Blood on the Dance Floor

Gunfire ripped through the air.

Elena dove behind an overturned table as bullets shattered glass and splintered wood. The music from the club below was still pounding, oblivious to the chaos unfolding in the VIP lounge.

Luca was already moving, his gun raised as he fired back, taking down one of Valerio's men with ruthless precision. Dante, of course, was grinning as he ducked behind a couch, pulling out his own weapon.

"Remind me to never go to one of your reunions again," Dante muttered as he shot a guard square in the chest.

Elena's hands were steady as she reloaded. Focus. Survive.

Valerio stood at the far end of the room, calm amidst the violence. He wasn't even armed. Just watching.

"Elena," he called, his voice smooth. "This doesn't have to end like this."

Elena gritted her teeth. "Yes, it does."

She popped up from cover, firing two shots. Valerio dodged them with practiced ease, stepping back just as one of his men lunged toward her.

A thick arm wrapped around her waist.

She reacted instantly—slamming the back of her head into the man's nose before twisting free. Her knife was in her hand in a flash, slicing across his throat. Blood sprayed as he fell.

Luca fought his way toward her, his eyes sharp and furious. "We need to move. Now."

Dante kicked a table toward the remaining guards, using it as a shield. "Agreed! This party is getting a little too exciting."

The club below was starting to catch on—people were screaming, scrambling for the exits as the sound of gunfire leaked through the walls.

Valerio took a step forward, hands still in his pockets. "You don't want to do this, corazón."

Elena leveled her gun at him. "Watch me."

She pulled the trigger.

But Valerio was already gone.

A flash of movement—then pain exploded across her ribs as he struck her with a brutal kick, knocking her back. Her gun skidded across the floor.

Luca lunged at Valerio, but the bastard was fast. He sidestepped, slamming an elbow into Luca's jaw before sweeping his legs out from under him.

Dante fired twice.

Valerio caught the gun midair, twisting it out of Dante's hands and pointing it right at him.

For a second, no one moved.

Dante raised a brow. "Well, that's unfair."

Elena grabbed a broken chair leg and swung.

The makeshift weapon cracked against Valerio's head, making him stumble. It was all the opening Luca needed. He tackled Valerio, slamming him against the bar. Bottles crashed to the floor, liquor spilling like blood.

Elena grabbed her gun.

Valerio was dazed, pinned beneath Luca. She had the shot.

But something in Valerio's eyes stopped her.

That damn smirk.

"You think this is over?" he rasped, blood dripping from his mouth.

Elena's finger hovered over the trigger.

Dante, still recovering, glanced between them. "Shoot him."

But before she could—

Boom.

The entire club shook as an explosion rocked the building.

The sprinklers erupted. The lights flickered. Smoke filled the room.

Luca pulled Elena back just as the ceiling cracked, sending debris crashing down between them and Valerio.

By the time the dust settled—

Valerio was gone.

Elena's heart pounded.

Dante groaned, brushing dust from his jacket. "I really hate that guy."

Luca turned to Elena. "We need to go."

She barely nodded, her mind racing.

Valerio had escaped.

And that meant one thing.

This wasn't over.

Not even close.

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Next Chapter: Hunted—Elena, Luca, and Dante are on the run, but Valerio isn't done playing games. And this time, he's coming for all of them.