Chapter 104: No Way OutThe ride back to the penthouse was silent. Leonardoâs grip on the steering wheel was tight, his jaw locked in fury. The city lights flashed past us, but I barely noticed them. My mind was still stuck in that room, replaying Blackwellâs words over and over again.âWalk away, and I let you live.âIt wasnât an offer. It was a threat.Marcus was quiet in the backseat, still bruised from his captivity. Harris was on the phone, speaking in low, urgent tones, probably arranging for extra security. Daniel sat beside him, scrolling through his tablet, his expression tense.I swallowed hard. âLeonardoâĶâHe didnât answer.I reached for his hand, my fingers brushing over his knuckles. He was ice-cold.Finally, he spoke, his voice low. âThey think they own the world.âI exhaled. âBecause they do.âLeonardoâs jaw tightened. âNot for much longer.âMarcus let out a tired chuckle from the back. âDamn, Gael. Youâre really going to war with the most powerful organization in the
Chapter 105: The TargetLeonardo was gone.The door had barely closed behind the FBI agents before the weight of the situation crashed down on me. Blackwell had planned this. He knew that taking Leonardo out of the picture, even temporarily, would leave me vulnerable.And now?I was the next target.I stood in the middle of the penthouse, my pulse racing. The walls felt like they were closing in.Marcus exhaled sharply, running a hand through his messy hair. âAlright. Letâs not panic.âDaniel shot him a look. âAre you serious? The FBI just walked in here and took Leonardo. And Olivia is next. We are way past the âdonât panicâ stage.âHarris adjusted his gun, his expression unreadable. âThey moved fast. Too fast. That means they have insiders feeding them information.âI swallowed hard. âSo what do we do?âHarrisâ gaze met mine. âWe get you the hell out of here.âMarcus nodded. âFor once, I agree. The Order wonât waste time. Theyâll make their move tonight.âI felt a lump in my throat
Chapter 106: Under SiegeThe sound of glass shattering sent a jolt of adrenaline through my veins.They were inside.The darkness made it worse. Every shadow felt like a threat, every sound amplified by the silence between gunfire. The only light came from the glow of Harrisâ tablet screen as he monitored the security cameras.âThereâs at least twelve of them,â Harris muttered. âArmed, tactical gear, moving fast.âMarcus grinned, loading his gun. âSounds like a party.âHarris shot him a glare. âThis isnât a joke.âI tightened my grip on the gun, my pulse pounding. I wasnât afraid. Not anymore. Blackwell thought he could take us out, erase us like we were nothing.He was wrong.âPositions,â Harris ordered. âWe hold them here.âMarcus moved toward the back hallway, taking cover behind an overturned table. Harris stayed near the entrance, his gun raised. Danielâwho was definitely not built for thisâcrouched near the security console, his fingers shaking as he typed furiously.I took a d
Chapter 107: The Final WarThe SUV sped through the dark streets, cutting through the city like a bullet. Leonardo held Olivia tightly in his arms, her breathing shallow but steady. Her skin was cold, and the bruises on her wrists made his jaw clench.She had been through hell, and it was all because of Blackwell.Marcus sat in the front seat, gripping his gun. âHow bad is she?âLeonardoâs eyes never left Oliviaâs face. âShe needs a doctor.âHarris, driving at full speed, spoke without looking back. âWe canât take her to a hospital. Blackwell will have people watching.âLeonardo clenched his jaw. âThen we bring the doctor to her.âDaniel, sitting beside Marcus, was already on his phone. âIâm on it. I have a private contactâsomeone we can trust.âLeonardo nodded. Good.Because Olivia wasnât just his responsibilityâshe was his everything.And if Blackwell thought he could take her away, he had just signed his death sentence.Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a new safe house.It w
Chapter 108: The War Isnât OverThe explosion rocked the ground beneath us. Fire and thick black smoke rose into the night sky, turning the estate into a burning wreck. The heat pressed against my skin, but I barely noticed it. My arms were wrapped tightly around Olivia, shielding her from the blast.She coughed, struggling to push herself up. âLeonardoâĶâI loosened my grip just enough to look at her. Her face was covered in dust, her breathing uneven, but she was alive. That was all that mattered.Marcus groaned somewhere nearby. âWell, that was fun.âHarrisâ voice came through the earpiece. âEveryone accounted for?âDaniel coughed. âBarely.âI helped Olivia to her feet, scanning the area. The estate was completely destroyed, reduced to a burning pile of rubble. The bodies of Blackwellâs men lay scattered across the grounds. The mansion was gone.Blackwell was gone.And yetâĶ something didnât feel right.Marcus dusted himself off. âSo, thatâs it? We win?âI didnât answer.Something w
Chapter 109: The Final TrapThe Grand Avalon Hotel was buzzing with movement, the kind of exclusive energy that came with power and wealth. Guests in designer suits and shimmering gowns mingled, oblivious to the real reason this event existed.This wasnât a party.This was a war zone in disguise.I adjusted the cuff of my suit, feeling the weight of the gun strapped beneath my jacket. Olivia stood beside me, her emerald gown a perfect contrast to her sharp, alert gaze. She looked like a queenâone that could wield both beauty and danger in equal measure.Her fingers brushed against mine. âHeâs coming.âI smirked. âIâm counting on it.âSecurity was tight.Harris had guards at every entrance. Snipers were positioned on the surrounding rooftops. Daniel was in a private surveillance room, watching the cameras.Marcus stood at the bar, swirling a glass of whiskey like he didnât have a loaded pistol tucked beneath his jacket.To everyone else, this looked like just another billionaire event
Chapter 110: The Hunt BeginsThe rooftop was silent except for the distant hum of the helicopter fading into the night. Cold air whipped around us, but the fire burning in my chest was hotter than ever.Blackwell had escaped.Again.I gritted my teeth, lowering my gun as the weight of the moment sank in. He had been right there, within reach, and I had hesitated.Because of what he said."The truth about your father."Damn him.Olivia stood beside me, her breathing uneven. She was still holding her gun, fingers tight around the grip. âHe got away,â she murmured, frustration in her voice.Marcus ran a hand through his hair. âGuyâs like a damn cockroach. Just when you think heâs dead, he crawls back out.âHarris stepped forward, pressing his earpiece. âDaniel, did you get a track on that helicopter?âDanielâs voice crackled through. âTrying. Itâs using a private frequency, but I might be able to hack into it.âLeonardo exhaled sharply. âDo it. I want his location now.âDaniel hesitated
Chapter 111: No More RunningThe explosion rocked the building. Glass rained down, the walls shook, and the air filled with thick dust. The alarms blared, a piercing sound cutting through the chaos.I grabbed Olivia, pulling her against me as another blast went off somewhere below. The floor beneath us trembled.Marcusâ voice came through the earpiece. âWhat the hell was that?âHarris cursed. âReinforcements. Blackwell called them in.âOf course he did.I turned, but Blackwell was already gone. The smoke made it hard to see, but I knew he had slipped through another exit. The bastard always had a backup plan.Olivia coughed, her grip on my arm tight. âWe need to move.âI nodded. âMarcus, whatâs your position?ââPinned down on the lower level. More guards just showed up.âI exhaled sharply. âHarris?ââTrying to clear a path, but theyâre everywhere.âWe had minutes before this place became a war zone.I looked at Olivia. âWe need to get downstairs.âShe nodded, already pulling her gun.
