The Secret of a Forgotten Heiress & a Don's Son

The first bullet shattered the window beside Massimo’s head, sending glass flying across the back seat. Down! His driver slammed on the brakes, and the black SUV swerved violently. Massimo grabbed the side of the seat to keep himself from being thrown against the door, his eyes immediately searching through the cracked windshield. For half a second, nobody spoke. Then another shot struck the hood. Three vehicles were blocking the mountain road, and men were already getting out. They weren’t hiding their faces, and they weren’t trying to scare them away. They had come prepared. Boss, his driver said quietly. Massimo was already reaching beneath his jacket. How many? The driver glanced through the windshield. At least ten, maybe more. Massimo stared at the vehicles ahead, his expression hardening. That’s too many for a robbery. I know. Another shot struck the windshield, making the glass c***k further. Massimo opened his door. Stay behind the vehicles. His men were already moving as the night suddenly came alive with shouting, slamming doors and the sharp sound of gunfire echoing between the trees. Massimo took cover behind the SUV and looked around carefully. He had lived around danger for most of his life. It wasn’t something he enjoyed, but it was something he had learned to understand. His father had taught him that lesson when he was young. Money didn’t make a family safe. Sometimes it made them easier to find. Their properties, businesses and influence had made the Moretti name powerful, but they had also made it a target. Massimo looked toward the road, his mind already working through the possibilities. Someone had planned this carefully. They knew his route, they knew his vehicle and they knew exactly when he would be traveling. That bothered him more than the attack itself. Left side, he shouted. Two of his men moved immediately. Don’t let them get behind us. The exchange lasted only a few minutes before the attackers began retreating. Some ran toward the trees while others abandoned their vehicles, and Massimo’s men pursued them until their footsteps disappeared into the darkness. Eventually, the road became quiet again. Massimo lowered his weapon. Everyone check in. One by one, his men answered. A few were injured, but nobody was seriously hurt. His driver approached him. We’re clear. Massimo looked toward the forest. I’m not convinced. His driver knew better than to argue. Massimo walked toward one of the abandoned vehicles, its driver’s door hanging open. Inside, he found a jacket, several weapons and a small communication device. He picked it up. The screen was still on. A message appeared. TARGET CONFIRMED Massimo stared at it, and something tightened in his stomach. Take this. He handed the device to one of his men. Find out who sent the message. Yes, Boss. Massimo turned away, but then he heard something. A faint rustling sound came from the trees. He stopped. Search the area. His men spread out, moving carefully through the darkness. A few moments later, someone called from the edge of the forest. Boss. Massimo walked toward them. We found someone. A figure lay beneath the trees. At first, Massimo assumed it was another attacker, but then the person moved. It was a woman. She was dressed in dark clothes, her hair partly covering her face. One of his men immediately raised his weapon. She’s armed. Massimo lifted a hand. Don’t shoot. The woman opened her eyes, and for one brief moment their eyes met. Massimo expected anger, but instead he saw fear. Real fear. Then it disappeared. She reached toward the weapon lying beside her, but Massimo kicked it away before she could grab it. The woman tried to stand, but he caught her wrist. Don’t. Let me go. Her voice was quiet but firm. Massimo studied her face. Are you with them? No. He glanced toward the abandoned vehicles. Then what were you doing here? She didn’t answer. Who sent you? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Massimo almost sighed. That’s not very convincing. Her eyes narrowed. Maybe I don’t care whether you believe me. That caught him off guard. Most people became nervous when they were surrounded by his men, but she seemed more worried about something else. Massimo looked at her clothes. She wasn’t dressed like the others. There was no uniform, no marking and nothing that identified her. He searched her jacket and found a small communication device, followed by a photograph. He pulled it out. His own face stared back at him. It had clearly been taken from a distance. Massimo looked at the woman. You’ve been watching me. She looked away. He lowered the photograph. Who are you? She remained silent. Massimo looked at his men. Take her to the car. The woman immediately resisted. Don’t touch me. Two men moved toward her, but she