The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 110

Rachel

I took a deep breath, still a little dizzy, trying to make sense of my own thoughts. The whole situation was completely surreal. Vincenzo had given himself away, revealed secrets that could change the entire power dynamics in Italy-all because of me. The information seemed too big, too overwhelming. I needed to know more, to understand what was really going on.

I turned to Nancy, still with that shocked expression on my face. "Nancy, we need to research this. There's no point in us staying here, not knowing what really happened. Let's go to the bedroom and get more news, replace out everything we can about Vincenzo and this whole thing with Veronica."

Nancy gave a quick nod, and in seconds we were both in the bedroom, sitting on my bed with her laptop open. She seemed much more excited than I expected, and honestly, that made me a little nervous. It seemed like, for her, it was all part of an exciting story, a romance that she was watching from the front row. But for me, every word, every revelation that appeared on the laptop screen was a stab of reality that made me question everything. Nancy began typing on Google with surprising energy, typing Vincenzo's name along with some key words like "hand over to the police", "mafia", "secrets" and even Veronica's name. Each click was a strong beat in my heart, a mix of emotions and a growing nervousness that took over me. "Rachel, look at this!" Nancy said, with a sparkle in her eyes, clicking on one of the first headlines that appeared. The article had a photo of Vincenzo, walking with a serious, almost resolute expression. The words next to the image spoke of an unexpected decision, a kind of "redemption" of someone who, until then, had remained in the shadows. He had revealed information that shocked even the Italian authorities. Vincenzo had spoken of Veronica's "master plan," a network of power and threats that stretched across the country and that he was now determined to expose. I read every word carefully, my heart beating faster and faster. The sense of relief that I had for a second thought I would feel was quickly replaced by intense anxiety. Vincenzo was putting himself in danger in a way I had never imagined. Veronica was a dangerous person, willing to do anything to maintain control. I knew it and he knew it, too. Nancy, still focused, moved on to the next news story. This time, the focus was on the details Vincenzo had revealed about the structure of Veronica's organization. She had contacts in various spheres of power, including influential people who made sure nothing was ever traced back to her. The story mentioned that Vincenzo seemed to have planned everything carefully, providing only information that could incriminate Veronica without exposing others he deemed "innocent." I didn't know whether to be impressed or more frightened by the complexity of it all. Was Vincenzo prepared to face the consequences? Did he know what he was really putting at stake? Nancy, who had been unable to hide her excitement until then, noticed my worried look and sighed. "Rachel, I know it's a little scary... but don't you think it's amazing? He's doing this for you! He wants you to have the chance to live without this constant fear. I think he was tired of this life, and you were the spark he needed to try something different." I shook my head, trying to process her words. Maybe she was right, maybe Vincenzo really was looking for a way to escape that life. But at the same time, it was impossible to ignore the risks he was taking. A few more headlines and I was starting to feel dizzy with so much information. With each new piece of news, more details emerged. Vincenzo had managed to gather concrete evidence against Veronica, things that, it seemed, no one had managed to do before. He mentioned bank accounts, suspicious transactions, and even records of meetings with well-known figures. It was a veritable dossier of crimes, exposed in broad daylight. Nancy turned to me, gripping my arm tightly. "Rachel, you realize what this means, don't you? If Veronica really is arrested, you'll be free to go back to Italy. Free to be with Vincenzo, without having to worry about that shadow." My mind automatically went to that possibility. The idea of being with him, finally free from all the tension and threats... but the reality was that as long as he was involved in this, I knew things would never be simple. "I... I don't know, Nancy. Of course that's all I wanted, but at the same time, there could be huge consequences to this. What if Veronica tries something against him while he's in prison? What if she replaces a way to get him back? A way to escape? She's dangerous, Nancy. And he knows it." Nancy shrugged, trying to reassure me. "Rachel, he already knew the risks. He was already prepared for this. And let's be honest, you said yourself that he's very intelligent. He must have planned every step." I nodded, but there was still a part of me that feared what was to come. I knew how careful he was, how strategic he was, but seeing his name associated with such serious crimes, exposed in such a vulnerable way, scared me more than I wanted to admit. Nancy typed a few more words into Google, and this time we found an article on a lesser-known website, with details that seemed almost... personal. It was as if the author knew Vincenzo somehow, as if he understood what motivated that decision. The article talked about the "weight of a life in the shadows" and about "a man in search of redemption." I swallowed hard. I knew he had his dark side, that he came from a family with a difficult history, but I never thought he would get to this point. It was an act of courage, yes, but also of desperation.

Nancy looked at me, her smile fading a little. "Rachel, I know it's a lot to process, but just think... what if all this means he's really trying to change? That he's truly willing to do anything to have a different life, maybe with you?"

I didn't answer. Not because I didn't want to, but because the words just wouldn't come. The emotions were all mixed up, like a silent storm inside me, and as much as I wanted to replace answers, everything felt like a big question mark. I ran my hands through my hair, taking a deep breath. "Nancy, I want to believe that. I really do. But... he's already so involved in this life, and the price to get out of it might be too high. And I don't know if I'm ready for the consequences of that."

She held my hand, giving it a light squeeze, trying to comfort me. "Then maybe it's time for you to decide what you really want, Rachel. Because I think that, despite all the risks, he's already made his decision."

The weight of those words felt stronger than any news story or headline we'd read so far. Vincenzo had made his choice, and somehow, he'd put me at the center of it all. I had a decision to make, but at the same time, a part of me still didn't know if I was ready to make it.

Silence filled the room as Nancy closed her laptop, watching me with a worried look. As excited as she'd been at first, she now seemed to understand the complexity of it all. Vincenzo had set out on a dangerous and uncertain path, and I knew that if I chose to follow it, my life would never be the same.

But at the same time, a part of me longed for it.