Chapter 22

Vincenzo POV

I wanted my little mouse to experience a world far from her sheltered life, so I took her beyond the city's limits, into a place where lives are gambled, fortunes are made, and innocence is just a memory.

"Where are we going?" Victoria's voice held a tremor as the trees thickened around us, her eyes darting into the shadows. I took her hand, feeling her pulse race beneath my fingers as she looked up at me, searching for something—assurance, maybe. Or a reason not to be afraid.

"Calm down, little mouse. We're almost there," I murmured, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

We drove deeper into the forest until a massive iron gate appeared before us, towering in the middle of the thick trees. Guards stood on either side, watching us closely. This wasn't just a hideout—it was a hidden city, built on power