As the evening progressed, the conversation between Amara and Alessandro remained polite, almost superficial. Alessandro tried to engage Vaughn, asking him questions about his day, his interests, but the boy’s responses were short and guarded. He wasn’t rude, but he wasn’t forthcoming either, and it became clear that Vaughn wasn’t comfortable around Alessandro.
Amara watched the interaction with a heavy heart. She could see that Vaughn was trying, but he wasn’t connecting with Alessandro, and that bothered her more than she wanted to admit. She had always been protective of her son, careful about who she allowed into their lives, and this dinner was a stark reminder of why. Vaughn was her world, and if he didn’t feel comfortable with someone, it was a red flag she couldn’t ignore.
Alessandro, for his part, seemed to sense the distance as well, though he didn’t acknowledge it directly. Instead, he focused on Amara, trying to draw her into conversation, to make her laugh..
As they were done with dinner, Vaughn turned to Amara, “Mommy, can we go to our hotel now?” he asked, his voice small, but insistent.
Amara looked down at her son, her heart aching at the sight of his serious expression. She knew that he wasn’t enjoying himself, and truth be told, neither was she. She turned to Alessandro, her decision already made. “I think we should call it a night. Vaughn is tired,” she said, her tone final.
Alessandro’s smile faltered again, but he nodded. “Of course,” he said, though there was a hint of frustration in his voice. He signaled for the check, and soon they were on their way out of the restaurant.
The night air was cool as they stepped outside, the city alive with the sounds of distant traffic and murmuring voices. The parking lot was a little farther, which required a five-minute walk along a quiet street.
Vaughn held onto Amara’s hand as they strolled, his small legs trying to keep up with the adults. Alessandro walked beside them, his mind clearly elsewhere, but he occasionally glanced down at Amara and Vaughn, as if assuring himself that they were still there.
They had only walked halfway to the parking lot when the silence of the night was shattered by the sharp crack of gunfire.
The suddenness of the noise made Amara’s heart skip a beat, and she instinctively pulled Vaughn closer to her. In an instant, her senses sharpened, every muscle in her body tensing as she scanned the surroundings for the source of the danger. But before she could even identify where the shots were coming from, a bullet whizzed past her, striking the tree just inches away from where she stood.
Panic surged through her, not for herself but for Vaughn. The thought of him being hurt, or worse, was unbearable. Without a second thought, she scooped him up into her arms, holding him tightly against her chest as she crouched down, trying to make them as small a target as possible. Vaughn clung to her, his small body trembling in fear, but he stayed silent, understanding that this was not the time to make a sound.
Alessandro, who had been slightly ahead of them, immediately reacted, grabbing Amara by the arm and pulling her toward the side of the street, where the shadows offered some semblance of cover. “Stay here,” he instructed urgently, his voice low and steady despite the chaos. “I’ll get the car and bring it here. Don’t move.”
Amara nodded, her grip tightening on Vaughn, her other hand reaching for the gun she always kept on her. Her mind was racing, but she forced herself to stay calm, to keep Vaughn safe. Minutes passed, each one stretching into what felt like an eternity. The gunshots continued, echoing through the night, but Alessandro was nowhere to be seen. Two minutes… five minutes… ten minutes… and still, there was no sign of him.
The shots grew closer, more erratic, and Amara’s heart pounded in her chest. Just when she thought they couldn’t hold out much longer, a bullet hurtled toward her. She was ready to dodge, her reflexes honed by years of training, but before she could react, another bullet intercepted it in midair, neutralizing the threat. She barely had time to register what had happened before a tall, imposing figure stepped in front of her, shielding her and Vaughn from further harm.
“What are you doing here?” The man’s voice was low and fierce, his expression a mix of anger and concern.
Amara stared at him in shock, her mind struggling to process his sudden appearance. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice tinged with the urgency of the situation.
Rowan’s jaw tightened. “A war,” he replied curtly, his eyes scanning the street for any sign of further danger.
“A war?” Amara repeated, her thoughts racing. “Are you taking down the Italians now?”
Rowan’s expression darkened. “I’m not,” he said, his tone making it clear that there was more to the story than he was letting on.
Amara’s eyes narrowed, questions swirling in her mind, but before she could ask anything else, Rowan turned his attention back to the street, his posture tense as he listened to something on his Bluetooth earpiece. “I’m in the left street,” he said, his voice clipped and authoritative. “Make the route clear.”
There was a pause as the person on the other end of the line responded, and Rowan’s eyes flickered with irritation. “I’m fine,” he snapped. “Just make the route clear, NOW!”
He ended the call and turned back to Amara, his expression still tense. “Stay close to me,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ll get you both out of here.”
Amara nodded, trusting him despite the whirlwind of emotions coursing through her. Vaughn, sensing the seriousness of the situation, buried his face in her shoulder, trying to make himself as small as possible.
Rowan led them through the shadows, his movements swift and calculated. The gunfire continued, but now it seemed more distant, as if the source of the danger was being pushed back. Amara followed him closely, her grip on Vaughn never loosening, her mind a blur of fear, confusion, and an unsettling sense of deja vu.
As they moved, Rowan remained vigilant, his sharp eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. He didn’t speak, but his presence alone was enough to make Amara feel a little safer, even as the chaos around them continued to unfold. She could sense the barely-contained fury in him, the way his muscles tensed with every sound, every movement in the darkness.
Finally, they reached a point where the street was clear, and Rowan paused, his gaze locking onto Amara’s. “The car will be here in a minute,” he said, his voice calm despite the tension in the air. “Stay close and be ready to move.”
Amara nodded, her heart still racing but her mind now focused on one thing: getting Vaughn to safety. She could worry about everything else later-the questions, the doubts, the overwhelming emotions that Rowan’s presence had stirred up. For now, all that mattered was Vaughn’s safety.
But then… a shot rang out in the air, in her direction.. no, to be precise, in Vaughn’s direction.