As we race away in the car, a storm of anger and fear swells inside me. How could she be so reckless? How could she risk everything like that?
When the empty road stretches before us, I slam on the brakes, my heart pounding in my chest. I throw the...
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The night air was filled with a tense silence as we approached the Vittore estate, my heart pounding with anticipation. At exactly 8 p.m., we made our move. Sal’s men, Carlo’s team, and my own soldiers were lined up in dark, silent formations around the perimeter. This was it. Months of planning, waiting, and sacrificing were finally about to pay off. I glanced at Antonio and Matteo, who gave me a determined nod. Every single one of us knew what was at stake tonight, and there was no room for error.
I signaled Matteo, who activated a small device, setting off a loud bang just beyond the main gates. The sound echoed through the night, causing a flurry of activity among the Vittore guards as they rushed toward the commotion, unaware of what was coming next.
"Now," I whispered, and Matteo went to work on his end, hacking into the security system with practiced ease. I watched the feed from his device flicker as he methodically shut down each camera, layer by layer, until the entire system was down. The estate was blind, and so were Marco and Isabelle.
"Security’s down," Matteo murmured into the earpiece. “You’ve got a clear shot. Go.”
In the darkness, I signaled to Sal’s and Carlo’s men, and we moved as one, slipping past the gates and into the estate grounds. The air was thick with tension, but adrenaline sharpened every sense. We moved like shadows, taking down any guards that crossed our path in silent, swift strikes. Every step took us closer to the heart of the mansion.
But then, a shout echoed down one of the corridors, followed by a volley of gunfire. Marco had realized what was happening, and he wasn’t wasting any time. A full-blown firefight erupted, the sound of gunshots and shouted orders filling the mansion. Carlo’s men surged forward, meeting Marco’s forces head-on. The chaos of battle unfolded around me, but my focus was singular—I was here for Chiara, and nothing would keep me from her.
Antonio and Matteo stayed close as I pushed deeper into the estate. We worked in unison, clearing room after room. My mind was racing, thoughts of Chiara driving me forward. I didn’t care what happened tonight so long as I got her out safe.
A series of heavy footfalls sounded ahead, and I turned to see Marco and Gio, followed by a squad of armed men. The glint of hatred in Marco’s eyes was unmistakable as he raised his gun. Gio’s expression was less readable, a strange mix of anger and something else.
“So you finally came crawling back, Gabriel,” Marco sneered, firing a shot that barely missed me.
I ducked behind a column, returning fire with cold precision. “You should have known I’d never leave her to rot in this place,” I growled.
With a quick signal, Antonio and Matteo flanked them, drawing their fire and taking out some of their men, but Marco was relentless, shouting orders to keep his men moving forward. Bullets flew, cutting through the air as we fought our way through.
In the middle of the chaos, I finally saw her—Chiara and Sofia, huddled in a corner, terror in their eyes. Relief flooded me, and I sprinted toward them, taking down two more guards who dared to block my path.
“Tuono!” I called, reaching her. Her eyes widened, filling with tears as I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her close.
“Gabriel,” she breathed, relief and disbelief mingling in her voice. I held her for a moment, grounding myself in her warmth, before I quickly pulled back.
“We need to get you out of here. Both of you.” I gestured for Sofia to join us, and we moved quickly, taking cover behind the columns as gunfire echoed around us.
We were almost to the exit when I heard the click of a gun being cocked. Isabelle stepped out from the shadows, her face twisted with fury as she leveled a pistol at Chiara. I froze, cursing as I checked my weapon—empty.
“Move another inch, and I will put a bullet in her,” Isabelle hissed, her hand steady as she aimed directly at her daughter. Chiara stilled, fear and defiance flashing in her eyes.
Then Marco and Gio entered the scene, their guns drawn. Marco’s face twisted in a cruel smile as he assessed the situation.
“Well, isn’t this touching?” he sneered, glancing between Chiara and me. “You thought you could waltz in here and take her away? You’re more foolish than I thought, Gabriel.”
I felt my fists clench, rage burning through me. “Let her go, Marco. This is between us.”
“Oh, but Chiara is my daughter. She’s a Vittore, whether she likes it or not.” Marco’s voice dripped with smugness as he walked closer, sizing me up like prey.
As I stepped forward, Marco’s fist collided with my jaw, sending me stumbling back. Pain radiated through me, but I quickly regained my balance, glaring at him. Before I could respond, he delivered another blow, this time to my ribs, knocking the breath from my lungs. I doubled over, trying to shield Chiara and Sofia behind me as Marco continued to rain down hits.
Chiara tried to rush forward, but Isabelle grabbed her arm, digging her nails into Chiara’s skin. “Stay put, or I’ll put an end to this right here,” Isabelle hissed, her gaze cold and unyielding.
The room was a whirlwind of tension, a dangerous balance where a single misstep could be fatal. I felt every bruise, every cut, but I refused to let Marco break me. I looked over at Gio, his expression as dark and conflicted as I’d ever seen. And then, in a heartbeat, something shifted in his gaze.
Gio took a step forward, his gun still raised, but this time, his aim shifted. A shot rang out, but it wasn’t directed at me or Chiara—it was at Marco. Marco barely had time to react before the bullet lodged in his arm, making him stumble backward with a shocked, furious glare at Gio.
“Gio,” Marco hissed, clutching his wounded arm. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Gio’s expression was cold, a steely resolve in his eyes as he met Marco’s gaze. “Doing what I should have done a long time ago, Marco. Enough is enough.”
Isabelle’s face twisted in shock, her gun shaking slightly as she looked from Marco to Gio. “Gio, you’re betraying your own family?”
I straightened, a surge of triumph coursing through me as I caught Gio’s gaze. For the first time, we weren’t enemies; we were allies in this war, united by a shared purpose.
Chiara’s eyes widened as she looked between me and Gio, a glimmer of hope breaking through her fear. The room was frozen, everyone too stunned to move.
I took a step forward, smirking as I looked at Marco and Isabelle. “Surprise,” I drawled, unable to resist the satisfaction in my voice.
This was far from over, but for the first time, I knew we had the upper hand.
