𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐗

4O

STYX NOX MORENO

"Shit," I mutter, parking the car in the dimly lit garage where Atlanta's phone signal last pinged before going dark.

"Capo, we're on our way," Silje's voice crackles through the Bluetooth in my ear. I grunt in response, already moving. The building looms ahead, and I charge forward, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

The door creaks as I push it open, the sound almost laughably cliché, but I can't focus on that now. My gaze zeroes in on Atlanta, tied to a chair, her head hanging low.

My heart races as I rush toward her. "Tesoro, are you okay?" I whisper urgently, but she doesn't respond. Even in the dim light, I can make out the dark bruise marring her beautiful face.

I quickly untie her, my hands shaking with barely contained rage. "Moreno," a voice sneers from behind me. I ignore it, lifting Atlanta into my arms and gently placing her in a safer corner, my focus solely on her.

Finally, I turn to face the boy who dared to touch what's mine.

"What?" I ask, my voice cold, almost bored. He thinks he's in control. "Walk away while you still can," I offer him one last chance, but I'm already itching to end this.

He laughs, a bitter, hollow sound. "Where do you think you're going, Moreno?" he taunts, dragging out each syllable of my name like it's a curse.

"Styx," Atlanta murmurs behind me, her voice small, broken. I glance back at her, my heart aching at the sight of her pain.

I return to her side, wrapping her in a protective embrace, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Are you alright, baby?" I ask, my voice low.

"I am," she lies, but the truth is written all over her face. Her eyes tell a different story. We both turn to the boy, who starts clapping slowly, mockingly.

"And the Oscar goes to..." he drawls, gesturing between us. I don't dignify him with a response. "We're leaving," I state, my voice firm, final.

Two men step into the room, guns trained on us. "My sister's being forced into an arranged marriage," the boy begins, his tone dripping with misplaced anger.

"And why should I care?" I retort, positioning myself in front of Atlanta, shielding her from the threat. "It was supposed to be Atlas who got married!" Aage snarls, his voice rising in pitch, betraying his desperation.

I glance down at Atlanta, and recognition flashes in her eyes. A tear slips down her cheek, and I gently lift her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze.

"Don't cry, baby. He's not worth it," I whisper, brushing my lips against hers. She doesn't deserve this—no one does.

"Are you done?" I finally address Aage, rolling my eyes. I pull out my gun, pointing it at the men blocking our exit.

"Walk away," I offer him again, but his sneer only deepens. "Take care of him!" he orders, and his men advance, albeit lazily.

I lean down, whispering in Atlanta's ear, "Versteck dich." I count down from three, then murmur, "Go."

The first man swings at me, but I sidestep him easily. The fight is brief but brutal, and soon both men are on the ground. I retrieve my gun and aim it at Aage, wiping the blood from my brow. One of them managed to get a lucky hit.

Just then, Atlanta's father, Joseph, bursts into the room. Aage charges at him like a madman, catching the old man off guard. In a split second, Aage has Joseph in a chokehold, his gun pressed to Joseph's temple.

"You crazy bastard," Joseph spits, but Aage doesn't flinch, slamming the butt of his gun into Joseph's face, leaving him with a bloody nose.

"What did my daughter do?" Joseph demands, his voice quivering with rage, his hands trembling. "Atley wasn't answering her phone, so I tracked her—and yours. That's how I found you," he explains, his voice thick with worry.

I inch closer, but Aage snarls, "Don't fucking move, or I'll blow his brains out." I freeze, knowing I can't risk Joseph's life. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if Atlanta lost her father because of me.

"Drop the gun," Aage orders. I hesitate, then toss it aside, watching as it skids across the floor. Aage grins, savoring the moment. "Atlas, come out!" he calls, his voice a twisted sing-song. "You wouldn't want Daddy dearest to die, would you?"

Soft footsteps echo through the room, and I turn to see Atlanta. Her legs are trembling, her lips quivering as she approaches. My heart clenches painfully as I watch her struggle to hold herself together.

When she's close enough, Aage lets out a low, sinister laugh. "Run, baby," I whisper, but she shakes her head, refusing to leave me. "Please," Joseph pleads, his voice breaking.

"Choose," Aage demands, his eyes gleaming with sick pleasure. Atlanta looks at him, confused, until the horrible realization dawns on her. Her lips tremble, and a choked sob escapes her.

"One minute, Axel," Aage taunts, clearly enjoying every second of her torment. "Around the corner," Luca's voice crackles in my ear, filling me with a desperate sense of hope. "Please don't make me," Atlanta begs, her voice cracking under the weight of her fear.

"Three—" Aage begins, his gun twitching toward her. He's going to kill her if she doesn't choose, I realize in a flash. Without thinking, I throw myself at her, shielding her with my body.

Chaos erupts. My vision blurs, and the room spins as I fight to stay conscious. I hear voices, but they're muffled, distant. My sight returns in fragments, and I see Atlanta, tears streaming down her face as she presses her hands to my chest.

Oh. I've been shot.

"It's okay, Tesoro," I murmur, reaching up to caress her cheek, feeling the wetness of her tears. "I love you so much, baby," I whisper, fighting to keep my eyes open.

My mouth feels wet. I instinctively raise my hand to wipe it, but it comes away slick with blood.

"I love you so, so much. Don't close your eyes!" Atlanta's voice is frantic, but it's getting harder to focus, harder to breathe.

"My heart hurts," I gasp, trying to draw in a breath, "when you cry." Luca's voice is in my ear, urging me to hang on, but the darkness is creeping in, pulling me under.

"Take care of the family," I manage to say, and then everything fades to black.

ATLANTA AXEL

It's been fifteen agonizing minutes since we arrived at the hospital. Papa holds my hand, whispering words of comfort I can barely hear over the pounding in my head.

Luca, Gray, Mia, and Alessa are all here, everyone teetering on the edge of panic. When Styx was shot, Luca and the team arrived just in time, but now all we can do is wait.

Aage has been dealt with, Luca assured me.

The doctor finally enters the waiting room, and we all surge forward, desperate for news.

"I'm sorry," he says, his voice heavy with finality, the words echoing in my ears like a death knell.

"Styx isn't dead," I whisper, my voice shaking as I cling to the hope that refuses to die. "He isn't dead." Papa squeezes my hand, trying to reach me, but his words don't penetrate the fog of grief.

We were supposed to get married, have kids, travel the world together...

But now, all of that has been ripped away.

——————-

The last chapter is down I will edit the rest of the book slowly.Tbh I can't say I will miss writing this book it used to be an escape for me but after losing someone close to me it wasn't anymore.

But this was the whole point of the book.
This is more like a rant because most people won't make it here,maybe nobody will but it's okay.
Lots of love.

THANK YOU FOR READING ❤️