Blood in the Halls

Lorenzo's POV

Chaos erupted through the mansion like a violent storm. The shattering glass was only the beginning. I moved fast, my instincts honed from years of dealing with betrayal and war. My gun was already in my hand as I stepped into the hallway, scanning for movement.

Serena was right behind me, ignoring my order to stay put. I should've expected that—she was stubborn as hell. I wanted to turn and tell her to go back, but there wasn't time.

Shouts echoed from downstairs, followed by the distinct sound of a struggle. Someone was fighting—hard. I recognized Amir's voice barking orders, followed by a pained grunt that made my blood run cold.

I moved, my body running on pure adrenaline. Serena followed, keeping close, her breathing steady but sharp. The moment we reached the top of the staircase, I saw it—three men in all black, masked, armed. My men were already engaged, gunfire bouncing off the marble walls.

"Stay behind me," I ordered, raising my gun.

Serena pressed against the railing, eyes wide but sharp. I knew she wasn't the type to cower, but this wasn't a game.

I took aim and fired. The first shot hit a masked man in the shoulder, making him stagger. He turned, raising his weapon, but Amir tackled him from the side, sending both of them crashing into a table.

Another man aimed his gun at Amir, and before I could react, Serena grabbed a decorative vase from a nearby table and hurled it with impressive force. It shattered against the side of the attacker's head, sending him stumbling.

I didn't waste time. One shot to the knee, another to the chest. He dropped.

Serena gasped but didn't look away. Good. She needed to understand exactly what world she was living in now.

"Move!" I barked, grabbing her hand and pulling her behind me as more gunfire erupted from the hallway.

The traitor had let them in.

And I was going to find out exactly who it was.

---

(Serena's POV)

I barely had time to process what was happening. One second, I was in Lorenzo's office, arguing with him about being involved in this life, and the next, I was dodging bullets in our own home.

The air smelled like gunpowder, smoke, and something metallic—blood.

I clutched Lorenzo's arm as he led me through the chaos, moving like a man who had been through this a hundred times before. And he probably had.

Amir was still fighting, taking down one of the masked intruders, but there were more. Too many.

"Lorenzo!" I shouted as another attacker rounded the corner, raising his gun.

Lorenzo spun, faster than I'd ever seen a man move, and fired before the guy even had a chance to pull the trigger. Blood splattered against the wall, and the man crumpled.

I inhaled sharply, gripping my stomach as reality hit me. This wasn't a dream. This was real.

"You good?" Lorenzo asked, voice rough.

I nodded quickly, swallowing the bile rising in my throat. "Yeah."

He gave me one last look before dragging me into the nearest room, slamming the door behind us. It was a guest bedroom, dimly lit with an expensive-looking chandelier swaying from the force of the chaos outside.

"Lorenzo—"

"Stay here," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

But I argued anyway. "Like hell! You need backup—"

"I need to know you're safe!" he snapped, his eyes wild. "I can't focus if I'm worried about you getting shot!"

My heart pounded. "Then don't worry about me. Worry about the people who are trying to kill us."

His nostrils flared.

Before he could say anything else, a loud bang shook the door.

Both of us froze.

Someone was right outside.

Lorenzo grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him just as the door burst open.

A masked man stormed in, gun raised—

But Lorenzo was faster.

He lunged forward, knocking the gun aside just as it went off, the bullet burying itself into the wall inches from my head. I yelped, ducking instinctively, as Lorenzo twisted the man's arm, snapping it with a sickening crunch. The attacker screamed, but Lorenzo didn't hesitate. He slammed his knee into the man's stomach, then delivered a sharp blow to his temple.

The man crumpled.

Lorenzo didn't even flinch.

I stared at him, chest heaving, my ears ringing from the gunshot.

He turned to me, eyes scanning me for injuries. "Are you hurt?"

I shook my head, still processing what had just happened. "No."

"Good." He grabbed my hand again. "Let's move."

---

(Lorenzo's POV)

I wasn't going to let this slide.

This attack wasn't random. It wasn't just the Mancinis trying to shake us. Someone let them in. Someone on the inside gave them our layout, our security details, our weak spots.

A rat.

And I was going to find them.

By the time we made it to the main hall, the fight was nearly over. My men had taken down the last of the intruders, and the ones who had survived were either groaning on the floor or being dragged away.

Amir stood near the staircase, panting, blood smeared on his cheek. He turned as we approached, his expression tight.

"They had inside help," he confirmed, wiping his face with the back of his hand.

I clenched my jaw. "I know."

Amir gestured to one of the surviving attackers—one of my men had him pinned to the ground. "This one is still breathing. Want me to make him talk?"

I stepped forward, my entire body vibrating with fury. I knelt beside the man, gripping his bloodied shirt and yanking him up.

"Who let you in?" I demanded, my voice a low growl.

The man coughed, spitting blood onto the marble floor. "Go to hell."

I smiled. It wasn't a friendly smile.

Grabbing my gun, I pressed it against his knee. "Wrong answer."

He gritted his teeth. "You don't scare me."

I pulled the trigger.

He screamed as his kneecap shattered, his body jerking violently against the floor.

Serena inhaled sharply behind me, but she didn't say a word.

I grabbed his shirt again, yanking his face inches from mine. "Now… let's try this again. Who let you in?"

His breathing was ragged, pain twisting his features. For a moment, I thought he'd keep resisting.

Then—

"It was someone close to you," he rasped. "Someone you trust."

My grip tightened. "A name."

He coughed, blood bubbling at his lips. "You already know who."

A cold realization settled in my gut.

I dropped him, standing slowly.

Amir gave me a sharp look. "You have a suspect?"

I nodded once, my hands curling into fists. "Yeah."

Serena stepped closer. "Lorenzo…"

I turned to her, my eyes locking onto hers.

"This isn't over," I murmured. "Not even close."

Because I had a traitor to hunt. And when I found them…

They were going to wish they'd never been born.