Matteo.
The rain came down in torrents, mixing with the blood pounding in my ears. The car was totalled, smoke curling from the crumpled hood, and we were out of time.
The sound of footsteps grew louder, boots crunching against the soaked earth as the shadows in the trees moved closer. I clenched my jaw, gripping the gun tightly as I pushed Valentina behind me.
“Stay low,” I muttered, scanning the darkness for movement. “And don’t do anything reckless.”
“Reckless?” she whispered back, her voice sharp despite the fear I knew she was trying to suppress. “Don’t you dare tell me…”
There was no time to argue. The first shot rang out, ricocheting off the twisted metal of the car.
“Down!” I barked, shoving her toward the muddy ground as I fired blindly toward the sound.
The fight began.
A man emerged from the trees, his silhouette barely visible in the storm. I fired again, and he dropped, his gun falling uselessly beside him.
Another appeared, then another. They moved quickly, firing in short bursts to keep us pinned.
I ducked behind the car, the rain and mud soaking through my clothes. Valentina crouched beside me, her breathing ragged but steady as she peered over the edge of the hood.
“Six on the left,” she said, her voice startlingly calm. “Two on the right.”
I glanced at her, momentarily stunned. “You can count under fire?”
She smirked, lifting the gun. “I can shoot, too. If you hadn’t noticed.”
Before I could stop her, she popped up, firing three shots in rapid succession. One man went down, then another.
“Valentina…”
“Cover me,” she interrupted, sliding to the rear of the car.
I swore under my breath but did as she asked, firing at the men advancing on our position. The sound of gunfire echoed through the trees, drowning out the storm.
She moved with precision, taking down another attacker before ducking behind a tree. For a moment, I was torn between pride and sheer panic.
“Behind you!” she yelled, her voice cutting through the chaos.
I spun just in time to see a man lunging toward me. I fired point-blank, the recoil jolting through my arm as he crumpled to the ground.
But there was no time to breathe. Another shot hit the car, shattering what was left of the windshield.
“We can’t hold them off forever,” Valentina called, her voice strained.
She was right. We were outnumbered, outgunned, and running out of options.
“Stay here,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.
“Like hell I will!” she snapped, firing at another figure in the distance.
Before I could respond, the roar of an engine cut through the storm. Headlights appeared, illuminating the muddy battlefield as a black SUV tore through the trees.
Relief flooded me as the vehicle skidded to a stop, and Ethan stepped out, his gun already raised.
“About time,” I muttered, firing another shot.
Ethan’s men poured out of the SUV, their coordinated movements overwhelming the remaining attackers. Within minutes, the tide of the fight shifted, and the last of Richard’s men fell.
Ethan strode toward me, rain dripping from his dark hair. His expression was grim, his eyes scanning the area for any remaining threats.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice barely audible over the rain.
I nodded, my chest heaving as I lowered the gun. “What took you so long?”
Ethan ignored the question, his gaze shifting to Valentina. She was leaning against the wrecked car, her hand pressed to a gash on her arm.
“She’s hurt,” he said, his tone softening.
“I’m fine,” she insisted, though her pale face told a different story.
Ethan looked back at me, his jaw tightening. “This wasn’t Luca.”
I froze. “What?”
“The attack,” he said. “Luca’s men were miles away when it happened. This was Richard’s doing.”
Richard.
The name hit me like a blow. Annalise’s uncle… the man who has told me to come to him the other day… the one who knew I knew his dirty secrets.
Ethan continued. “I think he was trying to get revenge over the fact that his niece was dumped…”
I clenched my fists, anger boiling beneath the surface. Richard’s little revenge had already cost too many lives… he’d come after Valentina.
“That damn bastard.”
Ethan nodded, stepping back to give us space. “We need to move. There’s no telling if reinforcements are on the way.”
I turned to Valentina, who was still clutching her arm. The adrenaline that had carried her through the fight was fading, leaving her looking fragile but no less defiant.
“Come here,” I said softly, reaching for her.
“I told you, I’m fine,” she muttered, though she didn’t resist as I pulled her into the SUV.
Ethan’s men secured the area as we drove off, the tension in the air thick despite the victory.
We reached a safe house just as the storm began to die down. Inside, I led Valentina to a chair, grabbing a first aid kit from the shelf.
“Let me see,” I said, kneeling in front of her.
She hesitated, then extended her arm. The gash wasn’t deep, but it was ugly, blood trickling down her pale skin.
“This will sting,” I warned, cleaning the wound with practised care.
She winced but didn’t pull away, her eyes locked on mine.
“Why did you do it?” I asked after a moment.
She frowned. “Do what?”
“Jump into a fight you had no business being in,” I said, my voice quieter now. “You could have been killed, Valentina.”
Her expression softened, her lips curving into a faint smile. “So many people have died to save me. Caterina… and now…” her lips tightened as she struggled to get the word out. The name.
She must have really… cared for him.
“I just couldn’t let anyone die because of me anymore.”
“He was doing his job.”
“Yes.”
We didn’t say anything after that. I allowed myself to soak in her presence until I finished wrapping her arm, my hands lingering on hers as I looked up at her.
“I love you,” I said, the admission breaking free before I could stop it. “More than I ever thought I could love anyone.”
Her eyes widened a bit, then softened, but she didn’t pull away. Perhaps this wasn’t the best time for a romantic confession, but I wanted to say it anyway.
“I…”
I couldn’t complete my sentence because she leaned forward at that exact moment, resting her forehead against mine.
“Stop trying to protect me from everything,” she whispered. “Let me stand beside you.”
I closed my eyes, letting her words sink in. She wasn’t just the woman I loved… she was my partner. And I couldn’t keep pushing her away.
“Alright,” I said finally, my voice thick with emotion. “But if you get hurt again, I’m killing anyone who touches you.”
She laughed softly, the sound easing the tension in my chest.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like we might actually have a chance.