The Devil’s Secret

Blood and Escape

I woke up to screaming and for a second, I thought I was dreaming. But then I heard it again, it was a man’s voice begging, followed by a gunshot.

My whole body went cold and I sat up in bed. There was another gunshot, then silence.

I heard voices from outside, so I went to my door to listen. I could hear the guards saying they had caught him with a phone, sending information to someone, and that the Don wants everyone to see.

My stomach dropped as I knew they had caught someone who was a spy just like me.

I should’ve stayed in my room, but my curiosity got the best of me and I opened my door just a crack and looked out. When I saw the hall was empty, I went out.

I saw him and a man kneeling in front of him, his legs already full of blood.

“Who are you working for?” I heard him say.

“Please, I…” The guard choked on his own blood.

“My family… they threatened my family.”

“I asked you a question,” he said harshly.

“Vittorio Russo,” the guard said, and he started crying.

“He has my daughter. Please, Don Romano, please…”

Luciano pulled out a gun and the guard’s eyes went wide.

“No, wait—”

The gunshot was so loud I flinched as the guard’s body fell forward, blood pooling around him on the white marble floor. At that point, it felt as if air completely left me.

Luciano didn’t even look at the body. He just handed the gun to one of his men and said,

“Clean this up. And find his family. Make sure they’re protected.”

Then he looked up straight at me.

Our eyes met across the distance and I ran. I didn’t stop until I was back in my room with the door locked.

My hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold onto the handle. I had just watched a man die.

And Luciano had looked at me after like he wanted me to see it. This is what happens to spies.

I pressed my back against the door and slid down to the floor.

No, I couldn’t do this anymore. I couldn’t stay in this house, pretending to be a maid while spying for a man who might be just as dangerous as Luciano.

I just needed to leave and that would be tonight.

I waited until three in the morning when the mansion was quiet.

I packed nothing, just the burner phone in my pocket and the small silver cross Mateo gave me hidden in my bra.

I had been watching the guard rotations for days and I knew there was a ten minute gap between shifts at the east gate. If I was fast, I could slip through.

I opened my door slowly, checking the hallway.

It was empty, thank God.

I moved quickly as I just needed to get to the gate.

I stayed low, moving between hedges and statues, watching for guards. The east gate was just ahead and I could see it.

Then I heard footsteps behind me and I froze.

“Going somewhere, Elena?”

I turned slowly and Maria stood there, still in her nightgown, her arms crossed.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I lied.

“I just needed air.”

“At three in the morning? Past the garden?”

I didn’t answer, and Maria’s expression changed.

“You’re running,” she said as quietly as she could, but it sounded loud to me.

“Maria, please…”

“You can’t leave,” she said.

“They’ll kill you. Or worse, they’ll think you know something and they’ll torture you first.”

“I can’t stay here. You saw what happened tonight.”

“The guard?” Maria shook her head.

“He was caught sending information to Russo. What did you think would happen?”

“I don’t care. I’m leaving.”

I turned to go, but Maria grabbed my arm.

“Isla, listen to me…”

I froze.

“What did you just call me?”

Her face went pale. “I… I meant Elena… sorry—”

“You said Isla.”

Maria’s grip loosened and she looked away.

“I know who you are. I’ve known since you got here.”

My blood turned to ice.

“How?”

“Lorenzo told me. He showed me your picture, your real name, and everything. He said you were here to spy on Luciano and that I should watch you.”

I felt sick.

“You’ve been reporting on me this whole time?”

“He threatened my sister,” Maria said, tears filling her eyes.

“He said if I didn’t help him, he’d kill her. What was I supposed to do?”

“Let me go,” I said.

“I can’t. If you leave and they find out I saw you…”

Her voice trailed off.

“Then don’t tell them.”

Maria hesitated.

I pulled my arm free and ran.

Behind me, I heard her call my name, but I didn’t stop.

I reached the gate and the guard was gone for shift change, just like I had planned.

I squeezed through and started running. I didn’t know where I was going, but anywhere away from the mansion.

The road was dark and empty. There were no lights or any cars, just me and the sound of my own breathing.

I kept running until I saw the forest ahead.

If I could get through there, I’d reach the main road. I could hitchhike, get to the city, and probably disappear.

I ran into the trees, but it was darker here. The branches blocked out the moon and I could barely see where I was going.

I kept running anyway. Then at some point, I heard the sound of a car engine.

Oh no. They had found me already.

I ran faster, stumbling over roots and rocks, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.

The car was getting closer. I heard doors slamming and then a voice:

“There! I see her!”

No, no, no, no… goodness, f*****g no!

I ran harder, but my foot caught on something and I went down hard, pain shooting through my ankle.

I tried to get up, but hands grabbed me from behind.

I screamed and fought, kicking and trying to bite, but there were too many of them.

Someone hit me across the face and my vision went blurry.

“Stop fighting,” a voice said — but it wasn’t one of Luciano’s men. It was someone else.

Then a bag went over my head, and everything went dark.