His Debt, My Revenge

Chapter Two

THE NEW DONNA

The car moved slowly along the winding streets of Rome, its tires gliding over the damp cobblestones.

Valentina sat in the back seat with her eyes closed, facing the tinted window as she struggled to keep her emotions under control.

She knew this moment would come. She had prepared herself for it countless times, yet she had believed she had grown past allowing her emotions to overwhelm her.

Apparently, she was wrong.

The car finally stopped in front of her new home.

Valentina opened her eyes and stared at the house.

It had been designed to resemble her childhood home. The structure, arrangement of the rooms, and even some of the decorations were almost exactly the same.

Everything was familiar.

Except for the security.

Tall walls surrounded the property, cameras covered almost every corner, and armed guards stood around the compound.

This wasn't simply a home.

It was a fortress.

As soon as the guards saw her car approaching, they immediately straightened.

The gates opened, and the car entered the compound.

One of the men in suits quickly stepped forward and opened the door.

"Donna Valentina," they greeted in unison, bowing respectfully.

Valentina stepped out and simply nodded.

She walked toward the main building as a staff member opened the door for her.

The moment she stepped inside, her breath caught.

The interior looked exactly as she remembered it.

The enormous family portrait still hung across the dining room wall.

Her parents stood beside her in the picture, all three of them smiling happily.

For a brief moment, Valentina was transported back to a time when she still believed her family would always be together.

She quickly pushed the memory away.

The staircase was beautifully illuminated, and the enormous chandelier glittered above her.

Everything had been designed according to her instructions.

Everything except the people who had once filled the house.

They were gone.

Everything is the same, she thought.

Except the people living in it.

Her bags were carried upstairs as she continued toward her office.

Her best friend and right-hand woman, Isabella, was waiting for her.

The moment Valentina approached, Isabella lowered her head respectfully.

"Welcome home, Donna," she said, a teasing smile appearing on her lips.

Before Valentina could respond, Isabella suddenly pulled her into a tight hug.

"It's been six years since we last saw each other!" she exclaimed. "And look at you. You look colder... and sexier. I like it."

Valentina rolled her eyes, but a small smile appeared on her lips.

"You're still the same."

"And you're still pretending you don't like my compliments," Isabella replied.

The two women continued down the hallway together.

Valentina glanced at her.

"How have you been all these years?"

"I've been fine. Just managing things and carrying out my duties," Isabella replied. "Someone had to make sure everything was ready for your dramatic return."

Valentina gave her a look.

"Drama?"

"Six years away, a mysterious return, armed guards everywhere..." Isabella shrugged. "Sounds dramatic to me."

Valentina almost laughed.

Isabella had been her best friend since kindergarten. They had grown up together, shared secrets, dreams, arguments, and almost every important moment of their lives.

She was one of the few people Valentina trusted completely.

That was why Valentina had placed Isabella in charge of her businesses and affairs while she prepared for her return.

If she wanted revenge against Salvatore, she needed someone she could trust without question.

And there was no one she trusted more than Isabella.

"Has everything I asked for been taken care of?" Valentina asked.

"Yes, Donna," Isabella replied, deliberately emphasizing the title.

Valentina stopped walking.

"You know you don't have to call me that."

Isabella raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, really? So I can go back to calling you Vally?"

"Only when we're alone."

Isabella grinned.

"Deal."

They continued walking.

"Every entrance to the estate is secured," Isabella explained. "No one enters without authorization. Your bedroom and office are completely restricted, and the security system has been upgraded."

"Good."

"We also installed surveillance throughout the estate. You can monitor everything from your office."

Isabella glanced at her.

"Of course, I had to make sure my best friend doesn't get murdered five minutes after coming home."

Valentina shook her head.

"You're impossible."

"I know."

They reached Valentina's office.

Isabella opened the door.

Valentina stepped inside.

A large desk stood in the center, with files neatly arranged across it. Security monitors covered one side of the wall, displaying different areas of the estate.

She looked around.

For six years, she had waited for this moment.

Now revenge was no longer a distant dream.

It was within reach.

"Follow me," she said.

They walked toward the private study.

The room had been designed to resemble the study where her father had once worked.

Valentina entered and slowly ran her fingers across the desk.

For a moment, she imagined her father sitting there.

A painful feeling formed in her chest.

She pushed it away.

"Are they all here?"

"Yes."

Isabella's playful expression disappeared.

"Everyone you summoned is waiting."

"Tell them I'll be down in fifteen minutes."

"Yes, Donna."

Isabella turned to leave but paused.

"Vally?"

Valentina looked at her.

"You don't have to do everything alone."

Valentina stared at her for a moment.

"I know."

Isabella smiled before leaving.

Valentina remained alone.

She walked toward the window and looked at the beautiful flowers in the garden. The tall buildings of Rome glittered in the distance.

"The time I've waited for all my life is finally here," she whispered.

Her expression hardened.

"Revenge, Salvatore."

She turned away from the window.

"Now is not the time to remember."

She looked at the files on her desk.

"Now is the time to work."

---

Fifteen minutes later, Valentina entered the private meeting room with Isabella beside her.

Several people were seated around the long tables.

The moment they entered, the entire room fell silent.

Everyone immediately stood.

