Chapter 29:Under Fire
"Stay behind me."
Alessandro's voice was ice—controlled, dangerous.
But Isla's pulse thundered in her ears.
The crash downstairs wasn't a warning. It was an invasion.
Shadows flickered in the dim hallway as Alessandro pushed her toward the closet, his grip firm but not rough.
"Hide," he ordered.
She stiffened. "No."
His jaw ticked. "Isla—"
"I'm not leaving you to handle this alone."
Another crash. More footsteps.
Alessandro let out a sharp breath, cursing under his breath before shoving a second gun into her hand.
Her fingers curled around the cool metal.
"Point and shoot if someone other than me walks through that door," he murmured.
Her stomach twisted.
He wasn't expecting to come back alone.
She refused to let that happen.
Before she could say anything, the bedroom door burst open.
A masked man lunged forward—gun raised, ready to fire.
But Alessandro was faster.
A single shot rang out.
The intruder crumpled to the ground.
Isla's breath came in short, shallow gasps.
Alessandro didn't hesitate.
He grabbed her wrist, dragging her through the house, weaving through corridors with terrifying ease.
"How many are there?" she whispered.
Alessandro's grip tightened. "More than there should be."
Not reassuring.
Gunfire erupted behind them.
They ducked into a side hall, Isla pressing her back against the wall as Alessandro returned fire.
Two men dropped.
But more were coming.
"Who the hell are they?" she demanded.
Alessandro's expression was grim. "Someone who wants to take everything from me."
His words sent a chill down her spine.
Not us. Not you.
Me.
This wasn't just a power play.
This was personal.
She exhaled sharply. "Then let's not let them win."
Alessandro's gaze flickered—something dark, something unreadable.
Then he grabbed her hand and ran.
They moved through the house like ghosts, slipping past bodies, past broken glass and overturned furniture.
Until they reached the back entrance.
A sleek black car sat idling outside, one of Alessandro's men at the wheel.
"Get in," Alessandro ordered.
She didn't argue this time.
Because now, she wasn't just running for safety.
She was running for her life.
And she had no idea what waited for them on the other side.