something.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
“The photograph was taken by someone inside our security perimeter.”
Mia’s expression changed.
“Someone inside?”
Rafael nodded.
“Which means they know everything.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Find them.”
Rafael hesitated.
“We already did.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Who?”
Rafael placed a photograph on the table.
A security officer.
Mia recognized him.
“He’s been working with us for eight years.”
Adrian stared.
“How long?”
“Since before you met Mia.”
Silence filled the room.
Mia looked at Adrian.
“Could he be connected to the Black Rose?”
“Maybe.”
Rafael shook his head.
“No.”
Adrian frowned.
“Why?”
“Because he wasn’t working for them.”
“Then who?”
Rafael pointed toward another photograph.
A man stood beside the officer.
Adrian’s face went pale.
He recognized him.
“Matteo.”
Mia froze.
“He’s dead.”
Rafael nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then that’s not Matteo.”
“No.”
Rafael looked at Adrian.
“It’s his son.”
Adrian stared.
“Matteo had another son?”
Rafael’s voice became quiet.
“Apparently.”
CHAPTER THREE
THE OTHER SON
The man’s name was Vincent Valenti.
He had never appeared in any family record.
He had never claimed the Valenti name publicly.
He had lived quietly.
Waiting.
Adrian studied his photograph.
“He looks like Matteo.”
Rafael nodded.
“That’s why nobody noticed him.”
Mia frowned.
“Why would he wait all these years?”
“Because he wasn’t interested in the empire.”
Adrian looked at Rafael.
“Then what does he want?”
Rafael’s expression darkened.
“Revenge.”
“Against me?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Rafael looked at Mia.
Her heart stopped.
“Me?”
“Your family.”
Mia swallowed.
“What did we do?”
“Nothing.”
Rafael sat down.
“But Vincent believes your family destroyed his.”
Adrian understood.
“Matteo blamed the Morettis.”
“Yes.”
“Vincent believed him.”
“Exactly.”
Mia looked at Adrian.
“So he thinks I stole his family.”
Adrian took her hand.
“You didn’t.”
“But he doesn’t know that.”
“We’ll make him understand.”
Rafael shook his head.
“Vincent isn’t interested in understanding.”
Adrian stood.
“Then I’ll stop him.”
Mia looked at him.
“Without becoming the man you used to be.”
Adrian paused.
She was right.
He had spent years fighting enemies with violence.
But every time he did, another enemy appeared.
This time, he needed to end the cycle.
Not continue it.
He turned toward Rafael.
“Where is he?”
“We don’t know.”
“Then find him.”
Rafael nodded.
Adrian looked at Mia.
“I promise.”
She smiled.
“Promise what?”
“I’ll protect you.”
Mia shook her head.
“That’s not what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“Promise me you’ll come home.”
Adrian looked into her eyes.
“I promise.”
CHAPTER FOUR
THE ABDUCTION
The attack happened two days later.
Mia had gone to the café.
Everything seemed normal.
Customers laughed.
Coffee machines hummed.
Employees moved between tables.
Then the lights went out.
Mia froze.
She knew that feeling.
Danger.
She reached for her phone.
No signal.
The back door opened.
A man entered.
Mia stepped backward.
“Who are you?”
He smiled.
“Your husband sends his regards.”
Mia immediately knew.
“Vincent.”
The man smiled.
“Smart.”
She grabbed a metal tray.
“Don’t come closer.”
He laughed.
“You’re exactly like the stories.”
“What stories?”
“That you’re the woman who changed Adrian Valenti.”
Mia kept her eyes on him.
“Then you should know he’ll find me.”
“I know.”
“Then you’re making a mistake.”
The man stepped closer.
“That’s exactly why you’re valuable.”
Mia suddenly attacked.
She struck him with the tray.
He stumbled.
She ran.
But another man appeared at the door.
She stopped.
Two more entered.
Mia’s heart raced.
She fought.
She screamed.
But they overpowered her.
As they pulled her outside, she saw her reflection in the café window.
Her wedding ring was still on her finger.
She touched it.
“Adrian.”
Then everything went dark.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE KING AWAKENS
Adrian was in his office when the call came.
“Sir.”
The voice on the phone was shaking.
“What?”
“It’s Mia.”
Adrian stood.
“What happened?”
“She’s gone.”
For several seconds, he couldn’t breathe.
Then everything inside him changed.
His employees knew that expression.
They had seen it before.
The mafia king was back.
Adrian grabbed his coat.
“Find her.”
Rafael entered.
“What happened?”
“Mia was taken.”
Rafael’s face hardened.
“Vincent.”
Adrian nodded.
“I know.”
“We need to think.”
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“We need to act.”
Rafael grabbed his arm.
“Adrian.”
He stopped.
“Don’t become Matteo.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
That sentence brought him back.
He remembered Mia’s promise.
Come home.
He couldn’t save her by becoming the man she had spent years trying to change.
He needed another way.
“Find Vincent.”
Rafael nodded.
“I will.”
Adrian turned toward his security team.
“No unnecessary violence.”
Everyone looked surprised.
Adrian continued.
“We bring Mia home alive.”
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Adrian answered.
Vincent’s voice came through.
“You always were your father’s son.”
“Where is my wife?”
“Safe.”
“If you hurt her—”
“You’ll what?”
Adrian remained silent.
Vincent laughed.
“You don’t sound like the king anymore.”
“I don’t want to be.”
“Then what are you?”
Adrian answered quietly.
“Her husband.”
Vincent paused.
“Interesting.”
“Let her go.”
“No.”
“What do you want?”
“Your ring.”
Adrian looked at his hand.
“The Valenti ring.”
“Bring it.”
“Where?”
Vincent gave him an address.
“Come alone.”
Adrian knew it was a trap.
But he also knew he would go.
For Mia.
Always.
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