Bab 46: Web of Deception
The air in the mansion was electric, crackling with the tension of an impending storm. Dante was in the study, pouring over plans and making calls to the few allies he still trusted. I stood near the window, my arms crossed as I watched the world outside. The sky was heavy with clouds as if the universe itself mirrored the weight of what was to come.
"Elizabeth."
I turned to see Dante standing in the doorway, his expression a mix of determination and concern. He held a folder in his hand, its edges worn from use.
"What is it?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
He stepped closer, placing the folder on the desk between us. "Information on Maria. Everything we've managed to gather."
I stared at the folder for a moment before picking it up and flipping through its contents. Photos, documents, and handwritten notes spilled out, painting a picture of a woman who thrived on power and manipulation.
"She's thorough," I murmured, my eyes scanning a photo of Maria with a politician whose name I recognized. "How do you even fight someone like this?"
Dante's jaw tightened. "You find their weakness."
"And what's hers?"
He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "That's what we're still trying to figure out."
I let out a bitter laugh, tossing the folder back onto the desk. "So we're going into this blind? Great plan, Dante."
His eyes flashed with frustration. "You think this is easy for me? I'm doing everything I can to protect you."
"Protect me?" I scoffed, taking a step closer. "You're the reason she's after me in the first place."
The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging between us. Dante ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident.
"I never wanted this for you," he said quietly. "If I could take it all back, I would."
But he couldn't, and we both knew it.
Gathering the Allies
Over the next few days, the mansion became a hub of activity. Dante's men moved in and out, their expressions grim as they prepared for the inevitable confrontation. I stayed on the sidelines, watching and listening, trying to piece together the parts of this twisted puzzle.
Marissa arrived late one evening, her presence a sharp contrast to the tension in the air. She swept into the room as she owned it, her sharp eyes taking in every detail.
"Elizabeth," she said, her tone curt but not unkind. "I see you're still alive."
"Thanks for noticing," I replied, matching her tone.
She smirked, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Where's Dante?"
"In the study," I said, nodding toward the door.
She didn't wait for an invitation, striding past me and disappearing into the study. I followed a few moments later, unwilling to be left out of whatever plan they were concocting.
Inside, Dante and Marissa were deep in conversation, their voices low but urgent.
"She's been moving shipments through the port," Marissa was saying. "If we can intercept them, it'll cut off her supply line."
"And draw her out," Dante added, nodding.
I cleared my throat, and both of them turned to look at me.
"Care to fill me in?" I asked, crossing my arms.
Dante sighed, gesturing for me to sit. "We've found a potential weak spot. Maria's been using the port to move contraband. If we can disrupt her operations there, it might force her to make a move."
"And by 'make a move,' you mean come after us harder," I said.
Marissa shrugged. "She's coming after you regardless. At least this way, we'll have the upper hand."
I didn't like the plan—it felt reckless, desperate—but I didn't have a better one.
The Calm Before the Storm
Later that night, I found myself alone in the garden, the cool night air offering a brief reprieve from the chaos inside. The moon hung low in the sky, its light casting long shadows across the ground.
Footsteps behind me made me turn, and I wasn't surprised to see Dante standing there. He always seemed to know when I needed him, even if I didn't want to admit it.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his voice soft.
I shook my head. "Too much on my mind."
He stepped closer, his presence both comforting and infuriating. "We'll get through this, Elizabeth."
"Will we?" I asked, looking up at him. "Because it feels like we're just waiting for everything to fall apart."
His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "I won't let that happen."
I wanted to believe him, but the weight of his past mistakes made it hard.
"You can't control everything, Dante," I said.
"No," he admitted. "But I can protect you. That's all that matters to me."
For a moment, I let myself lean into him, the warmth of his embrace a small comfort in the storm. But I knew it wouldn't last.
The First Strike
The next morning, Dante's plan was set into motion. His men moved quickly, intercepting one of Maria's shipments at the port. The operation was a success, but it came at a cost.
"We lost two men," Dante said, his voice grim as he relayed the news. "Maria's people were waiting for us."
"She knew we were coming," I said, a sinking feeling in my chest.
He nodded. "Someone tipped her off."
The implications were clear—there was a traitor in our midst.
"Do you have any idea who it is?" I asked.
"Not yet," he said. "But I will."
The tension in the mansion grew thicker, suspicion hanging in the air like a dark cloud. Every glance, every whispered conversation felt like a potential betrayal.
And in the midst of it all, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being played.
Maria's Message
That evening, a package arrived at the mansion. It was addressed to Dante, but when he opened it, my blood ran cold.
Inside was a single photograph—me, standing in the garden the night before.
"She's watching us," I whispered, my voice trembling.
Dante's expression hardened, his jaw clenched. "She's trying to scare us."
"Well, it's working," I said, my hands shaking.
He reached out, pulling me into his arms. "I won't let her touch you, Elizabeth. I swear it."
But as I clung to him, I couldn't help but wonder if his promises would be enough.
Maria was out there, watching, waiting, and we were running out of time.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone