Breath Between Stone Walls

Siena, Tuscany – Kael's Safehouse, 6:07 a.m.

"I don't like places this quiet…"

Ariella spoke softly, as if addressing the stone walls instead of Kael.

Their footsteps echoed along the narrow corridor lined with ancient limestone. The air was damp, tinged with dust and the weight of years. Above them, a single lightbulb swayed lazily — its dim glow responding to the heavy steel door Kael had just shut behind them.

He didn't reply.

Kael walked ahead, one hand gripping Ariella's small bag, the other tapping a security code into the wall. A faint click broke the silence as the second door slid open.

Ariella hesitated at the threshold, her eyes darting across the interior.

The safehouse was nothing like she imagined. Not luxurious. Not particularly safe, even. Just… silent. Painfully silent — like a place people came to forget who they were.

Exposed stone walls. Worn wooden furniture. A tattered Persian rug faded with time. One small window near the ceiling let in threads of early morning light. Beside the open kitchen, a narrow spiral staircase led to a loft.

Kael dropped her bag on the old sofa.

He removed his jacket, hung his weapon discreetly in a hidden nook, still without a word.

Ariella remained at the doorway.

"This place feels like a prison," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly.

"A prison you choose," Kael replied. "Better that than a golden cage chosen for you."

She turned to face him. "You think I chose to run? I haven't had a choice since that night."

Kael stared at her for a long moment. "But that night... you still followed me."

Silence.

They locked eyes, unmoving, unblinking.

Eventually, Ariella stepped inside. She removed her heels — elegant stilettos now out of place on the cold, uneven stone.

Her feet ached. Her soul more so.

"Rest." Kael's voice was quiet, but firm. "Your room is upstairs. I'll stay down here tonight."

Ariella looked at the spiral staircase. Her eyes were heavy, but her body refused to move.

"Kael." Her voice cracked.

He paused.

"I had a dream about my mother last night."

Kael turned slightly, his gaze softening.

"She was sitting on my bed. Her hair was wet… like she'd just come out of the rain. Her eyes were empty. But she held my hand so tight, Kael. And she said…"

Ariella's lips trembled.

"…she said, 'Run while you still can, Ella. Don't let what happened to me happen to you.'"

The air between them thickened — not with tension, but with old wounds resurfacing.

Kael's eyes, usually hard and unreadable, dimmed with something else. Something older. Something broken.

Ariella wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. "I don't know if it was a warning… or just trauma chasing me again."

She forced a faint smile. Failed.

"I'm okay," she said gently. "I'll go up now."

Kael didn't stop her. But he watched her the whole way up — every step etched into his memory like a promise he couldn't afford to break.

Rome — Villa DeLuca, Salvatore's Office, 6:45 a.m.

"She's in Siena."

Salvatore leaned back in a black leather chair, fingers tightening around his carved cane bearing the family crest.

Giovanni nodded once.

"Matteo hasn't reported back."

"He won't." Salvatore's voice dropped. "He's following his heart, not the plan."

"Then he may let them go."

Salvatore turned slowly.

"And that's exactly why we need a new plan."

Siena – Loft, Safehouse | 7:22 a.m.

Ariella woke with a jolt.

Sweat clung to the back of her neck. Her breathing was sharp — like she'd just escaped a nightmare that hadn't finished playing out.

She sat up.

The light now poured in through the high window, but the world outside still looked grey. She perched at the edge of the bed, clutching the coarse cream-colored sheet with trembling fingers.

Then — a sound from downstairs.

Not Kael.

The footsteps were lighter. Stealthier.

Ariella descended one step at a time, barefoot, silent.

In the pocket of her robe, she gripped a small glass bottle — perfume from her mother. It now doubled as a weapon, if needed.

She reached the bottom.

And froze.

In the kitchen, a figure stood with his back to her, rifling through the fridge like he belonged there.

Kael?

No.

He turned.

And Ariella's breath hitched.

"Enzo?" she whispered.

He smiled faintly. "Hi, Ariella."

Rome — Matteo's Car, Autostrada A1

"He took her to the old safehouse near Siena."

Matteo's eyes flicked to the GPS screen on his dash — the red indicator blinking steadily.

"And Salvatore… he's planning something more."

His phone rang.

"Giovanni," he answered.

The voice on the other end was gravel-thick. "Salvatore knows you're moving solo. He's dispatched the Alpha Team to the same location."

Matteo's grip on the wheel tightened.

"If they get there first…"

"Then stop them, Matteo."

Matteo didn't respond.

He shifted gears and slammed the pedal. The black car roared down the fog-lined road between silent valleys.

And in his heart, a vow burned anew.

No one touches Ariella.

Not even her own father.

Siena — Safehouse, 7:48 a.m.

Kael returned through the back door, carrying fresh bread and milk.

He stepped past the kitchen — then stopped cold.

Ariella stood stiff in the living room. Her face was pale. And beside her…

"Enzo?" Kael's tone dropped. Tension rippled down his back.

Enzo raised both hands in mock surrender. "Relax. I'm not your enemy. Not yet."

"How did you find this place?" Kael stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous.

Enzo smirked. "I know more than you think, Kael."

Kael moved to lunge — but Ariella stepped in between them.

"He… he's an old friend," she said, unsure if she even believed her own words.

"He's a DeLuca." Kael's eyes didn't leave Enzo. "And every friend from that family comes with a debt."

Enzo's eyes softened only when they fell on Ariella. "I'm not here because of Salvatore. I came… for you."

Ariella swallowed hard. "Why now, Enzo? Why not before?"

"Because now…" He glanced briefly at Kael, then locked onto her."You're finally strong enough to know the truth."

Ariella's heart raced.

She hesitated. "Enzo… what do you know?"

Enzo stepped back, hand on the doorknob.

"Kael's not the only one who ever tried to save you," he said softly. "But he's the only one you followed."

Kael's fists clenched.

Enzo opened the door. A gust of morning fog swept in.

"Tomorrow morning. The old church in Montepulciano. I'll show you who you've really been running from."

And with that, he vanished into the mist.

Kael stood by the window, his back to her.

"I don't like games played in the open," he muttered.

Ariella remained still, facing the door that had just closed.

"Kael…"

He turned slowly.

"If you knew who I really was… would you still protect me?"

Kael walked toward her — slow, steady, until the space between them disappeared. She could hear his heartbeat now.

"I've known since the night we met," he said. "And I didn't run."

He tilted her chin with his fingers.

"So now… if you want to find out who you really are…"

He smiled — sharp, but tender.

"…then let's find her. Together."