Hunted

The night air was thick with smoke and sirens. Elena, Luca, and Dante moved fast, slipping through the back alley of Inferno as the club burned behind them.

Elena's hands were shaking, her heart still hammering in her chest. They had been so close. Valerio had been right there, and now—he was gone.

Luca tightened his grip on her wrist, pulling her forward. "Keep moving."

Dante stumbled slightly, coughing as he waved away the smoke. "You both owe me a drink after this."

Elena ignored him, scanning the streets. The city was alive with flashing lights—police, fire trucks, chaos. But something felt wrong.

It was too quiet.

Luca must have felt it too because he suddenly stopped. His grip on Elena tightened.

"Run," he said.

Elena barely had time to react before gunfire erupted.

A black SUV screeched to a halt at the end of the alley. Doors swung open. Men in dark suits spilled out, weapons drawn.

Valerio's men.

Dante cursed. "Of course he has a backup plan."

Luca shoved Elena behind a dumpster as bullets sparked against the brick walls. He fired back, taking out one of the gunmen before dragging Elena to her feet.

"Go!" he shouted.

They sprinted.

The city blurred around them as they weaved through dark streets, cutting through abandoned buildings and empty lots. Footsteps pounded behind them—closer, faster.

Elena's lungs burned. She gritted her teeth, pushing forward.

They reached an overpass. A dead end.

Luca spun, gun raised, his eyes flickering between the shadows. "We make our stand here."

Dante groaned. "Can we not?"

But it was too late.

The men had surrounded them.

Elena's fingers twitched toward her gun. But before she could draw—

A slow clap echoed through the underpass.

And then he stepped forward.

Valerio.

Unscathed. Smirking.

"Running already?" he mused. "I thought you wanted this fight, corazón."

Elena's stomach twisted. "You don't get to call me that."

Valerio tsked. "Still so angry." He glanced at Luca. "You never did know how to protect her."

Luca's jaw clenched. "Try me."

Valerio laughed, stepping closer. "Oh, I intend to."

His men raised their guns.

Dante sighed. "I really hope one of you has a plan."

Elena exhaled. "Yeah."

Then she raised her hands.

Luca's eyes widened. "Elena—"

But she had already made her decision.

She turned to Valerio, her voice steady. "Take me. Let them go."

Silence.

Then Valerio smiled.

"Now that," he murmured, "is interesting."

Luca lunged for her, but two guards held him back. "No! Elena—don't—"

Elena didn't look at him.

She looked at Valerio.

And she knew, deep down—

She had just made a deal with the devil.

---

Next Chapter: A Cage of Gold—Elena is taken by Valerio, but she's not his prisoner. She's his possession. And Luca? He's about to burn the city down to get her back.