Crimson vows

Chapter 21: Gathering Storm

Valentina's POV

The safe house feels different this morning—no longer the haven it once was. The quiet has turned tense, charged with a sense of urgency. One of Matvey's men is out there, rallying the others, and each passing hour feels like it draws a noose tighter around us.

Luca hasn't said much since the call. I see him now, standing by the window, eyes narrowed as he scans the grounds outside, lost in thought. There's a storm brewing within him, one he's barely keeping contained. And the longer I watch him, the more I realize this fight isn't just about Matvey or his men. It's about Luca reclaiming a part of himself he's had to bury to survive in this world.

The weight of it pulls at me. I know what it's like to feel trapped, but watching Luca now, I realize he's been caught in chains far longer than I have.

Finally, I break the silence. "We need a plan, Luca."

He turns to look at me, and there's something almost vulnerable in his gaze—something that softens the hardness in his expression, if only for a second. He nods slowly, as if deciding to let me in on the burden he's carrying.

"You're right," he says, his voice low and steady. "We're going to take this fight to Matvey's men, and we're not backing down until it's over."

He crosses the room, kneeling in front of me so that we're eye level, and takes my hand in his. "But Valentina, you don't have to be a part of this. I need you to know that. I won't let anything happen to you, but if there's even a chance you're safer away from this—"

I shake my head, cutting him off. "Luca, I'm not leaving. I know the risks, and I know it's dangerous. But I'm not walking away now. Not when we're this close to ending it."

He holds my gaze, searching my face as if looking for any hesitation. When he finds none, he sighs, his expression softening in a way I rarely see. "Then we'll do this together."

Luca's POV

There's no going back now, not for either of us. Matvey's men will regroup, and they'll come at us with everything they have left. It's exactly what I was trying to avoid, but Valentina's resolve strengthens my own. This is no longer just a fight for survival; it's a chance to break free from the grip of this life.

Marco arrives an hour later, slipping into the safe house like a ghost. He's my oldest friend, a constant presence in my life, and one of the few people I trust implicitly.

"We've got intel on Matvey's second-in-command," he says, getting right to the point. "He's rallying the rest of their men in one of their old warehouses down by the docks. It's risky, but if we can strike before they're fully prepared, we might stand a chance."

The plan forms quickly after that. We'll split into two teams: Marco will take some of our best men to cut off any reinforcements, while I'll lead the rest to the docks to intercept Matvey's lieutenant before he can mobilize fully.

Valentina listens intently, and I can see the determination in her eyes. She's a fighter, whether she realizes it or not, and in that moment, I'm struck by just how much I need her by my side.

"We leave tonight," I say, finalizing the plan. "This ends now."

Later That Evening

Valentina and I prepare in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. I strap a gun to my side, double-checking the ammunition, while she stands by the mirror, pulling her hair back and securing it tightly. She's traded her usual clothes for something more practical—a black jacket, dark jeans, boots. There's something fierce and unyielding in her reflection, and I can't help but feel a surge of pride.

"Ready?" I ask, my voice soft.

She nods, meeting my gaze in the mirror. "I'm ready."

I step closer, resting my hands on her shoulders. "No matter what happens, stay close to me. Promise me that."

She turns to face me, her expression resolute. "I promise."

It's a fragile vow, one made in the heat of the moment, but as we head out into the night, it's enough to keep me focused.

At the Docks

The warehouse looms ahead, silent and foreboding. Shadows shift in the dim light, and I can sense the tension in the air, the calm before the storm.

Marco signals to me from across the yard, and I nod, watching as he and his men position themselves. Valentina stays close, her hand brushing against mine as we move quietly through the shadows.

As we reach the entrance, I pull her to the side, pressing a finger to my lips to signal silence. She nods, her breathing steady, and I can see the determination in her gaze.

With a single motion, I push open the door, and we slip inside.

The space is cavernous, rows of crates and machinery casting long shadows across the floor. In the distance, I can hear voices—Matvey's men, oblivious to the storm about to descend on them.

I signal to my team, and they fan out, each moving with silent precision. Valentina stays close, her presence a steady anchor as we make our way deeper into the warehouse.

Then, in a flash, chaos erupts.

Shots ring out, the sound echoing through the space as our men engage with Matvey's. I duck behind a crate, pulling Valentina down with me as bullets fly overhead.

"Stay low," I murmur, my voice barely audible over the noise.

She nods, her eyes wide but focused, and I can see the strength in her gaze. She's not the same woman she was when this all began—she's fiercer, stronger, and I know she's ready to face whatever comes next.

I step out, firing a round at one of Matvey's men, dropping him before he can get a shot off. My team moves with precision, each of them trained for moments like this, but the sheer number of Matvey's men makes it a brutal fight.

Amidst the chaos, I spot Matvey's lieutenant, slipping toward the back exit in an attempt to escape. I motion to Valentina, and we move swiftly, cutting off his path.

He freezes, his gaze darting between us, calculating his options. "This isn't over," he sneers, his voice dripping with venom. "You think you can just take him down?"

"This is the end," I reply, my voice cold and steady. "For all of you."

Without another word, I raise my gun, firing a single shot that brings him down.

Valentina's POV

As the last of Matvey's men fall, the warehouse falls into an eerie silence. The air is thick with the scent of gunpowder, the metallic tang lingering as I survey the wreckage.

Luca stands beside me, his gaze distant, as if lost in the aftermath of the violence we've just unleashed. I reach for his hand, intertwining my fingers with his, grounding him in the present.

"It's over," I whisper, more to reassure myself than anything.

He looks down at me, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Almost."

There's a finality in his voice, a sense of closure that fills me with a strange mixture of relief and sadness. This life we've built—this alliance forged in danger and desperation—is coming to an end. And as much as I crave normalcy, a part of me can't imagine a life without Luca by my side.

But as we make our way out of the warehouse, I feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this is the beginning of something new—something free from the shadows of our past.

And for the first time in a long time, I allow myself to believe in the possibility of a future beyond the violence.