The devil's Vow

Chapter 3:The briefcase

The leather briefcase felt heavier than it looked.

Rain drummed against its worn surface as Lucien stared at it without touching the lock.

Around them, the cemetery was still drowning in chaos.

Smoke curled into the grey sky.

Ambulances screamed through the cemetery gates while Lucien's men secured the area, escorting terrified mourners to safety.

Ariana's eyes remained fixed on Mr. Romano's lifeless body.

Only minutes ago, he had been standing beside her.

Now he was gone.

Another person she loved...

Taken from her.

Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.

"This isn't real..."

Her voice cracked.

"It can't be."

Lucien looked at her.

His expression remained unreadable, but there was something different in his eyes.

Not pity.

Understanding.

"We have to leave."

Ariana slowly turned toward him.

"My father's lawyer just died."

"I know."

"My father died three days ago."

"I know."

"And you're telling me to leave?"

"Because if we stay another five minutes..."

He glanced toward the cemetery entrance.

"...you'll be next."

As if proving his words, one of his guards hurried over.

"Boss."

Lucien looked up.

"Speak."

"We intercepted one of the attackers."

"Alive?"

"Barely."

"Did he talk?"

The guard hesitated.

"He only said one thing."

Lucien's jaw tightened.

"What?"

"'Find the girl before De Luca does.'"

Silence settled between them.

Ariana felt the blood drain from her face.

"The girl..."

she whispered.

"They mean me?"

Lucien nodded once.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I'll explain."

"No."

She stepped back.

"No more half-truths."

Her breathing became uneven.

"You arrive at my father's funeral."

"You tell me he promised me to you."

"My lawyer dies."

"People are trying to kill me."

She pointed at the briefcase in his hand.

"And somehow you know exactly what that is."

Her voice trembled with anger.

"Who are you?"

Lucien held her gaze.

"My name is Lucien De Luca."

"I already know that."

"I lead the De Luca family."

"What family?"

A faint, humorless smile crossed his lips.

"The one newspapers are too afraid to write about."

Ariana's heart skipped.

She had heard that name before.

Late-night news reports.

Business scandals.

Rumors.

Whispers.

The De Luca family.

Europe's most feared mafia empire.

"No..."

She shook her head.

"My father would never work with criminals."

"He didn't."

"Then why do you know him?"

"Because twenty years ago..."

Lucien paused.

"...he saved my life."

Ariana frowned.

"My father?"

"He found me after an ambush."

"I was seventeen."

"I should have died."

"He refused to leave me there."

"He carried me for almost two kilometers despite being injured himself."

She stared at him.

"My father never mentioned that."

"He wasn't supposed to."

Lucien looked down at the rain-soaked grave.

"He hated violence."

"He wanted you to grow up far away from my world."

"Then why are you here?"

His answer came without hesitation.

"Because I made him a promise."

Ariana swallowed hard.

"What promise?"

Before Lucien could answer, a black sedan sped into the cemetery.

Its tires screeched across the wet road.

One of Lucien's men immediately drew his weapon.

"Boss!"

Lucien turned.

The car door opened.

An elderly man stepped out wearing an expensive charcoal suit.

Silver hair.

Sharp blue eyes.

A polished cane.

Every guard instantly lowered his head.

"Consigliere."

The old man ignored everyone else.

His eyes settled on Lucien.

"You should have left already."

Lucien frowned.

"I was about to."

"The council knows."

For the first time since Ariana had met him...

Lucien looked genuinely concerned.

"How?"

"We have a traitor."

The words landed like thunder.

The old man finally noticed Ariana.

"So..."

he murmured.

"This is Marco Moretti's daughter."

Ariana stiffened.

"You knew my father?"

The old man smiled sadly.

"He was the bravest man I ever met."

"He also made the most dangerous decision of his life."

Ariana stepped closer.

"What decision?"

Instead of answering, the old man looked at the briefcase.

"Open it."

Lucien hesitated.

"If the documents are inside..."

"They already know."

Lucien slowly unclasped the locks.

Click.

Click.

The lid opened.

Inside...

There were no stacks of cash.

No weapons.

No confidential files.

Only a single envelope.

And an old photograph.

Ariana picked it up with trembling fingers.

The picture showed six men standing shoulder to shoulder.

One of them was her father.

Another...

was a much younger Lucien.

The remaining four men had their faces crossed out in thick red ink.

Across the back of the photograph, someone had written five chilling words.

Only one of us survived.

Ariana looked up, her heart pounding.

"What does this mean?"

Lucien's face hardened.

"It means..."

He looked toward the cemetery gates as another convoy of black vehicles approached.

"...the war has just begun."