STOLEN REVENGE

Chapter Nineteen: The Founders' Vault

The Founders' Vault had never been breached.

For one hundred years, it had existed only as a legend whispered among kings, presidents, and crime lords. Hidden beneath Raveno City, it held the secrets that had shaped empires and destroyed nations.

And tonight, it was waiting for its heirs.

Dante stared at the silver key Luciano had given him.

"What exactly is inside the Vault?" he asked.

Luciano's expression darkened immediately.

"Everything." "That doesn't answer my question." "It answers more than you realize."

Gabriel turned toward Dante and spoke quietly.

"The Vault contains every secret The Circle has protected for generations bank accounts, identities of politicians, intelligence files, and enough evidence to destroy governments."

"And if we destroy it?" Sofia asked.

"The Circle dies with it."

Valentina frowned. "Then why hasn't anyone destroyed it before?"

Luciano smiled bitterly. "Because only two people can open it."

Everyone looked at Dante. "No," Gabriel corrected him quietly. "Only two people."

The realization immediately struck them.

"Dante and Nyx," Valentina whispered.

Luciano slowly nodded. "The blood of Isabella Romano must stand united before the Covenant can be fulfilled."

Suddenly, Gabriel's computer emitted a warning signal.

"They're moving," he announced.

"Who?" Dante asked. "Everyone."

The satellite images displayed nearly fifty armored vehicles approaching the underground entrance to the Founders' Vault.

The Thirteen had come prepared for war.

"There are more than three hundred operatives," Gabriel continued. "They're mobilizing every asset they have."

Luciano's face immediately grew pale. "Then we're already too late."

"No," Dante replied confidently as he loaded his weapon. "We're exactly on time."

For the first time that night, Luciano smiled. DwdAlessandro Moretti had raised him well.

Forty-five minutes later, Dante's convoy entered the forgotten tunnels beneath Raveno City.

Built nearly a century earlier, the underground city was older than the criminal empire built above it.

Ancient stone walls stretched endlessly into darkness while hidden railways connected forgotten chambers beneath the metropolis.

"The Founders built this place?" Valentina asked.

"No," Gabriel replied quietly. "Their ancestors did."

The revelation immediately caught everyone's attention. "What do you mean?" Sofia asked.

"The Circle is much older than one hundred years," Luciano answered. "What we're fighting tonight has existed for nearly four centuries."

Silence filled the vehicle.

"Four hundred years?" Dante asked.

Luciano slowly nodded.

"The founders merely inherited it. Just like we inherited its sins."

Before anyone could ask another question, the convoy suddenly came to a violent stop.

"What happened?" Dante demanded.

Gabriel immediately checked the surveillance monitors. "Oh, this isn't good."

"What?" "They're waiting for us."

Dozens of masked soldiers slowly emerged from the darkness.

Every one of them carried the symbol of the serpent. The Thirteen had expected them.

"They knew we were coming," Sofia whispered.

"No," Luciano corrected her quietly. "They wanted us to come."

An explosion suddenly destroyed the first vehicle in the convoy. The underground tunnel immediately erupted into chaos.

"AMBUSH!" Gabriel shouted. Gunfire exploded from every direction.

Dante immediately pushed Valentina behind cover before returning fire.

Luciano emptied an entire magazine into approaching operatives while Sofia coordinated their movements through their communication devices.

"They've sealed both exits!" she shouted.

"Then we'll make our own!" Dante replied. The battle beneath Raveno City had begun.

Meanwhile, somewhere deep inside the Founders' Vault, Nyx stood silently beside Selene Black.

"The heir is coming," Selene smiled.

"Good." "You'll kill him if necessary?"

Nyx remained silent for several moments before answering. "Yes."

Selene smiled triumphantly. "And your mother?"

Silence.

Nyx slowly lowered her eyes. She didn't know why, but Isabella's tears continued to haunt her thoughts. The woman on the screen had called her daughter.

For twenty-five years, she had belonged to The Thirteen. So why did hearing that single word feel so painful?

"Doubt is dangerous," Selene whispered. "I do not doubt." "You hesitated." Nyx clenched her fists. "I am loyal to The Thirteen."

Selene laughed softly. "Then prove it."

She handed Nyx a silver dagger engraved with the symbol of The Circle.

"The Covenant requires the blood of both heirs."

Nyx frowned. "What is this for?" Selene smiled wickedly. "When Dante arrives, I want you to cut out his heart yourself."

For the first time in her life, Nyx felt something she could not explain. Fear.

Back inside the underground tunnels, Dante's team had lost nearly half their men.

"They're pushing us toward the eastern passage!" Gabriel warned. "Why?" Valentina asked. Luciano suddenly froze.

"Oh God." "What?" "The Founders' Chamber." "What's wrong with that?"

His expression immediately darkened.

"That's where the Covenant ceremony takes place."

Everyone suddenly realized what was happening. "They don't want to stop us from reaching the Vault," Dante whispered.

"They want us inside it."

The entire mission had been carefully orchestrated from the beginning.

Selene had never intended to keep them away. She wanted Dante and Nyx standing together before the Covenant.

And that terrified Luciano more than anything else. "There's something you're not telling us," Dante said coldly.

Luciano remained silent. "What is it?" Gabriel slowly closed his eyes before answering for him.

"If both heirs reject The Circle, it dies forever." "And if they don't?"

Silence filled the tunnel. "What happens if we fail?" Dante asked once more.

Luciano finally spoke. "If both heirs willingly accept their inheritance..."

His voice trembled slightly.

"They become the rulers of everything."

Dante immediately understood.

"The Circle isn't choosing between life and death tonight." "No."

Luciano slowly looked toward the enormous doors of the Founders' Vault appearing before them.

"It's choosing its new king and queen."

Before anyone could react, the massive stone doors slowly began opening by themselves.

And standing in the darkness waiting for Dante was Nyx.

For the first time in her life, she was crying.

And the silver dagger in her hand was covered in blood that did not belong to her.

"She's escaped!" Valentina whispered. "No," Nyx replied quietly.

Her trembling voice immediately alarmed Dante. "I killed her."

Silence fell upon the ancient chamber. "What?" Dante whispered.

Nyx slowly collapsed to her knees as tears streamed down her face. "I killed our mother."