(Alessandro’s POV)
The world narrowed to the dying man on the floor and his final, impossible words. The Serpent’s wife.
My mind, usually so quick and strategic, went blank. The Serpent was a ghost story, a myth from my father’s time. A powerful, unknown rival who had supposedly been wiped out decades ago, along with his entire family. And his wife… she was supposed to be long dead.
Marco’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he lost consciousness. My only link to this new, unbelievable truth was fading.
“Keep him alive!” I roared, the command echoing in the ruined study.
The tactical part of my brain took over, pushing down the shock. I had a wounded asset, a compromised location, and an enemy who was now a complete mystery.
“Marcus, get our mobile medical unit to the rendezvous point