pulled against them. Massimo watched her carefully. She wasn’t crying or begging, but he could see how tense she was. Her eyes kept moving toward the forest as if she expected someone to appear. Then she looked directly at him. You don’t understand. Then explain it. You have no idea what you’ve walked into. Massimo studied her face for a moment. Then help me understand. She shook her head. I can’t. Can’t or won’t? She didn’t answer. Before Massimo could ask another question, her expression suddenly changed. She looked toward the trees, and this time the fear was impossible to hide. They’re coming. Massimo turned, and his men immediately raised their weapons. Who? She swallowed. The people who sent us. Massimo looked back at her. Us? She realized what she had said, and for the first time she looked genuinely trapped. Massimo’s eyes narrowed. So you are involved. She said nothing. A vehicle engine suddenly roared in the distance. Everyone turned as a black vehicle appeared between the trees. The woman pulled hard against the man holding her and managed to break free. Then she ran. Stop! Massimo went after her. She was fast, but she was tired, and he caught her near the edge of the road before grabbing her arm. She spun around. Let me go. Not until you tell me what’s happening. You need to let me leave. Why? She hesitated, her breathing uneven. Because if they find me with you, they’ll kill me. Massimo’s expression changed slightly. Who? She hesitated again before finally whispering, The Chairman. The name hit him harder than he expected. Massimo stared at her. He had heard that name before, years ago, from his father. His father had never explained who the Chairman was. He had only told Massimo one thing. Stay away from him. Massimo looked at the woman again. Who are you? She looked exhausted now, like she had finally run out of ways to avoid the question. My name is Alessia. Alessia what? She looked away. I can’t tell you. Massimo was about to question her again when the approaching vehicle stopped. A door opened. A man stepped out and raised his weapon. Massimo saw it before Alessia did. He pulled her behind him. A shot rang through the night, striking the ground nearby as his men immediately returned fire. The attacker disappeared behind the trees. Alessia stared at Massimo. You just saved me. Massimo looked at her. I needed you alive. Why? Because you know something. She gave a tired, almost bitter smile. That’s the problem. What? The more you know, the more dangerous this becomes. Massimo looked at her for a long moment. She wasn’t behaving like someone who had simply been caught spying. She looked like someone who had been pushed into something she couldn’t escape. He didn’t know whether to believe her, but he knew one thing. Someone had tried to kill her, and whoever had done it hadn’t cared whether she survived. Massimo turned toward his men. Take her. Alessia shook her head. No. He looked at her. Alessia. I’m not going anywhere with you. You can walk to the car. She stared at him. And if I don’t? Massimo paused before answering. I’d rather you walked. Something about the answer surprised her. He could have ordered his men to force her, but instead he was giving her a choice. A very limited choice, but still a choice. Alessia looked toward the forest. She knew what waited out there. The people who had sent her would not forgive her for being captured. She had already failed them, and she knew what they would do if she returned empty-handed. She slowly looked back at Massimo. You don’t understand what you’re getting involved in. Maybe not. He opened the car door. But I intend to find out. Alessia stood there for another moment before finally getting inside. Massimo followed after her. As the SUV pulled away from the mountain road, Alessia watched the trees disappear behind them. Her hands were trembling, so she quietly folded them together, hoping nobody would notice. She had been sent to spy on Massimo Moretti. She had been told he was dangerous, cold and unforgiving, a man who would destroy anyone who stood in his way. But when the opportunity came to leave her behind, he hadn’t. He had protected her. That wasn’t supposed to happen. Alessia looked toward him. Massimo was staring out of the window, unaware of what she was thinking. She looked down at her hands. There was one instruction she could still hear clearly, the same instruction the person who had sent her had given before she left. Get close to him. Earn his trust. Then destroy everything he loves. Alessia closed her eyes. She had expected Massimo to be the dangerous part of the mission, but she was beginning to realize that he might not be. The real danger was the secret she was carrying with her. And if Massimo discovered the truth before she was ready to tell him, neither of them would be safe.