"Donna Valentina."

Their voices echoed through the room as they bowed.

Valentina walked confidently toward the seat waiting for her at the head of the table.

She sat down.

"Sit."

Everyone obeyed.

All eyes were now on her.

Valentina looked around.

"How are things going?"

A man seated on her right answered immediately.

"Everything is under control, Donna. The businesses are doing well, and our people have maintained their positions."

Valentina nodded slowly.

Then she looked around the room again.

"Then why are you all looking at me as though you've seen a ghost?"

Silence followed.

The members exchanged uneasy glances.

Isabella folded her arms.

"Well?" she asked.

Finally, a man stood and approached Valentina with an envelope.

He handed it to her.

Valentina opened it.

A photograph slid out.

Her eyes immediately fell on the face staring back at her.

Salvatore.

Older.

More refined.

More powerful.

But unmistakably him.

Six years had passed since she had last seen him.

Six years since those green eyes had looked at her while her entire world collapsed.

The fear was gone now.

There was only hatred.

"He is still in Rome?" she asked.

"Yes, Donna."

"How powerful is he?"

"Very powerful."

Valentina's eyes narrowed.

"Be specific."

"Salvatore controls several businesses throughout Rome and has influence over numerous families. Many people who once worked with your father now work for him."

Valentina's fingers tightened around the photograph.

"So he took control of everything."

"Yes. He's also interfering with some of our business operations."

"How many families are loyal to him?"

"We don't have an exact number."

"Then get me the exact number before the next meeting."

"Yes, Donna."

The man hesitated.

"There is something else."

Valentina looked at him.

"Several of your father's former associates are now working with Salvatore."

Her eyes darkened.

So he didn't just take my father.

He took his businesses too.

She picked up another photograph.

It showed Salvatore standing beside another man.

"Who is this?"

"Marco Bellini. One of Salvatore's closest associates. He handles several of his businesses and is heavily involved in the organization's financial affairs."

Valentina studied the photograph.

"Marco Bellini..."

Isabella leaned closer.

"Interesting."

Valentina glanced at her.

"Something on your mind?"

"Not yet. But I'll find something."

Valentina nodded.

A man at the table asked, "Are you planning to buy him?"

Valentina shook her head.

"No."

She placed the photograph on the table.

"I'm going to use his weakness against him."

"And Salvatore?" the man asked. "Are you going to kill him?"

For the first time that evening, Valentina laughed.

It wasn't a happy laugh.

It was cold.

Almost frightening.

"No."

She stood.

"Something far better."

Everyone watched her.

"I'm going to infiltrate his organization."

She picked up Marco's photograph.

"And I'm going to steal his businesses and organization right from under his nose."

Isabella smiled.

"Now that's the Vally I remember."

Valentina gave her a warning look.

"Focus."

"I am focused."

She paused.

"Mostly."

A few nervous smiles appeared around the table.

Valentina's expression became serious again.

"Not a single word about my return is to leave this room."

Everyone stood.

"Yes, Donna."

She stopped at the door.

"And I want every detail you can find about Marco by tonight."

Isabella nodded.

"You'll have it."

Valentina gave them one final look before leaving.

The doors closed behind her.

For six years, she had prepared for this.

Now the game had finally begun.

---

SALVATORE'S POV

Across the city, Salvatore stood beside the large window of his office, looking down at the glowing streets of Rome.

His thoughts were elsewhere.

For some reason, a memory he hadn't visited in years suddenly returned.

A little girl with striking blue eyes.

Six years ago, she had stood trembling before him, frightened but still stubborn enough to glare at him defiantly.

Don't do that, principessa.

He remembered catching her hand as she reached for the carved statue.

He had left her alive that night.

He had never known what became of her afterward.

For years, he had convinced himself that she was probably dead or had disappeared far away from Rome.

Yet tonight, he found himself wondering about her.

I wonder what happened to the little girl.

Salvatore frowned and pushed the thought away.

She belonged to the past.

And the past was something he had no intention of revisiting.

A knock sounded on the door.

"Come in."

One of his men entered.

"Boss."

"What is it?"

"Someone has been asking questions about our organization."

Salvatore's eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

"We don't know yet."

"Then find out."

"Yes, Boss."

The man turned to leave.

"Wait."

He stopped.

"How long?"

"Three days."

Salvatore's expression hardened.

"Increase security around all our businesses. I want to know who is asking these questions before they make another move."

"Understood."

The man left.

Salvatore turned back toward the window.

For some strange reason, the memory of the little girl returned again.

Those blue eyes.

That frightened face.

That stubborn little girl who had looked at him as if she hated him even then.

He hadn't thought about her in years.

But something about tonight felt different.

His phone suddenly rang.

Salvatore answered.

"Yes?"

The voice on the other end sounded tense.

"Boss, there's something you need to see."

"What?"

"We've just received information about someone who has recently returned to Rome."

Salvatore frowned.

"Who?"

There was a brief silence.

Then the man spoke.

"Valentina."

Salvatore froze.

For the first time in six years, the little girl's name echoed through his mind.

He slowly turned away from the window.

"Valentina...?"

Across Rome, Valentina stood alone in her office, unaware that her return had already been discovered.

The game had begun.

But neither of them knew...

who would fall first.