hidden agendas

The city never truly slept, especially not on nights like this. Luca’s phone buzzed as he walked the rain-slicked streets, the echo of last night’s chaos following him like a ghost. He ducked into a doorway, scanning the message with practiced caution: Where is the package? Report by dawn. He sighed. For the Moretti family, there was always another job, another risk. But his mind kept drifting back to the stranger from the club. The one with secrets behind his eyes—and a steady hand when the bullets started flying. Across town, Adrian wiped blood from his knuckles and stared into the cracked mirror of a dingy motel. He hadn’t meant to get involved. He was here for answers, not alliances. But when Luca had shielded him behind the bar, something shifted. For the first time in months, Adrian wondered if he could trust someone again. A knock rattled the door. Adrian tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun under his pillow. He opened it a crack, only to find Luca, drenched and defiant, standing in the hallway. “How did you find me?” Adrian demanded. Luca smirked. “You’re not the only one with connections.” Silence hung between them, thick as the storm outside. Finally, Luca spoke, voice low. “We need to talk. There’s more at play here than you know.” Adrian hesitated, then stepped aside. Trust was a luxury—but tonight, it felt like a necessity. As the door closed, two worlds collided. Neither realized that by morning, their lives—and loyalties—would be put to the ultimate test.