Cassandra slowly regained consciousness, her head pounding and her vision blurry. As the haze lifted, she found herself tied to a chair in a dimly lit room. The rough ropes bit into her wrists, and she could hear the faint, distant sound of water dripping.

Beside her, Roman was also tied up, his head slumped forward, but his breathing was steady.

A door creaked open, and the silhouette of a tall, imposing figure filled the doorway.

As the figure stepped into the light, Cassandra's heart sank. 

It was Enzo, one of the most feared enforcers in the mafia underworld. His cold, calculating eyes scanned the room before settling on Cassandra.

"Welcome back," Enzo said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I must say, your curiosity has brought you to a very dangerous place."

Cassandra struggled against her bindings, her mind racing to come up with a plan. "What do you want, Enzo?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

Enzo chuckled, a menacing sound that echoed off the walls. "It's not about what I want, Cassandra. It's about what you know. Your parents left behind quite a trail, and you've been following it diligently. But some secrets are meant to stay buried."

Roman stirred, lifting his head and blinking rapidly as he took in their surroundings. "Enzo," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "This isn't going to end well for you."

Enzo's smile widened. "Brave words for someone in your position. But enough of this. Let's get to the point." He walked over to the table and picked up the stack of photographs Cassandra and Roman had found.

"These pictures... they could be very problematic for certain people. Powerful people."

Cassandra's mind flashed back to the photographs, the faces of her parents alongside unfamiliar figures. "We just want the truth," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination. "We want to know who killed them and why."

Enzo's expression hardened. "The truth? The truth is dangerous, Cassandra. It has the power to destroy lives, topple empires. Sometimes, it's better to live in ignorance."

Before Cassandra could respond, the door opened again, and another figure entered the room. It was a woman, her face obscured by shadows, but there was something familiar about her presence.

"Enzo, that's enough," the woman said, her voice firm and authoritative. "We don't need to resort to violence. Not yet, anyway."

Enzo stepped back, clearly displeased but obedient, and left the room leaving the three of them.

The woman stepped into the light, revealing herself to be someone Cassandra already knew.

"You..." Cassandra whispered, recognition dawning on her. "You're... Aunt Antonella?"

Antonella stepped fully into the dim light, her expression unreadable. "Surprised, Cassandra? You shouldn't be. In our world, trust is a luxury few can afford."

Cassandra's mind raced. The photographs, the secrets they uncovered, and now this—the woman she once considered family was standing before her as an enemy. Roman, still groggy, looked at Antonella with confusion. "Antonella, what is this? Why are you doing this?"

Antonella's gaze shifted to Roman, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Roman, how are you? I still remember the look on your father's face when we killed him. He was just as surprised as you are right now."

Cassandra clenched her fists, struggling against the ropes that bound her. "You betrayed us," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. "You betrayed Cosimo, too. Does he even know what you're doing?"

Antonella's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "Cosimo is blissfully unaware, as he should be. Some things are better left in the dark, Cassandra. Like the truth you're so desperate to uncover."

Before Cassandra could respond, Antonella turned to Enzo, who had silently reentered the room and stood waiting for her command. 

"End this," she ordered, her voice firm and devoid of any emotion.

Enzo nodded, stepping forward with a deadly calm.

Cassandra's eyes widened in horror as the reality of their situation sank in. "Antonella, please!" she begged, her voice cracking. "You don't have to do this!"

Antonella didn't waver. "I'm afraid I do, Cassandra. You've seen too much, and now... it's time to say goodbye." With that, she turned on her heel and left the room, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor growing fainter as she walked away.

As the door closed behind her, Cassandra and Roman were left alone with Enzo, whose expression remained cold and detached.

He walked around the room, methodically pouring flammable liquids as Cassandra and Roman watched in helpless terror.

Cassandra's mind raced, desperately searching for a way out. "Enzo, please," she implored, her voice shaking. "There's no need for this. We're not a threat to you."

Enzo paused, the lighter in his hand. For a brief moment, it seemed as if he might reconsider. But then, with a grim finality, he flicked the lighter open.

"Orders are orders," he muttered before tossing it onto the fuel-soaked floor.

Flames erupted instantly, roaring to life as they devoured the room. The heat was overwhelming, and the smoke thickened the air, making it hard to breathe. 

Enzo turned and left, leaving Cassandra and Roman to their fate.

Cassandra struggled against her bindings, the rough ropes cutting into her wrists.

"Roman, we need to get out of here!" she shouted over the roar of the flames. Roman, now fully alert, fought against his restraints with renewed vigor.

The fire spread rapidly, engulfing everything in its path. Outside, they heard the sound of a car engine revving up and driving away—Antonella was gone, and they were alone, left to burn.

Roman finally managed to free himself and quickly untied Cassandra. They stumbled toward the door, but the flames were already too close, making it impossible to escape that way.

"The window!" Roman shouted, pointing to the small, barred window on the far wall. But just as they made a move toward it, a section of the burning ceiling collapsed on Cassandra, knocking her to the floor.

"Cassandra!" Roman screamed, but before he could reach her, more debris fell, separating them.

Cassandra's world became a blur of pain and chaos as the burning debris crashed down around her. The intense heat seared her skin, and the smoke choked her lungs, making every breath a struggle. The weight of the fallen beams pinned her to the floor, rendering her unable to move.

"Roman..." she gasped, trying to call out to him. But her voice was weak, barely audible over the roar of the fire. She could hear Roman shouting her name, desperation evident in his voice, but the flames and smoke created an impenetrable barrier between them.

Roman, on the other side of the collapsing room, fought through the flames to reach her. His heart pounded as he frantically searched for a way to free her. But the fire was spreading too quickly, and the structure was rapidly becoming unstable.

"Cassandra! Hold on!" Roman shouted, his voice filled with panic. He tried to move the burning debris, but it was too hot to touch, and the smoke made it nearly impossible to see.

Cassandra coughed violently, her vision dimming as the lack of oxygen began to take its toll. She could feel her strength slipping away, the heat becoming unbearable. But she couldn't give up—not now. She had to survive, for Roman, for the truth, for everything they had fought for.

Through the haze, Cassandra saw a faint glimmer of light—a small opening where the debris hadn't completely covered her. Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she reached out, trying to claw her way toward it.

"Roman... I'm here..." she whispered, barely able to muster the words.

Roman finally spotted her through the smoke and flames. His heart nearly stopped when he saw her trapped, but just as he moved closer, another section of the ceiling collapsed, and everything went dark. 

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Hi Lupe here!!!!

How's the chapter? Anyways no one's reading this so I didn't feel like updating this book. 

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Thanks for reading!