HIS

Chapter 39

It's been two weeks since our incredible Cape Town getaway, and I'm still daydreaming about every moment we spent there. Domenico promised we'd go back—and next time, we'll explore even more of the country. I honestly can't wait.

We're on our way home after a lovely dinner with the in-laws. It was really nice to see them again after two weeks. We usually try to visit at least once a week, even though they live on the outskirts of New York, which is a bit of a drive from our place. Matteo's parents and Marco took some time to forgive him, but eventually they did. I was especially relieved—seeing them at odds had been painful, and their reconciliation brought me a sense of peace.

Domenico's sister, Reece, is set to return home in a few days after her time in Italy. Word is, she recently ended things with her boyfriend and is finally ready to come back. To welcome her, Domenico's parents are hosting a family dinner, which means I'll be seeing her again. We only met briefly when I woke up in the hospital, and she wasn't at our wedding, so I haven't really had the chance to get to know her. I'm hoping she turns out to be as lovely as the rest of the family.

We were about twenty minutes from home when I noticed the same black car that had been trailing us for the past half hour was still right behind us.

At first, I assumed it was just another car on the road, but the heavily tinted windows and the imposing figures inside gave off an unsettling vibe. They've kept a consistent distance behind us—just far enough to avoid drawing attention.

"Domenico," I said, trying to get his attention. I watched as the black car shifted into the other lane to let another vehicle pass. I might've brushed it off as coincidence—if it hadn't kept reappearing in the rearview mirror every time I looked.

"Mhmm?" Domenico murmured, lifting the hand he'd been holding all along and pressing a soft kiss to it.

"I'm absolutely certain we're being followed," I said, turning to Domenico with worry etched across my face. That vehicle wasn't just a coincidence—I knew it. His expression tightened instantly as his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror.

I glanced into my side mirror. "It's a black car in the left lane, three cars behind the white Toyota," I explained, my voice steady but alert. My eyes kept shifting between the side mirror and the small one on the sun visor, tracking the car's movements with growing unease.

"How long have you been noticing them?" Domenico asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Around twenty to thirty minutes," I replied, still watching the car closely. "At first, I thought they'd just pass us, but when they kept letting other cars go by and stayed the same distance behind us, I knew something was off. If they weren't following us, they would've overtaken us a long time ago."

Without hesitation, Domenico dialled Luca's number through the car's built-in phone system. Luca answered almost instantly, picking up after the first ring.

Luca, we're being followed," he said calmly. "We're heading back from my parents' place. It's a black Mustang, license plate NJ87BNY. Three people inside. They'll likely make a move once we take the exit into the city. Track my car and send backup."

"Got it. Don't take the usual exit—stay on that road and use the second one instead. That'll buy you a few extra minutes. We'll meet you there," Luca instructed, his voice steady despite the chaos, as he barked rapid-fire orders to others in the background.

"We've got your location. I'm on-route now," Luca confirmed, his tone focused and reassuring.

"Alright. Any idea how long that'll take?" Domenico asked.

"I'm about 15 minutes away. Just keep driving at your normal speed so they don't get suspicious—and try to stay alive, buddy. I'll meet you at the Highway 90 exit," Luca said.

"Keep me updated on how things are going," Domenico said.

"We had a team nearby, so they'll reach you first. Max has already locked onto your vehicle's location—we know exactly where you are. We're on our way," were Luca's final words before a sudden loud bang cut the call short. The car's body took a hit, and the impact forced us to swerve into the next lane.

"Olivia, get down," Domenico ordered calmly as he struggled to regain control of the car. But I shook my head. I refused to be a liability in this situation—I was going to help however I could.

"Olivia! These people aren't messing around—you could get hit!" Domenico shouted in my direction, swerving to avoid the hail of bullets tearing into the car.

Growing up in a home where you constantly had to stay alert definitely conditions you for moments like this. And having been shot and drugged before has shifted how I respond to high-stress situations—I don't freeze anymore, I adapt.

You learn to develop emotional intelligence to handle situations like this—or at least, that's the hope. I guess we'll find out.

My gaze stayed locked on the attackers' vehicle.

"Olivia, there's a gun under your seat," Domenico said. Without hesitation, I reached down and grabbed it, making sure I had a firm grip before pulling it out. It was a 45-calibre handgun.

"It's loaded, so make sure to—" he began, but I'd already flicked off the safety and cocked the gun, chambering a round before he could finish.

There's no time for him to question how I know my way around a gun—his priority is keeping us alive on the road and dodging the bullets still hammering the car.

"I'll try to throw them off. Please, I need you to keep your head down—I don't want you getting shot," Domenico said, his voice strained. Just as he spoke, I spotted another car joining the one tailing us. The gunfire from the first vehicle stopped the moment the second one appeared.

"There are two of them on the road now," I said, spotting one of the men taking aim at our tires. But before he could fire, I had already rolled down my window.

It felt like I was watching myself from the outside, detached from the moment, as I lifted my upper body halfway out of the car. I braced my side against the window frame, knees planted firmly on the seat and turned to face backward—steadily aiming at their tires.

"What the fuck, Olivia! Get your ass in the car. Now!" Domenico demanded, but I ignored him. Where I got the guts to defy him? I have no clue, but one thing I'm certain of, is the fact that I didn't train my ass off since returning back home, to see both of us die.

"What the fuck, Olivia! I'm warning..."

Before Domenico could finish his sentence, I fired at the tires of both cars—one after the other—ripping into their wheels with precision. They must've assumed I was just the helpless wife and didn't bother checking my side. Big mistake.

To be honest, I was more afraid of myself—of what I was capable of in that unnervingly calm state—than I was of the people chasing us down. Their cars were flying so fast that one swerved and slammed into the other, sending both crashing into the barrier. Just like that, they were out of the picture, and we sped away. Thankfully, the road was empty—just us and the chaos they brought with them.

We reached the second exit as planned and spotted Luca waving us down. I stayed silent, trying to process what I'd just done, my breath still uneven. Domenico told Luca to follow us to the base, and we drove the rest of the way in complete silence. I wasn't sure if I was being punished or just ignored—but honestly, I didn't care.

As soon as we arrived at the base, Domenico rushed to my side, pulled me out of the car, and wrapped his arms around me—holding me so tightly it felt like he was trying to squeeze the life back into me.

"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice filled with worry.

"The car's bulletproof, baby—but if they'd hit our tires, it would've been game over," he said.

Luca stepped out of his car and walked over to us. "Are you two alright?" he asked. I gave a silent nod as we made our way through the entrance of the base—the same one I always seemed to end up at whenever things went south.

"Do we have any idea who it was?" Domenico asked as we moved through the building toward Max and the others.

"Max just pinged me—he's figured out who it is. You'll find out once we're inside," Luca said as we stepped in.

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