Iris POV
I hit my fists against the dashboard of my car with a force that came from a deep place of desperation and sadness. The sound of my fists striking the hard plastic was loud echoing like thunder inside the small space of my car. Every punch seemed to make the chaotic feelings swirling inside me even louder like a storm that just wouldn't go away.
Tears flowed freely down my face creating trails that dug into the dirt and sorrow I was feeling. Each sob shook my whole body turning my deep sadness into something physical a visible sign of the grief that was overtaking me. It felt as if the turmoil I was experiencing had completely upended my life most dramatically.
Just a few days ago I had been moving through a dangerous world filled with crime and dishonesty finding comfort in the shadows and trying to stay safe. But now everything had changed. I was faced with a harsh reality that had become far more dangerous than I could have imagined.
Raf the man for whom I had such complicated feelings—sometimes he gave me hope and at other times reminded me of my pain—was on his way to a place that could potentially decide his fate forever.
The revelation hit me hard like a bullet that is sharp and unforgiving. I found myself thinking back on everything that had happened over and over again trying to make sense of the harsh reality. I had come to understand that Raf had not sent Hugo to take me to the docks to end my life. Instead, it turned out that Raf had wanted to protect me all along.
However, fate can be extremely cruel and twisted and ambition turns our lives into a chaotic mess full of destruction and despair. Hugo who was fiercely loyal to Raf was suddenly ambushed by Sam. Sam came at him like death personified a shadowy figure embodying betrayal and treachery.
The two of them engaged in a fierce fight much like two lions battling each other both desperate to win and survive. Even now I can still hear the echoes of their struggle in my mind haunting me with the memories. In the end, both of them fell together lifeless in a pool that represented both betrayal and blood.
Their violent battle managed to silence the darkness that enveloped our lives. At that moment my heart raced in a wild mix of grief and disbelief beating so fast that I felt it might just leap out of my chest.
“Raf!” I managed to call out his name but it came out in a stuttering gasp each sound escaping my lips as if it were a desperate prayer. I was breathless struggling to catch my breath between my sobs which came out in quick bursts as I hyperventilated from panic and fear.
His face appeared vividly in my mind that charming smile of his now haunting me as I tried to remember the warmth of his presence which felt so comforting just moments ago but had now turned icy in this crisis.
After the chaotic and intense fight we had just experienced I had rushed back home in a state of sheer panic my heart racing with a deep sense of dread only to confront the horrifying reality of my worst fears coming true.
Campani that cruel and relentless figure who had been creating chaos all around us had not hesitated even for a moment to strike hard and fast when the opportunity arose. Now Dahlia Raf’s beloved daughter—his shining light in this dark world—had been taken away from him snatched from his life like a fragile flower caught in the middle of a fierce storm.
The thought of her being taken twisted my heart painfully filling me with despair—how could this possibly be happening once again? It felt like the disturbing pieces of this deadly game were falling grotesquely into place and it filled me with anxiety to realize that Raf was inadvertently walking right into a trap that would lead directly to his destruction and he was doing it completely on his own.
All of a sudden the feeling of hopelessness that had been threatening to swallow me whole transformed into a strong and fierce determination. It sparked a little glimmer of resolve deep within me right at my center. I quickly wiped away the tears that had streaked my face using the back of my shaking hand.
A rush of adrenaline surged through my body pushing my thoughts to move forward. Even though I didn’t have any fighting skills or experience in combat I realized that I had to take some kind of action—literally anything!
In that moment of urgency and clarity, an idea struck me like a flash of lightning breaking through the darkness. I remembered the Giacomo Bellotti family. I had heard enough whispers about their ongoing rivalry with the Campani family to feel a tiny spark of hope within me.
If I could find a way to persuade the Bellottis to team up with us against Campani maybe just maybe we could come up with a plan to save Raf before it became too late.
I knew it was a long shot and that the odds were not in my favor but desperation drove me. I felt it was worth taking the risk if it meant I could help save someone I truly cared about.
My fingers were shaking with anxiety as I reached deep into my pocket to pull out my phone. I was hoping and praying that Luiza who is my closest friend and ally would answer my call on the very first ring.
She has always been there for me ready to help whenever I needed support even during moments when everything seemed difficult and overwhelming.
I kept saying to myself “Come on come on…” like a little chant as I focused all my energy on making sure the call would go through and connect.
“Hello?” Luiza's voice came through the phone. It sounded different than usual. It was heavy with something deeper than just being worried. Maybe it was fear or maybe it was exhaustion showing how the confusing and chaotic world we were living in was affecting her…