The Final Stand

Luca's grip tightened around the keys in his hand as he and Mira sprinted across the rooftop. The cold night air burned in their lungs, but there was no time to stop.

Below, Victor's men scrambled to find another way up. The sounds of their shouting bounced off the brick walls, growing louder with every second.

Mira grabbed his arm. "Luca, what's the plan?"

Luca didn't hesitate. "We jump."

Her eyes widened. "Are you insane?"

Luca glanced at the next rooftop—a narrow alley separated them, but it was close enough. Doable.

"If we stay, we're dead," he said, voice steady. "If we jump, we have a chance."

Mira swallowed hard. Then she nodded. "Together."

Luca took her hand.

Then they ran.

—

A Leap of Faith

Their feet pounded against the rooftop. Luca counted the steps, heart hammering. Three… two… one—

They leaped.

For a split second, time stopped.

Then they hit the rooftop, rolling from the impact. Luca gritted his teeth as pain shot through his shoulder, but he ignored it.

Mira groaned. "I hate you."

Luca let out a breathless chuckle. "Noted. Now move."

They didn't have time to celebrate. Victor's men had reached the rooftop behind them. The sound of gunfire cracked the air, bullets pinging off the ledge as they ran.

They raced toward the edge of the building, where a rusted fire escape led down into the shadows of the city.

—

The Backup Plan

Luca yanked Mira down the fire escape, two steps at a time. The second they hit the ground, he pulled the backup key from his pocket and pointed across the street.

A black Ducati motorcycle was parked in the shadows.

Mira's jaw dropped. "You had a bike stashed?"

Luca smirked. "Always have a Plan B."

She didn't argue. As Victor's men stormed down the fire escape, she jumped onto the back of the bike, wrapping her arms tightly around Luca's waist.

He revved the engine. The tires screeched against the pavement as they shot forward, tearing through the darkened streets.

—

The Chase

The city blurred around them. Luca weaved through traffic, pushing the bike to its limit.

In the side mirror, headlights flashed—Victor's cars were right behind them.

Mira turned, her grip tightening. "They're gaining on us!"

Luca gritted his teeth. "Not for long."

He cut through an alley, barely squeezing between two trucks. The sound of screeching tires and metal crunching filled the air as one of Victor's cars smashed into a dumpster, flipping onto its side.

One down.

But the others were still coming.

Mira reached into the bag, her fingers closing around the gun.

"Hold steady," she warned.

Luca didn't argue. He swerved hard, giving her a clean shot.

BANG.

The front tire of the nearest car exploded. The vehicle spun out of control, slamming into a streetlight.

Two down.

But Victor's car was still coming.

And he was driving it himself.

—

A Deadly Gamble

Mira's breath hitched. "Luca—"

"I see him."

Victor's car barreled toward them, its engine roaring like a beast hunting its prey.

Luca's mind raced. He knew Victor—the man didn't bluff. He was going to ram them off the road.

There was only one way out.

A bridge.

A train bridge loomed ahead, the tracks running across the river. Luca yanked the bike toward it, the tires screaming against the pavement.

Victor followed.

Mira's nails dug into Luca's jacket. "This is insane!"

Luca didn't respond. He gunned the throttle.

They hit the bridge at full speed. The wooden planks beneath them rattled, gaps in the tracks flashing past.

Victor wasn't stopping.

Neither was Luca.

One move. One chance.

Luca yanked the handlebars hard, sending the bike into a controlled slide. Mira held on for dear life as the motorcycle skidded sideways—

And Victor's car sped past them.

Straight off the bridge.

For a moment, the world was silent.

Then—

CRASH.

Victor's car plummeted into the river below, swallowed by the dark waters.

—

Freedom—But At What Cost?

Luca and Mira sat on the bridge, breathless. The city lights shimmered in the distance, sirens wailing somewhere far away.

Mira exhaled shakily. "Is it over?"

Luca watched the river, his chest rising and falling. "Yeah."

Mira let out a small, disbelieving laugh. Then she turned to him, her eyes searching his.

"Then where do we go now?"

Luca looked at her—the woman who had changed everything.

"Anywhere we want."

—

Next Chapter: A New Beginning? – Luca and Mira are finally free… but the past never truly stays buried.