Chapter 7 - NIGHTFALL IN EXILE
The revelation hung in the damp air like lightning before a strike. Elena stared at Luca in stunned disbelief, trying to reconcile the ruthless mafia boss who demanded absolute obedience with the man who had secretly saved her mother’s life without asking for gratitude or credit. Luca didn't elaborate or offer excuses for his harsh words that night; he simply leaned back against the rough wooden logs of the shelter, closing his eyes against the pain in his chest. Sleep eventually claimed them both, separated by inches of sand, bound together by a fragile web of hidden truths and shared survival.
