Chapter 22:- Lines Drawn in Blood

The Romano estate was a hive of activity. Ever since the discovery of Carlo's betrayal, Alessandro had ordered heightened security measures. Guards were posted at every entrance, and patrols roamed the grounds day and night. Tension hung thick in the air, each member of the family aware that they were teetering on the edge of all-out war with the vitale family.

Sophia sat in her room, staring at the documents spread out on her desk. Carlo's story had checked out. His phone records showed multiple threatening calls from unknown numbers, likely Matteo's men. His family had been under surveillance for weeks. The realization that Matteo had managed to get so close sent a chill down her spine.

Sophia sighed, rubbing her temples. It was a game of cat and mouse, and they were running out of time. Matteo wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted—total control over the city's underworld. And to do that, he needed the Romano family out of the picture.

A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts. "Come in," she called, straightening up.

Antonio entered, his expression grim. "We've got a problem."

Sophia's heart sank. "What now?"

Antonio closed the door behind him. "Papa just got a call. Matteo's men have been seen gathering on the outskirts of our territory. It looks like they're planning something big."

Sophia's mind raced. "Do we know what they're after?"

Antonio shook his head. "Not yet. But we can't wait to find out. Papa wants to strike first, hit them before they have a chance to move."

Sophia nodded, though she felt a knot of fear tighten in her chest. "Alright. What's the plan?"

Antonio sat down across from her, his eyes intense. "Papa wants to split our forces. Half will stay here to protect the estate, and the other half will go with him to intercept Matteo's men. He wants you to stay here, keep an eye on things."

Sophia's eyes widened in surprise. "What? No, I should be out there with you. I can fight, Antonio. You know that."

Antonio's expression softened, but his voice remained firm. "I know, Soph. But we can't afford to take any chances. If something happens out there… we need you here. You're the only one who can keep things together if things go south."

Sophia clenched her fists, frustration boiling inside her. "I'm not a child, Antonio. I can handle myself."

"I know you can," Antonio replied gently. "But you're more valuable here. Matteo would love nothing more than to get his hands on you. And if something happened to you…"

He trailed off, his expression pained. Sophia knew he was right. As much as she wanted to be out there, fighting alongside her family, she had to think of the bigger picture. If Matteo captured her, it would give him leverage, and that was something they couldn't afford.

"Fine," she said reluctantly. "But promise me you'll be careful."

Antonio nodded, standing up. "I will. Just stay safe, okay? We'll be back before you know it."

Sophia watched as he left the room, her heart heavy with worry. She knew they were walking into a dangerous situation, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.

Later That Night

The tension in the estate was palpable as Alessandro and Antonio gathered their men, preparing to leave. Sophia stood by the front door, her arms crossed as she watched them go. She caught her father's eye, and he gave her a reassuring nod.

"Stay strong, Sophia," Alessandro said. "We'll be back soon."

Sophia nodded, forcing a smile. "I know, Papa. Just… be careful."

Alessandro squeezed her shoulder before turning to join the others. As the cars pulled away from the estate, Sophia felt a pang of fear. She hated being left behind, hated the feeling of helplessness that came with it. But she knew she had to trust her family, trust that they knew what they were doing.

As the hours ticked by, Sophia paced the halls of the estate, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that they were missing something important. She checked in with the guards, made sure the security systems were online, but it did little to ease her nerves.

Finally, unable to take the waiting any longer, she decided to head to the surveillance room. Maybe watching the monitors would help keep her mind occupied. As she entered the room, Marco looked up, giving her a small nod.

"Everything quiet?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Marco nodded. "So far, so good. No sign of trouble."

Sophia nodded, taking a seat beside him. She stared at the monitors, her eyes scanning the feeds for any sign of movement. The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity.

And then, suddenly, there it was. A flash of movement on one of the screens, just outside the main gate. Sophia's heart leapt into her throat as she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing.

"Marco, zoom in on that," she said urgently.

Marco quickly adjusted the controls, and the image sharpened, revealing a group of figures moving stealthily through the shadows. Sophia's blood ran cold as she recognized the symbols on their jackets—Matteo's men.

"They're here," she whispered, fear tightening her chest.

Marco cursed under his breath, reaching for his radio. "All units, we've got company at the main gate. Prepare to engage."

Sophia's mind raced as the guards moved into position, weapons at the ready. They were outnumbered, but they had the advantage of surprise. If they could hold off Matteo's men long enough for Alessandro and Antonio to return, they might have a chance.

"Stay calm," Sophia said, trying to steady her nerves. "We can do this."

But as the first shots rang out, Sophia realized just how wrong she had been. Matteo's men were more prepared than she had anticipated, their attack swift and brutal. The guards fought back with everything they had, but it was clear they were being overwhelmed.

Sophia watched in horror as the battle unfolded on the screens, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to do something, anything to help. Without a second thought, she grabbed a radio and sprinted out of the room, heading for the main gate.

As she reached the front of the estate, she could see the chaos unfolding before her. The sounds of gunfire filled the air, and the acrid smell of smoke burned her lungs. She ducked behind a stone wall, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plan.

And then she saw him—Matteo himself, standing at the edge of the fray, directing his men with a cold, calculating gaze. Her blood boiled with anger as she watched him, the man responsible for all the pain and suffering her family had endured.

Without thinking, Sophia grabbed a fallen guard's weapon and took aim. She knew she had to be careful, had to wait for the right moment. But as she watched Matteo, a surge of hatred and determination flooded her senses.

This was it. The moment she had been waiting for. She couldn't let him escape. Not this time.

With a deep breath, Sophia steadied her aim, her finger hovering over the trigger. She knew this was risky, knew that she could be putting herself in danger. But she also knew she had no choice.

As she prepared to fire, a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her back behind the wall. She spun around, her eyes wide with shock, only to see Antonio staring back at her, his face pale with fear.

"What are you doing?" he hissed. "You could have been killed!"

Sophia shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest. "I had a clear shot, Antonio. I could have ended this."

Antonio's expression hardened. "No, Sophia. This isn't the way. We need to be smart about this."

Before she could respond, a loud explosion rocked the estate, sending debris flying through the air. Sophia and Antonio ducked for cover as the shockwave rattled the ground beneath them.

Sophia's ears rang as she struggled to her feet, her vision blurry. She could see Matteo's men advancing, their weapons raised as they closed in on the estate. Her heart sank as she realized they were out of time.

"Fall back!" Antonio shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "We need to regroup inside!"

Sophia nodded, grabbing his arm as they sprinted back towards the house. As they reached the door, she glanced back one last time, her eyes locking with Matteo's across the battlefield.

She could see the smirk on his face, the confidence in his eyes. He knew he had the upper hand, knew that they were on the verge of defeat. But as Sophia turned and ran, she made a silent vow.

This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. She would do whatever it took to protect her family, to end this war once and for all.

And she wouldn't rest until Matteo Vitale was brought to justice.