THE VENDOR AND THE MAFIA BOSS

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The sound of tires crunching on gravel filled the silence of the night as Amara and Marco pulled up to a hidden safe house on the outskirts of Manila. The area was isolated, surrounded by thick foliage and distant city lights that barely pierced the dense darkness. They had been on edge since leaving Rafa’s mansion, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead made every step feel heavier than the last.

Amara stepped out of the car first, her mind still racing from the encounter with Rafa and Victor. The scene had felt like a standoff, the lines between friend and foe blurring as the reality of betrayal set in. She had barely left the mansion alive, and even now, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Rafa was still watching her, waiting for the right moment to strike.

But something had shifted in Rafa’s demeanor, something she couldn’t quite place. That phone call, the sudden change in his posture—it had been too deliberate to be coincidental. There was more at play here than just power struggles and rivalries. Rafa was hiding something, and it was only a matter of time before that secret came to light.

She looked over at Marco, whose expression was a mixture of concern and determination. His normally stoic face was clouded with uncertainty, but his resolve had never been clearer. They needed answers, and they needed them fast.

“What do you think’s going on, Marco?” she asked, her voice low as she walked toward the entrance of the safe house. She didn’t wait for him to catch up before pushing the door open. Inside, the dim lighting made the narrow hallway feel even more constricting.

“I don’t know,” Marco replied, his voice tense. “But whatever it is, it’s bigger than we imagined. Rafa’s reaction to your accusation... was almost too calm. He didn’t even try to deny it.”

Amara nodded, her eyes scanning the room as she stepped inside. It was a simple, stark place, meant only for short stays. A single bed sat against the far wall, surrounded by metal furniture that seemed as cold and unwelcoming as the people who used it.

“I should’ve known something was off,” she muttered, rubbing her forehead. “I trusted Rafa. I worked for him. But I never really knew him.” She paused, reflecting on the time they had spent together. “There were always whispers about him, about his ties to the dark side of the city. But I thought... I thought I could trust him. I was wrong.”

“You’re not the only one,” Marco said quietly, closing the door behind them. “Victor... I should’ve seen the signs. But we were focused on the bigger picture, on taking down rivals, expanding our reach. We never imagined that the true enemy would be one of our own.”

Amara turned to face him, her expression hardening. “Victor’s been playing us from the start. I can’t believe I ever let my guard down on him. It’s all been a game to him, hasn’t it? He wanted to control everything—me, Rafa, even this city.”

“Control, manipulation... it’s what Victor does best,” Marco said with a sigh. “But I think it’s deeper than that. There’s something about Rafa’s behavior tonight. I’ve never seen him like that—he wasn’t just letting you go. He was letting you think you'd won.”

Amara frowned, unsure of what Marco meant. “What do you mean?”

“I think Rafa wants you to believe you’ve got the upper hand,” Marco said slowly, moving toward a table in the corner. “But he’s playing a longer game. He knows you’ll come for him. And he’s counting on it. The phone call... wasn’t just a distraction. It was a message.”

“From whom?” Amara’s voice dropped. “Who was at the other end?”

Marco shook his head, clearly as frustrated as she was. “I don’t know. But I’ve seen enough to know that Rafa doesn’t act without a plan. He’s always two steps ahead, and he’s using Victor as his pawn to keep you off balance.”

Amara’s gut twisted. The reality of the situation was far worse than she had imagined. Not only had she been betrayed by two people she thought she could trust, but now she was caught in a web that Rafa had spun deliberately. He had always been ruthless, but this?

This was next-level manipulation.

“We need to get answers,” she said, her voice resolute. “I’m not walking away from this until I know the full truth.”

Marco nodded. “Agreed. But we have to be careful. Rafa won’t play fair. And Victor... I’m not sure where his loyalties really lie anymore.”

Amara paused, her thoughts swirling like a storm. She had known Victor for years, worked alongside him, and shared secrets with him that no one else knew. The idea that he was capable of betraying her—of betraying them both—seemed unfathomable.

“He’s been playing both sides,” she whispered, a sense of betrayal heavy on her chest. “I just didn’t see it.”

“You’re not the only one,” Marco said again, his tone softer this time. “But it’s not over yet. We’ll get the answers, Amara. One way or another.”

Amara didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she moved to the small desk in the corner of the room, where a laptop was sitting. She powered it on and began scrolling through recent news reports and files. The longer she stared at the screen, the more she felt like the pieces of a larger puzzle were falling into place. But there was still a missing piece—something that connected everything together.

Her eyes narrowed as she saw a name pop up in the search results—a name she hadn’t expected to see again.

She clicked on the article, her heart pounding as the words on the screen came into focus. Isabella Reyes was a former associate of Rafa’s, a woman whose name had been tied to a number of shady deals and disappearances. The article spoke of a series of illegal operations that had been shut down, but it also hinted at a much deeper connection between Rafa, Victor, and Isabella.

Amara felt a chill run down her spine. Isabella Reyes had vanished several years ago, and no one had been able to track her down. Now, it seemed that her disappearance might be tied to the very heart of the betrayal she was trying to uncover.

“Marco,” Amara called, her voice urgent. “I think I’ve found something.”

Marco quickly moved to her side, peering over her shoulder as she highlighted the article. His face darkened as he read the information.

“Isabella Reyes?” Marco murmured. “She was a part of Rafa’s inner circle. If she’s involved in this…”

Amara didn’t let him finish. “It means we’re closer to the truth than we thought. But this also means danger is closer than we realized. Isabella is a ghost. If Rafa’s hiding something that involves her, it’s bigger than we ever imagined.”

Marco clenched his fists, his jaw tight with determination. “Then we find her. We find her, and we get the answers. No more running. No more games.”

Amara nodded, her resolve strengthening. The hunt was on. And this time, she wouldn’t stop until the truth came to light, no matter the cost.