A LOVE WRITTEN IN BLOOD

THE WAR BEGINS

Victor did not move. He stood beside the open door, staring at the wooden box in Joan’s hands as though it contained something far more dangerous than a key, a letter, and an old photograph. For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Rain tapped steadily against the tall windows, filling the silence between them. Joan watched his face, searching for the fear she had seen moments earlier. It was gone now, replaced by the same controlled expression he had worn in the alley. “You knew my father was planning for this,” she said. Victor closed the door behind him. “I knew he was afraid.” “That isn’t what I asked.” He walked toward the desk and looked at the photograph. “Your father came to mine three days before his death. He told him someone was watching your family.” Joan tightened her grip on the letter. “And you never thought to tell me?” “I didn't know where you were.” “You could have found me.” Victor looked at her. “I tried.”

The answer stopped her. “What do you mean?” Victor picked up the photograph carefully. “After your father died, I asked questions. My father refused to tell me everything. Two weeks later, he was dead.” Joan stared at him. “You think the same people killed both of them.” “I don't think. I know.” He placed the photograph on the desk. “The problem is that I still don't know why.” Joan stepped closer. “Maybe the letter tells us.” Victor read the sentence again. His jaw tightened. “Your father trusted me because he knew my father would protect you.” “But your father couldn't.” “No.” Victor's voice became quieter. “Neither could mine.” Joan looked down at the key. It was small, old, and made of dark metal. A strange symbol had been carved into its handle. “Do you recognize this?” Victor took it from her. The moment he saw the symbol, his expression changed. “Where did you find it?” “In the box.” “Did your father ever mention the Raven?” Joan shook her head. “What is it?” Victor placed the key down. “A name.”

Before Joan could ask another question, heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway. Victor immediately moved between her and the door. His hand went beneath his coat. Joan felt her heart race. The handle turned. A man entered and stopped when he saw Victor. He was one of Victor’s men, dressed in a dark suit, his face tense. “Sir, we have a problem.” Victor didn't lower his hand. “Talk.” “The security team found two vehicles near the eastern gate.” “How many men?” “Six that we could see.” Victor’s eyes narrowed. “And the others?” “We don't know.” Joan looked at him. “They found us already?” “They found the house,” Victor said. “That's different.” The man continued, “There’s something else. Bellini Tower has been breached.” Joan’s stomach tightened. “My family’s office?” “Yes.” “Marco?” “He's still unconscious, but alive.” Joan exhaled shakily. “Can I see him?” Victor looked at his man. “Where is he?” “Medical room.” “Take her.” Joan started toward the door, then stopped. “You're not coming?” Victor shook his head. “I have something to handle.” She frowned. “You expect me to trust your people?” “No.” He looked directly at her. “I expect you to trust me.”

Joan followed the man through the corridor. The house seemed even larger now that she knew danger had reached it. Paintings covered the walls, most showing members of the Valenti family across different generations. She passed a portrait of Victor as a teenager standing beside an older man who had to be his father. Victor looked younger, but the same guarded expression was already there. At the end of the corridor, they entered a private medical room. Marco lay on a bed, his face pale but peaceful. Joan rushed to his side. “Marco.” His eyes opened slowly. “Joan?” She grabbed his hand. “I'm here.” He tried to sit up, but she stopped him. “Don't.” Marco looked around. His eyes widened when he noticed the Valenti guard. “Where are we?” “Victor brought me here.” Marco became serious. “Victor?” “Yes.” He swallowed. “You shouldn't trust him.” Joan frowned. “Why?” Marco glanced toward the door. “Because Dad warned me about him.” “What did Dad say?” Marco hesitated. “He said Victor was dangerous.” Joan remembered Victor’s answer in the alley. Very. “Did Dad say anything else?” Marco closed his eyes briefly. “He said if anything happened to him, we should stay away from the Valentis.” Joan felt confused. “Then why did he leave me a letter telling me to trust Victor?” Marco stared at her. “He did what?”

