Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Crossfire

Marco felt a rare moment of calm, the gentle sway of the boat beneath him almost soothing. Luca leaned against the railing, watching the sea, his silhouette bathed in soft morning light. For a brief, stolen moment, they had escaped the chaos Victor and Isabella had ensnared them in. Here, out in the open sea, they had a taste of freedom.

But an instinct clawed at Marco—a warning. His gut told him that this peace was fleeting.

"Do you think we're finally free?" Luca's voice was soft, his eyes scanning the horizon as if the answer might lie somewhere beyond the waves.

"I want to believe it," Marco replied, his voice steady, though he couldn't ignore the sinking feeling tightening in his chest.

The boat's hum was the only sound for miles—until a faint rumble echoed in the distance, low but unmistakable. Marco's gaze whipped to the horizon. A small black dot punctuated the otherwise endless blue, and it was moving fast.

"Luca." Marco's tone was urgent.

Luca straightened, following Marco's line of sight. His face tightened, his fingers curling against the railing. "We need to move. Now."

Without hesitation, Marco turned to the control panel, pushing the throttle forward. Their boat jolted, cutting through the water as he steered them away from the oncoming vessel. But as they picked up speed, the dot grew larger, transforming into the familiar outline of a speedboat—Victor's speedboat.

"How did he find us?" Luca's voice shook with disbelief.

Marco clenched his jaw, his mind racing. "Jake," he muttered bitterly, the betrayal burning fresh in his mind. "He must have tipped Victor off. We trusted him, and now…" Marco's grip tightened on the wheel, the anger rising in him like a storm.

"Marco," Luca said, a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Let's get out of this alive. We'll deal with Jake later."

Marco nodded, refocusing. But as the speedboat barreled toward them, he realized that escape might not be so simple. The sleek, black boat gained on them, its engine's roar drowning out the ocean's soothing sound. Within moments, the shadow of Victor's vessel loomed dangerously close, its front lined with figures Marco knew all too well—Victor and his team of enforcers, each one of them armed and ready.

"Victor's not here to negotiate," Marco muttered.

As if on cue, a sharp crack shattered the air—a gunshot. The bullet whizzed past them, striking the railing inches from Luca's hand, splintering the metal. Luca recoiled, his eyes widening.

"Get down!" Marco shouted, pulling Luca toward the side of the boat as another shot tore through the air, grazing the side of their boat.

"Keep moving!" Luca urged, gripping Marco's arm. "We need to find a way out of this."

Marco's mind raced, considering their limited options. They were trapped in open water, exposed and vulnerable. Then he spotted a dark, jagged reef up ahead, a shallow cluster of rocks just below the surface. A plan formed, risky but potentially their only chance.

"Hang on, Luca," Marco said, steering them toward the reef. "If I can lead them over that, maybe…"

Luca's eyes flashed with understanding, his expression a mixture of fear and hope. "It could work. But you'll have to time it perfectly."

"Trust me," Marco replied, focusing every ounce of his energy on the waters ahead. "I won't let him take us."

Victor's speedboat surged forward, closing the distance. The shots grew closer, a relentless volley that chipped away at their boat, each one a reminder of how close they were to losing everything. But Marco's resolve only strengthened, his hands steady as he navigated their boat toward the treacherous reef.

When they were mere feet from the rocks, Marco yanked the throttle back, steering sharply away and narrowly skirting the reef's edge. Victor's boat followed, unaware of the danger until it was too late. With a sickening crunch, the hull of Victor's boat collided with the jagged rocks, sending a cascade of water and debris into the air.

For a moment, Marco and Luca dared to breathe, their eyes locked as they watched Victor's boat veer sideways, struggling to regain control. But then a new sound cut through the air—a rumbling, ominous and low.

Another boat.

Marco's eyes widened in disbelief as a second vessel emerged from behind Victor's crippled speedboat. This one was larger, its hull a polished black, lined with even more of Victor's armed men. It seemed they hadn't anticipated the reef either, but they managed to steer just in time, avoiding the same fate as Victor's first boat.

"Are they…did Victor plan for this?" Luca asked, horror in his voice.

"It's overkill," Marco replied, adrenaline flooding his veins. "He's pulling out everything."

The larger boat surged forward, closing in on them with a ruthless efficiency. Victor's men lined the edges, weapons aimed, each one poised to shoot on command. There was no more running—no time left to strategize.

As the first bullets rained down, Marco pulled Luca close, sheltering him against the side of their boat as the gunfire intensified. He felt Luca's hand clutching his tightly, their breaths mingling as they braced against the onslaught. The world seemed to narrow, the sound of gunfire deafening.

Suddenly, the barrage stopped, replaced by a chilling silence. Marco risked a glance, peering over the edge. The larger boat had slowed, drifting just a few meters away. One of the men stepped forward, a tall, muscular figure with cold eyes. His gaze was locked on Marco, as if assessing him, deciding his fate.

Then, the man raised a loudspeaker, his voice carrying over the water. "Marco, Luca. This is your last chance. Surrender now, and we might be merciful."

Marco's mind raced, weighing their options. They were outgunned, outnumbered, and trapped. He felt Luca's hand squeeze his, grounding him, pulling him back to the moment.

"We'll never surrender to you!" Marco shouted, his voice defiant, even as fear gnawed at him. He couldn't let Victor win. Not now, not after everything they'd been through.

The man lowered the loudspeaker, his expression hardening. "Then you leave us no choice."

He gave a signal, and the men on the boat lifted their weapons, preparing for the final assault. Marco braced himself, gripping Luca's hand as he prepared for the worst. But just as the first shot fired, a new sound echoed across the water—the unmistakable whine of a helicopter.

Marco looked up, his heart leaping. A helicopter circled overhead, emblazoned with an emblem he recognized. Reinforcements. Jake hadn't betrayed them entirely. He'd sent backup, and it had arrived just in time.

The helicopter descended, its rotor blades churning the air and sending powerful gusts that knocked Victor's men off balance. The gunfire ceased as the men scrambled to regain their footing, their attention diverted.

"Now's our chance!" Marco shouted, grabbing Luca's hand as they dove toward the boat's controls.

With renewed determination, Marco started the engine, steering them away from the chaos. Behind them, the helicopter unleashed a barrage of cover fire, scattering Victor's men and creating enough distraction for their escape. As they sped away, Marco risked one last glance back, watching as the helicopter drew Victor's attention, giving them the precious seconds they needed to put distance between them.

As they disappeared over the horizon, Luca collapsed beside Marco, gasping for breath, his face pale but alight with adrenaline.

"We made it," Luca whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.

Marco nodded, a fierce smile breaking through his exhaustion. "For now. But we need to be smarter, to stay ahead of him."

As the adrenaline began to wear off, the enormity of what they'd just survived settled over them. They had faced death and outmaneuvered Victor once again, but Marco knew this wasn't the end. Their enemies were relentless, and the shadows of the past loomed ever larger.

Luca reached for Marco, his hand resting against his cheek, grounding him. "We'll survive, Marco. We'll find a way. Together."

Marco looked at Luca, the weight of their journey evident in his eyes. He pulled him close, their foreheads touching as they drew strength from each other. They might be outnumbered and outgunned, but as long as they had each other, they were stronger than any threat Victor could throw their way.

As they sailed into the unknown, Marco made a silent vow. He would protect Luca, no matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice. And if Victor wanted a war, he would give him one.

To be continued...