Bab 34: The Enemy Within
The compound buzzed with activity in the days following Lorenzo's visit. Dante's men tightened security to near-impenetrable levels, and every movement within the grounds was scrutinized. Tensions ran high, and the smallest mistake could result in dire consequences. Everyone knew the cost of failure when Dante was involved.
For me, the unease was unbearable. Each shadow seemed to conceal a threat, every stranger's face carried the weight of suspicion. Lorenzo's visit wasn't just a warning—it was a reminder that enemies weren't always external. Sometimes, the greatest threat came from within.
---
Maria's Unrelenting Defiance
Maria sat in the makeshift interrogation room, her hands bound behind her back, though she seemed more defiant than ever. Her dark eyes burned with rebellion as Dante entered the room, flanked by Victor and two guards. I stayed at the back, reluctant to step forward but unable to look away.
"Well, Maria," Dante began, his voice icy, "are you ready to talk, or do I need to remind you how generous I've been?"
She scoffed. "Generous? Do you call this generosity? Dragging me into your den like a dog, chaining me to a chair? Spare me the act, Dante."
Dante's jaw tightened. "You're alive, aren't you? That's more than you deserve."
Maria laughed bitterly. "Alive for now. But we both know you don't keep loose ends. So why don't we cut to the chase? You want information, and I want out of here. Let's make a deal."
"You're in no position to negotiate," Victor snapped. "You're lucky we're even listening."
Maria's gaze flickered to Victor before landing back on Dante. "I'll talk, but only if I get what I want."
"And what is that?" Dante asked, leaning against the table, his tone sharp.
"Freedom," she said simply. "And protection from Lorenzo."
At the mention of Lorenzo's name, Dante's expression darkened. "What does Lorenzo have to do with this?"
Maria hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. "More than you realize. He's been working with your enemies, Dante. He's not just circling you—he's orchestrating your downfall."
Victor stepped forward, slamming a hand on the table. "Lies. You're just trying to save your skin."
Maria met his gaze evenly. "Believe what you want, but Lorenzo isn't the only one. You leak your inner circle. Someone's been feeding him information, and they're closer than you think."
The room fell silent, the weight of her words settling over us like a suffocating blanket. Dante's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable.
"Names," he demanded, his voice low but deadly. "Give me names, and maybe I'll consider your request."
Maria smiled faintly, though there was no humor in it. "Not until I have your word."
Dante straightened, his cold gaze piercing through her. "You'll talk, Maria. Whether it's willingly or not is up to you."
---
Suspicions and Secrets
As we left the room, Victor was fuming. "She's lying," he said, pacing the hallway. "She'll say anything to save herself."
"Maybe," Dante said, his tone clipped. "But we can't ignore the possibility."
"You're seriously considering this?" Victor asked incredulously. "After everything she's done?"
"I'm considering every possibility," Dante snapped. "If there's even a chance she's telling the truth, we need to find out."
"And if she's not?" I asked quietly.
Dante glanced at me, his expression softening slightly. "Then she won't live to regret it."
His words sent a chill down my spine, but I knew better than to argue. Dante wasn't a man who dealt in half-measures, and his world left no room for mercy.
---
An Unexpected Revelation
Later that night, I found myself wandering the compound, my thoughts racing. The idea of a traitor in Dante's ranks was unsettling, but it wasn't entirely surprising. Power bred greed, and greed bred betrayal. It was a vicious cycle, one I had seen too many times before.
I was lost in thought when I heard voices coming from the courtyard. Curious, I followed the sound, careful to stay hidden in the shadows.
"What you're asking is dangerous," a man said, his voice low and urgent. I couldn't see his face, but his tone was laced with tension.
"I don't care," another voice replied. This one was softer, almost familiar. "We don't have much time. If we wait any longer, it'll be too late."
My heart pounded as I strained to hear more, but the conversation was cut short as the men walked away. I stepped out from my hiding spot, my mind racing. Who were they? And what were they planning?
---
Confronting Dante
The next morning, I told Dante what I had overheard. He listened carefully, his expression darkening with each word.
"Did you recognize the voices?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No, but one of them sounded… familiar. I just can't place it."
Dante nodded, his jaw tightening. "We'll find them. In the meantime, stay vigilant. If there's a traitor, they'll slip up eventually."
His words were meant to be reassuring, but they did little to ease my nerves. The walls of the compound felt like they were closing in, the weight of suspicion pressing down on everyone.
---
A Deadly Ambush
That evening, chaos erupted.
Dante's men were on high alert after spotting suspicious activity near the perimeter. Gunfire echoed through the compound as intruders breached the outer defenses. I was in the study with Dante when the attack began, the sound of shouts and gunfire sending a jolt of fear through me.
"Stay here," Dante ordered, grabbing his gun and heading for the door.
"Wait—" I began, but he was already gone.
I hesitated for a moment before grabbing a small knife from the desk. I wasn't about to sit idly by while chaos unfolded around me.
The hallways were a blur of movement as Dante's men rushed to defend the compound. I stayed close to the walls, trying to avoid the crossfire. My heart raced as I turned a corner and came face-to-face with one of the intruders.
He lunged at me, and I reacted on instinct, slashing at him with the knife. He cried out, clutching his arm as I shoved past him and kept running.
By the time I reached the courtyard, the fight was nearly over. Dante stood at the center, his shirt stained with blood, though he didn't appear to be injured. Around him, the bodies of the intruders lay scattered, their attack thwarted.
"Are you okay?" he asked when he saw me, his eyes scanning me for injuries.
"I'm fine," I said, though my hands were still shaking. "What about you?"
"I'm fine," he said shortly. "But this wasn't a random attack. Someone tipped them off."
His words sent a chill down my spine. The traitor was still out there, and they were closer than ever.
---
A New Threat
In the aftermath of the attack, tensions within the compound reached a boiling point. Dante's men were on edge, their loyalty under scrutiny as Dante and Victor worked tirelessly to root out the traitor.
Maria's warning echoed in my mind, her words taking on a new weight in light of the ambush. Lorenzo's shadow loomed over everything, his involvement now undeniable.
But as the days passed, another question began to haunt me—who could we trust?
The traitor wasn't just an enemy. They were family, someone who had earned Dante's trust before betraying it. And until they were unmasked, none of us were safe.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone