Elena's POV
It's been two days now. Forty-eight hours without sleep and a proper meal. One, because my mind is a war zone and I can't sleep; two, because nothing holds in my stomach. I can't eat, I'm nauseous, I feel weak. I guess this whole thing has not only gotten to me emotionally but also physically.
I found out everything. Hunter told me so many things that I'm actually about to lose my fucking mind.
The tattoo on his back has been stuck in my mind like a damn movie. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, yet so terrifying. His whole back is filled with the details of that map—roads, coordinates, landmarks, a compass—almost as if Luka literally copy-pasted the real map on human skin. The map leads to the vault, a private island in Italy.
I shift in my bed, unable to sleep, staring into space.
I also found out my aunt is a traitor—a snake, in fact. It didn't make sense to me at first, but nothing Hunter has told me hasn't come with proof.
She ratted out my mom's and my location that night. She worked with Enzo and others to get that key from my mom. Except they didn't. I ran away, and I ran straight into the house of the woman who betrayed my mother.
It's still a mystery to me why she didn't take that key from me, why she didn't just kill me, why she made me a counterfeit one in case I needed to switch. Why she took care of me. Was she still working with Enzo? Did she suddenly betray Enzo ?
It's all so fucking confusing.
A knock on my door snaps me out of my thoughts and I sit up.
"Come in," I call loud enough.
Zoe steps inside with a tray of fruits and a glass of water. She's been super sweet to me, and I actually like her for my brother.
"Hey," I greet, and she smiles, setting the tray down on the bedside table. She sits on the edge of the bed.
"Hey… Hunter told me you weren't feeling so well," she says, worry and concern in her tone.
"Yeah, just… feeling under the weather, but I'll be good in no time," I try, sounding convincing.
"Eat up." She grabs the tray of fruits and places it on my lap. I smile, deciding to eat something because I haven't, and because it would be rude to decline it.
"You actually made Hunter… more human, you know," Zoe suddenly says, playing with her fingers on her lap. I freeze mid-bite of a banana.
I don't talk. I let her finish.
"He was this… walking shadow of so many emotions and trauma, and all he ever thought about was doubling his men, weapons, preparing for revenge," her throat bobs, her green eyes narrow, almost glossy.
"But he looks at you like he has finally found something to live for, you know," she adds, finally meeting my eyes.
Her words make my heart crack just a little, and you can see how much Hunter means to her.
I take her hand.
"Zoe… it's just not me. I've seen how he looks at you too… I'm his sister… your his girlfriend… the love of his life. I'm sure you're at the top of the list of people he cares most about," I say with a smile.
Her cheeks redden. She blushes, love swimming in her eyes.
We chat about other things. She tells me about her family, her job, and turns out she's the Zoe at Sam's workplace at the restaurant. Small world, I guess.
She fills me in on Hunter's mafia too. He has more than a thousand men spread out in New York alone. He has other extended territories too, but his organization is more under the radar; very few people know about it.
Moments later, I'm feeling better, now in the kitchen helping Zoe with making dinner. Hunter and Zack went out,some emergency at one of his warehouses.
It gives me a sense of nostalgia at how similar Hunter and Rio move. The warehouses, the men, the shipments , it's all almost the same.
Moments later, Zack and Hunter are back, and we are all seated at the dining table, eating in silence. The click of cutlery fills the space as everyone busies themselves with their food.
"Elena…" Hunter breaks the silence, and I snap my attention to him.
I wipe my mouth with the napkin.
"Yeah?" I ask.
"I want us to get started on the plan," he says, tone serious. His eyes move around the table, and we all look at him.
"What's the plan?" I ask.
"Simple…" he huffs a sigh, eyes locked on mine.
"We get to the vault first, we use whatever is inside, the weapons ... everything..for our comeback and take down the Marianos… and everyone who took our parents from us," he says.
I nod with certainty.
"I know it seems rushed, but I have enough men now… you have the key… I don't see why we should wait any longer," he says, looking at me with such seriousness my stomach actually drops because I never thought this day would come.
"Ok… but I don't have the key with me here," I say, my voice small but audible. I place my fork down; it's not like I want to eat anymore.
"Where is it?" Hunter asks, leaning forward slightly.
"In my old apartment… it's not far from Sam's house… and the key to that apartment is at Sam's too," I say, placing the napkin on the table.
"Then we go get it," Zack says. We all look at him and nod.
Later, I'm seated cross-legged on my bed, facing outside the window, staring up at the stars.
So much has changed since I moved to New York, and I have a feeling a lot more is about to change.
I grab my phone, and my heart sinks all over again as I scroll through my gallery. Tears swell in my eyes as I look through pictures of me and Rio.
I delete them one after the other, and each time I press "delete permanently," it's like a hot dagger to my chest. It's for the best… I convince myself.
Switching off my phone, I get under the covers and try to get some sleep. Tomorrow, the plan will be set in motion, and I honestly don't know how to feel about it.