Shadow Follow

The afternoon sun dipped low as students poured out of Riverside College.

Laughter echoed across the campus, but Aanya couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

She turned.

Nothing.

Only students walking home.

"I'm just imagining it," she told herself.

Across the street, inside a black sedan, two men watched the college gates through tinted windows.

"That's the girl," one of them muttered.

"The boss wants her alive."

"What does a college student have to do with the Moretti family?"

"I don't ask questions."

The engine started.

The car slowly followed Aanya as she walked away from campus.

At Moretti Headquarters...

Isabella entered Valentina's office.

"Our surveillance team has confirmed it."

Valentina looked up from the reports on her desk.

"Speak."

"Marco Leone's men have been following Aanya every day."

The room fell silent.

"They've made no move yet," Isabella continued, "but they're watching her."

Valentina's expression darkened.

"So I was right."

"They're trying to use her."

"They think she's important to me."

Isabella hesitated.

"Is she?"

Valentina's icy gaze lifted.

"No."

The answer came instantly.

Yet, after a moment, she added quietly,

"But they believe she is. That alone puts her in danger."

She stood, buttoning her black suit jacket.

"Increase surveillance around the college."

"Should we tell the girl?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"The less she knows about my world, the safer she is."

That evening...

Aanya stopped by a small grocery store before heading home.

As she stepped outside with a shopping bag, she noticed the same black sedan parked across the street.

Its engine was running.

The windows were too dark to see inside.

A chill ran down her spine.

She crossed the road.

The sedan moved.

She turned another corner.

The car followed again.

Her heartbeat quickened.

"They're following me..."

She tried to stay calm and walked faster.

Suddenly, the sedan accelerated.

Its doors flew open.

Two men stepped out.

"Miss Sharma."

Aanya froze.

"We just want to ask you a few questions."

"I... I don't know you."

"Come with us."

One of the men reached for her arm.

Before he could touch her—

A black SUV roared around the corner and stopped between them.

The rear door opened.

Valentina stepped out, her face colder than the winter wind.

She didn't raise her voice.

She didn't shout.

She simply looked at the men.

"Leave."

One of them scoffed.

"This doesn't concern you."

"It does now."

The narrow street fell silent.

The men recognized her immediately.

"The... Moretti Boss..."

Fear flashed across their faces.

Valentina took one slow step forward.

"You have three seconds."

No one moved.

"Three."

The bodyguards emerged from the SUV.

"Two."

The men backed away.

"One."

Without another word, they rushed into their sedan and sped away.

Silence returned.

Aanya stood frozen, clutching her grocery bag.

Valentina looked at her.

"Are you hurt?"

Aanya slowly shook her head.

"No..."

"Good."

She turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Valentina paused.

"Why do you keep saving me?"

For the first time, the Mafia Queen hesitated.

Then she answered without looking back.

"Because innocent people shouldn't suffer for someone else's mistakes."

She stepped into the SUV.

Within seconds, it disappeared into the night.

Aanya watched until the taillights vanished.

She didn't know who Valentina really was.

She didn't know why dangerous men feared her.

But one thing had become clear.

The mysterious woman in black wasn't simply crossing her path by chance anymore.

Somewhere in the darkness, unseen eyes were already planning their next move.

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