THE ENEMY WITHIN
976 Words
The Mafia King’s Forbidden Wife
Chapter Twelve: The Enemy Within
Trust was a fragile thing.
Elena had learned that the hard way.
In less than a week, everything she believed about her family had collapsed.
Her father was hiding secrets.
Her mother had been involved in a dangerous war.
And the man she married — the man everyone called a monster — was the only person who seemed willing to protect her.
But now…
Even Adrian had secrets.
And the worst part was that Elena no longer knew which ones were meant to protect her…
And which ones were meant to protect him.
---
The next morning, Elena found Adrian in the dining room.
He looked like he hadn’t slept.
Neither had she.
They sat across from each other in silence.
A silence filled with questions neither wanted to ask.
Finally, Elena spoke.
“Who is Luciano?”
Adrian looked up.
“You know who he is.”
“No.”
Her voice was calm.
“I know who you say he is.”
A shadow crossed his face.
“You don’t trust me.”
The words were quiet.
Almost painful.
Elena looked away.
“I want to.”
That answer surprised him.
“But every time I think I know the truth, another secret appears.”
Adrian lowered his eyes.
Because she was right.
He had spent years protecting people through silence.
But silence had become the reason she couldn’t trust him.
---
“I received a message.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What message?”
She hesitated.
Then showed him her phone.
His expression changed when he saw the picture.
Luciano.
Alive.
Standing beside her mother.
The same image he had received.
“He sent this to you?”
“Yes.”
Adrian took a slow breath.
“He wants us to doubt each other.”
“Maybe.”
Elena studied him.
“Or maybe he wants me to see something you’re hiding.”
The words hurt.
She saw it.
A small c***k in his expression.
But he didn’t get angry.
He didn’t shout.
He simply said:
“Maybe you should.”
Elena frowned.
“What?”
“Maybe you should question everything.”
She stared at him.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because trust should be earned.”
For the first time, Adrian De Luca was not demanding loyalty.
He was allowing her to choose.
And somehow, that made it harder.
---
Later that day, Adrian took Elena somewhere she never expected.
The old De Luca family estate.
The place where he grew up.
The mansion was abandoned now.
Covered in dust.
But the memories were still alive.
“This is where Luciano disappeared?”
“Yes.”
Elena walked through the halls.
Pictures covered the walls.
Generations of De Lucas.
Powerful men.
Dangerous men.
Men who built their names through fear.
“This place feels sad.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Sad?”
“Yes.”
She touched an old painting.
“Like everyone here lost something.”
Adrian was quiet.
Because she had just described his entire life.
---
They entered an old study.
Adrian opened a hidden drawer.
Inside was a journal.
Elena looked at him.
“Whose is that?”
“My father’s.”
She watched as he opened it.
The pages were old.
Many were missing.
But one page remained.
Adrian read silently.
Then his face changed.
“What does it say?”
He handed the journal to her.
Elena read the words.
"The Rossi girl carries the answer. When the time comes, the De Luca heir must decide whether to protect her or destroy her."
Elena looked up.
“The Rossi girl?”
Adrian nodded.
“My father knew about you before you were born.”
A chill moved through her.
“Why?”
Before Adrian could answer…
A voice came from behind them.
“Because your mother was never just a victim.”
They turned.
A man stood in the doorway.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
With eyes that looked strangely familiar.
Adrian froze.
“Luciano.”
The man smiled.
“Hello, little brother.”
---
For a moment, nobody moved.
Fifteen years of anger.
Pain.
Questions.
All stood between the brothers.
Adrian’s voice was cold.
“You’re alive.”
Luciano smiled sadly.
“Disappointed?”
“You let everyone believe you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
“You had a choice.”
Luciano stepped into the room.
“And so did you.”
Elena watched them carefully.
Because despite the anger…
There was something else.
Pain.
They weren’t enemies who hated each other.
They were brothers who had lost each other.
“Why are you here?” Adrian asked.
Luciano looked at Elena.
Then at the necklace around her neck.
“Because she finally has the key.”
Elena stepped back.
“What key?”
Luciano’s eyes returned to hers.
“The key your mother died protecting.”
Adrian moved in front of Elena.
“Stay away from her.”
Luciano laughed softly.
“Still protecting everyone except yourself.”
Then his expression became serious.
“Adrian, you need to understand something.”
“What?”
Luciano looked at Elena.
“Your wife is not the reason this war started.”
A pause.
“She is the reason it will end.”
---
Before anyone could respond, the mansion shook.
A loud explosion came from outside.
Luciano looked toward the window.
“They found us.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Luciano’s expression turned dark.
“The person who has been controlling this entire war from the beginning.”
Elena’s heart raced.
“Who?”
Luciano looked at Adrian.
And said:
“Your father’s closest friend.”
Silence.
Because the enemy was not outside their families.
The enemy had been sitting beside them for years.
To be continued…
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