Blood On The Streets

The morning after Antonio's public execution, a storm swept over Trento, soaking the city with cold, unremitting rain. The streets, typically bursting with life, were hushed hushed by fear, and by an impending war. News of Antonio's fate had traveled fast, and the Romanos' brutal response was a clear message: betrayal would not be tolerated.

At a small café by the harbor Luca, Sofia, and Marco met covertly with one of their remaining neutral allies, Giuliana Fabbri. Giuliana, a sharp-eyed woman in her forties known for working the criminal underworld without taking sides, had agreed to broker information about Isabella's next move.

"You've poked the hornet's nest," Giuliana said, taking a sip of her espresso. "Isabella's furious. Antonio was her way in her leverage. Now she is more dangerous than ever."

Luca bent forward in his seat, his tone steady but strong. "What does she have planned?"

Giuliana hesitated. "She's striking a deal with the Scarlatti family. "They're also getting reinforcements from outside Trento mercenaries, weapons, anything else she needs to reverse things."

Marco swore under his breath. "The Scarlattis? They're basically untouchable."

"There's nothing untouchable," Sofia said, sharply. "Where's the deal happening?"

Giuliana pushed a piece of paper across the table. "Tomorrow night. A shipping yard by the river. But you didn't hear it from me."

Luca nodded. "You've done your part. Now leave Trento. Things are gonna get ugly."

The Setup

That night, the Romanos assembled their most loyal soldiers in an empty warehouse near the docks. At the center stood Luca, a map of the shipping yard laid out before him.

"This is our opportunity to cripple Isabella," said Luca steadily. "If we can take out the shipment and the Scarlatti reinforcements, we can box her in."

Sofia pointed to the map. "We're going to break off into three groups. Marco, you're going to spearhead the ground assault. Eliminate the guards and make sure you secure the shipment. I'll cover from the east with a sniper team, and Luca…

"I'll face Isabella," Luca said. "She'll be there. This ends tomorrow."

Marco's jaw tightened. "You're putting yourself at risk all over again. Let me handle it."

"No," Luca said firmly. "This is my fight. I need to face her."

The Ambush

"The following evening the Romanos moved, under cover of darkness, with their vassals spread out amid the shipping yard. The rain had stopped falling, but the pavement was still wet and the tension was thick in the air.

I watched from on top of a stack of shipping containers as Marco and his team snuck up to the main warehouse. She looked through her scope, her finger hovering over the trigger.

"Movement on the west side," she said into her radio.

"Copy that," Marco replied. "We're in position."

Within the shadows of the warehouse, Luca emerged, aiming his gun at Isabella. She was standing beside a stack of crates and two heavily armed men.

"Luca," Isabella hissed, her tone thick with venom. "I was wondering when you were going to show up."

"This is finished, Isabella," Luca said coldly. "Instead of your reinforcements coming, surrender.

Isabella laughed. "Do you really think it's so simple? You can kill me, but you'll never kill the fire I've started."

While she spoke, a soft beeping drew Luca's attention. His eyes darted toward the crates booby-trapped with explosives.

The Betrayal

Outside, Marco's squad was locked in a vicious firefight with the Scarlatti reinforcements. Gunfire and shouted commands reverberated in the shipping yard.

"We're outnumbered!" Marco shouted into his radio. "Luca, we need to pull back!"

But Luca never got the chance to answer, as one of the Scarlatti men pressed the detonator. The explosion rocked the warehouse and sent Luca and Isabella flying across the ground.

Sofia's voice sputtered through the radio. "Luca! Do you copy?"

Groaning, Luca forced himself up to standing. The air was thick with smoke, debris was scattered across the ground. He saw Isabella, injured but alive, crawling toward an exit.

Luca pointed his gun, but something moved in his periphery. It was Matteo Ricci stepping from the shadows with a gun trained on Luca.

"You would've listened to Antonio," Matteo said with a sneer. "Now, you're gonna pay for your arrogance."

Then a gunshot, and it wasn't Matteo who went down but Sofia, just in time to take the shot.

"Luca!" she cried, hurrying to his side.

Luca faced off against her, his voice tense with urgency. "Isabella. She's getting away."

The Chase

Injured as he was, Luca chased Isabella through the debris of the shipping yard. She was fast, but Luca was clearer of purpose, and it propelled him forward.

At the water's edge, Isabella turned to him, knife in hand.

"This stops here," she barked.

Luca didn't hesitate. The two fought, and every punch was fueled by a decade of hate and resentment. After a long struggle, Luca overpowered Isabella, disarmed her, and pushed her to the ground.

"You're done," he said, in a low voice.

But before he had to give the final blow, he heard the sound of sirens. Police flooded the area, their lights slicing through the chaos.

The Aftermath

The Romanos withdrew as law enforcement assumed control of the scene. Isabella was arrested and the Scarlatti reinforcements dispersed.

Back at a safe house, Luca and Sofia treated their wounds.

"It's not over," Sofia said softly.

Luca nodded. "But it's a start."

The rain began to fall again, cleaning up the blood on the streets, but the wounds of the conflict would linger for the Romanos and for Trento