The Trap

The night was thick with tension, the air charged with the storm brewing inside Luca. He stood at the gates of Valerio's estate, his pulse steady, his heart anything but.

Dante exhaled beside him. "You do realize this is suicide, right?"

Luca checked his weapon. "Then let's make it worth it."

No more waiting. No more playing by the rules.

He was getting Elena back—no matter what.

With a nod, they moved.

The first guard didn't even have time to react before Luca took him down, silent and swift. The second barely had a chance to draw his gun before Dante put a bullet between his eyes.

One by one, they cut through Valerio's men, their path a trail of bodies.

Luca barely felt the pain when a bullet grazed his arm. It didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was getting to her.

He reached the entrance, kicked the doors open—

And walked straight into hell.

---

Elena's Choice

She had heard the gunfire. Felt the vibrations of Luca's fury tearing through the estate.

He was here.

But so was Valerio.

He stood across the room, watching the security feeds with a satisfied smirk. "He really does love you," he mused.

Elena's breath was shaky, her hands clenched. "And he's going to kill you."

Valerio chuckled. "Or I kill him first."

She lunged for him.

But before she could reach him, something cold pressed against her ribs.

A knife.

Valerio sighed against her ear. "I told you, corazón, you're mine."

The door burst open.

Luca stood there, gun raised, eyes dark with fury.

"Elena."

She barely breathed his name before Valerio tightened his grip, the knife pressing deeper.

"One move, and she bleeds," Valerio warned.

Luca didn't lower his gun.

"Elena," he said, voice softer now, pleading. "I need you to trust me."

Her pulse pounded.

She had to do something.

She met Luca's eyes.

And then—

She moved.

Twisting, she drove her elbow into Valerio's gut, ducking as the knife slashed the air. Luca fired—

But Valerio was faster.

He grabbed Elena, spinning her into his arms. The bullet meant for him hit her instead.

She gasped, pain blooming in her side.

Luca's face twisted in horror.

Valerio smirked. "Oops."

Elena collapsed, her vision darkening.

The last thing she heard was Luca's roar of rage—

And then, nothing.

---

Next Chapter: Blood and Fire—Luca's world shatters as Elena falls. Valerio thinks he's won. But Luca? He's about to show him what true destruction looks like.