Joan showed him the letter. Marco read it twice. His face changed. “That's Dad’s handwriting.” “I know.” “Then something happened between these two messages.” Joan nodded. “Victor said the same thing.” Marco looked toward the door again. “Joan, listen to me. Before Dad died, he received a call every night. He never told me who was calling, but one night I heard him arguing with someone.” “What did he say?” “He kept saying, ‘The girl has nothing to do with this.’” Joan’s blood ran cold. “The girl?” Marco nodded. “I asked him about it. He told me never to ask again.” Joan looked at the key in her hand. “Maybe he wasn't protecting me from the people chasing us. Maybe he was protecting them from me.” Marco stared at her. “What does that mean?” “I don't know.” She closed her fingers around the key. “But I'm going to find out.”

Across the house, Victor stood in the study with three of his men. A map of Ravenhurst covered the desk. Red marks surrounded Bellini Tower, Saint Aurelia Clinic, and several warehouses near the river. “They aren't attacking randomly,” Victor said. “They're closing every route connected to Joan.” One of his men pointed to the map. “There's movement here.” Victor leaned closer. “The old railway station.” “Exactly.” Victor's eyes hardened. “Send two teams. Quietly.” “And the police?” “Keep them away.” The man hesitated. “Sir, if this is who we think it is...” Victor looked at him. “It is.” Silence filled the room. Another man spoke. “The Raven?” Victor nodded. “They've been waiting years.” He looked toward the window. “And now they've finally shown themselves.” His phone vibrated. He answered immediately. “Yes?” A distorted voice spoke on the other end. Victor's expression became colder. “You should have stayed hidden.” The voice laughed. “Your father said the same thing.” Victor went completely still. “What do you want?” “The Bellini girl.” “No.” “Then more people will die.” Victor ended the call.

He stood silently for a moment. One of his men asked, “What did they say?” Victor looked toward the hallway where Joan had disappeared. “They want her.” “Why?” “Because she has something they need.” His man glanced at the wooden box. “The key?” Victor shook his head. “The key opens something. It isn't the thing they're afraid of.” “Then what is?” Victor didn't answer.

Joan returned to the study with Marco’s warning still in her mind. She found Victor standing alone beside the window. “You knew about the Raven.” Victor turned. “Yes.” “And you knew my father was involved.” “Yes.” “How long?” “Long enough to understand that telling you too much could get you killed.” Joan stepped closer. “People are already trying to kill me.” Victor didn't argue. “What is the Raven?” “A network that has existed in Ravenhurst for decades. Politicians, businessmen, criminals, people with influence. They don't rule openly. They control things from behind them.” Joan looked at the key. “And my father?” “He discovered something he wasn't supposed to discover.” “What?” Victor hesitated. “A list.” “A list of what?” “Names.” Joan stared at him. “Whose names?” Victor's answer was quiet. “Everyone who belongs to the Raven.” She understood immediately. “And my father hid it.” “Yes.” “Where?” Victor looked at the key. “That's what we need to find out.”

A loud explosion shook the house. Joan stumbled. Victor caught her before she hit the floor, then immediately released her. Alarms began ringing throughout the building. Men shouted in the corridor. Victor drew his weapon and moved toward the door. “Stay here.” Joan grabbed his sleeve. “What happened?” “They're inside.” “Who?” Victor looked at her. “The war.” He disappeared into the hallway. Joan stood frozen for a second before hearing Marco’s voice through the open medical-room door. “Joan!” She ran toward him. Behind her, the lights went out. The house fell into darkness.

In the silence, a voice came through the speaker system.

“Joan Bellini.”

She stopped.

“You have something that belongs to us.”

Her fingers closed around the key.

Then the voice continued.

“Bring it to the old railway station before midnight, or your brother dies.”

Joan looked toward Marco.

Outside, thunder rolled across Ravenhurst.

For the first time, Joan understood why her father had hidden the box. Whatever waited at the railway station was not merely a secret. It was the reason everyone wanted her alive.

The war had begun.