A Message in Blood
The peace didn't last.
It never did.
The penthouse was alive with quiet tension.
Men moved in and out, checking weapons, securing entrances, speaking in low, urgent tones. The air itself felt heavier—like something was coming.
And everyone knew it.
Isabella stood near the glass wall, arms wrapped around herself as she watched the city below.
From up here, everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Behind her, Alessandro was already dressed, his injured arm wrapped tightly but ignored as if it didn't exist.
He stood in the center of the room, issuing orders with cold precision.
"Double the guards."
"Lock down every entrance."
"No one gets in without my approval."
"Yes, boss."
His men moved instantly.
No hesitation.
No questions.
But even with all the security…
It didn't feel safe.
A sharp knock echoed at the door.
Everyone froze.
Lucas stepped forward, gun already in hand.
"Who is it?"
"Delivery."
A voice replied from the other side.
Calm.
Too calm.
Alessandro's eyes narrowed.
"I didn't order anything."
Silence.
Lucas signaled two men.
Weapons raised.
Slowly…
The door opened.
A box sat on the floor.
Small.
Plain.
Harmless looking.
Which made it worse.
"Don't touch it," Isabella whispered instinctively.
Too late.
One of the men stepped forward, crouching slightly as he opened it.
Click.
Nothing exploded.
No bullets.
No immediate danger.
Just…
Silence.
"Boss…" the man's voice faltered.
Alessandro stepped forward.
Then—
He saw it.
Inside the box…
Was a phone.
And beneath it—
A single, blood-soaked cloth.
Isabella's breath caught.
The phone rang.
No one moved.
Then Alessandro picked it up.
Answered.
"Talk."
A voice came through.
Distorted.
Mocking.
"Good morning, Alessandro."
His grip tightened.
"Who is this?"
A chuckle echoed through the line.
"You don't need to know my name."
A pause.
"You just need to know… I'm next."
The room went deadly still.
The voice continued.
"Victor was careless. Emotional."
Another pause.
"I'm not."
Isabella felt a chill run down her spine.
Alessandro's expression didn't change.
But his eyes…
They turned lethal.
"You sent me a box," he said coldly. "You think that scares me?"
A soft laugh.
"No."
A beat.
"But this should."
A sound played through the phone.
A scream.
Isabella froze.
Her heart stopped.
She knew that voice.
"Auora…?" she whispered.
The line crackled.
"Recognize him?" the voice asked.
"Or what's left of him."
Rage exploded inside Alessandro.
"Touch her again and I'll—"
"You'll what?" the voice cut in sharply.
"You're injured."
A pause.
"Vulnerable."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Then—
The final words came.
Slow.
Clear.
Deadly.
"Tick tock, Alessandro."
The line went dead.
The phone slipped slightly in his hand.
And just like that—
The war wasn't over.
It had evolved.
Isabella stepped closer, her voice shaking.
"What… what do they want?"
Alessandro didn't answer immediately.
His gaze lifted slowly.
Cold.
Calculated.
Terrifying.
"They want me weak."
A pause.
His jaw tightened.
"So I'll show them what happens…"
When you come for what's mine''