By nightfall, the estate was locked down. Guards patrolled every corridor, and the gates were sealed.
Damian sat in the study, the fire casting long shadows across the room.
He had ordered a meeting—only his most trusted men. Luca, Rocco, and two others.
Enzo's name was on everyone's lips.
"He's gone," Rocco said. "No trace. No calls. Nothing."
"He's not gone," Damian replied. "He's hiding in plain sight."
Luca frowned. "You think he's still inside the city?"
"I think he never left."
The room fell silent.
Damian leaned forward. "We're being played. Every move we make, they're one step ahead. That means someone's feeding them information in real time."
Rocco shifted uneasily. "You think Matteo's still talking?"
"Matteo's chained to a wall," Damian said. "He's not the problem."
A knock interrupted them. Alessia entered, her expression calm but her eyes wary. "I didn't mean to intrude."
Damian stood. "You shouldn't be here."
"I heard voices," she said softly. "And I thought you might need coffee."
She set the tray down, her hands steady. The men exchanged glances.
Damian's tone softened. "Thank you."
As she turned to leave, Luca's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen—and froze.
"Boss," he said quietly. "It's Enzo."
Damian's heart pounded. "Put it on speaker."
A distorted voice filled the room. "You're too late, Damian. You should've listened to Matteo."
Then the line went dead.
The lights flickered.
And somewhere deep in the estate, an explosion shook the ground.
Smoke filled the east wing. Alarms blared. Damian ran through the corridor, shouting orders. "Get everyone out! Find the source!"
Luca coughed through the haze. "It came from the generator room!"
They reached the door—it was blown off its hinges. Flames licked the walls, devouring everything.
"Cut the power!" Damian yelled.
Rocco and two guards fought the fire with extinguishers. The air was thick with smoke and panic.
Then Damian saw it—a symbol scorched into the floor. A circle with three intersecting lines.
He froze. He had seen it once before—on Ricci's ring.
Luca followed his gaze. "What is that?"
"Proof," Damian said grimly. "This isn't random. It's a message."
By dawn, the fire was out. The east wing was in ruins.
Damian stood outside, his coat dusted with ash. Alessia approached quietly, her face pale. "Is anyone hurt?"
"Minor injuries," he said. "Could've been worse."
She looked at the blackened windows. "They won't stop, will they?"
"No," Damian said. "Not until I end it."
He turned to Luca. "Find Enzo. I don't care how long it takes."
Luca nodded. "And Matteo?"
"Keep him alive," Damian said. "He's the only one who knows what that symbol means."
As the sun rose over the smoldering estate, Damian clenched his fists.
The war had begun.
And this time, he wasn't waiting for the enemy to strike first.