CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT – TRAINING FOR SURVIVAL

As dawn began to break, painting the sky in soft pinks and golds, they lay together, talking about their dreams for the future. Luca spoke of the businesses he wanted to start, the community programs he hoped to implement. Rebecca shared her ideas for using her baking skills to create job opportunities for at-risk youth. "We could open a bakery," she said excitedly. "Use it as a training program, teach kids valuable skills." Luca nodded enthusiastically. "That's brilliant. And we could expand it, create a whole culinary school." As they bounced ideas back and forth, the dangerous world outside seemed to fade away. In that moment, anything felt possible. But reality had a way of intruding, even in the most perfect moments. A knock at the door startled them both back to the present. "Boss?" Marco's voice called out. "We've got updates on the Rossi situation." Luca sighed, reluctantly pulling away from Rebecca. "Duty calls," he said ruefully. Rebecca nodded understanding. "Go," she