Chapter 159: Growing TogetherOlivia's POV"Mommy! Can I go play outside?" Lily's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.I turned to find her standing by the back door, already in her sneakers, her backpack slung over her shoulder as though she was ready for an adventure."Did you finish your chores first?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.Lily made a face but nodded. "Yes, Mommy. I made my bed, and I put away my books."I smiled. "Alright, go ahead. But make sure to stay close, okay?"She grinned and ran outside, her blonde hair streaming behind her. Ethan, who had been playing with his toy cars on the floor, looked up at me."Mommy, can I go outside too?"I knelt down to his level, brushing a stray curl from his face. "After breakfast, sweetie."He pouted but nodded, his little lips pulling into a tight line as he held up his toy truck.I went back to the kitchen, turning off the stove and preparing to set the table. Just as I placed the last plate down, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap
Chapter 158: A Life of LoveOliviaâs POVThe afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting soft golden hues over the yard. I stood by the kitchen sink, watching through the window as Leonardo played outside with our daughter. Their laughter echoed in the crisp air, blending with the rustling of leaves.She sat perched on his shoulders, her tiny hands gripping his hair as he ran in circles, pretending to be a horse.âFaster, Daddy!â she squealed.Leonardo groaned dramatically. âPrincess, Daddy is getting old.âShe giggled, tapping his head. âNo, youâre not! Youâre strong like a superhero!âI smiled, my heart swelling.This was our life now. Simple, filled with love.No more running. No more looking over our shoulders. Just us.I wiped my hands on a towel and made my way outside. The air was crisp, the scent of pine and fresh grass wrapping around me.Leonardo spotted me first. A slow grin spread across his lips. âLook who finally decided to join us.âOur daughter gasped. âMommy,
Chapter 157: A Love That LastsOliviaâs POVThe sound of soft laughter echoed through the cabin as I stepped into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow over the wooden floors. The air smelled of fresh coffee and something sweetâpancakes, maybe.I followed the scent, my heart warming at the sight before me.Leonardo stood at the stove, shirtless, wearing only loose pajama pants. His dark hair was still tousled from sleep, and the muscles in his back flexed as he flipped a pancake with effortless ease. But what made me smile the most was the little girl sitting on the counter beside him, her tiny hands clapping together as she watched her father cook."Again, Daddy!" she giggled.Leonardo grinned and spun the spatula between his fingers before tossing the pancake into the air. It flipped twice before landing perfectly back in the pan."Like that, princess?" he asked.She nodded enthusiastically, her brown cur
Chapter 156: EpilogueOliviaâs POVThe mountain air was crisp as I stood on the wooden balcony, gazing at the endless stretch of pine trees below. The sun had just dipped behind the peaks, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The wind whispered through the branches, carrying with it the clean scent of rain and earth.It was quiet here. Peaceful.Safe.For the first time in months, I could breathe without fear coiling around my throat. The Russo family was gone. Matteo Russo was dead. The house, the network, the legacyâdestroyed. Harris had confirmed it with photos and reports. There was no one left to hunt us. No shadows lurking behind cameras. No footsteps echoing in the night.Leonardo stepped onto the balcony beside me, two mugs of coffee in hand. He handed me one, then wrapped his free arm around my waist, pulling me into his warmth."Thinking again?" he asked softly.I leaned against him, feeling his steady heartbeat through his sweater. "Always."He kissed the top
Final Chapter(155)Leonardoâs POVThe sharp sound of footsteps echoed through the stairwell as Olivia and I sprinted toward the exit. Smoke burned my throat, and every muscle in my body screamed for rest, but we couldnât stop. Not now. Not with Matteo Russo closing in.We reached the ground floor and burst through the emergency exit into the alley. The cold night air hit me like a slap. I scanned the shadows for movement, gun raised. Olivia stood beside me, her eyes wide and wild.The phone in my pocket buzzed again.Another message.âYou canât run forever.âI gritted my teeth and shoved the phone back into my jacket. "Heâs playing with us," I muttered.Oliviaâs voice shook. "Heâs just a kid, Leonardo.""No," I said, scanning the rooftops. "He stopped being a kid the moment Victor put a gun in his hand."She hugged herself, shivering. I placed a hand on her arm, grounding her. "We end this tonight.""How?" she asked.I didnât have an answer.The phone buzzed again.I hesitated, then
Chapter 154Oliviaâs POVThe smell of smoke lingered in the air as I stood beside Leonardo, staring at the burning ruins of the Russo compound. The flames crackled, devouring the walls, the floorsâeverything Matteo Russo had built to continue his fatherâs legacy.But the weight in my chest wouldnât lift. The fire mightâve destroyed the compound, but the memories remained. The sight of Matteoâs small body hitting the floor haunted me. His lifeless eyes. The blood spreading across his shirt.Heâd been just a boy. A boy raised to hate, to kill, to continue the twisted family tradition. And Leonardo had been forced to pull the trigger."Olivia," Leonardo said softly, his voice pulling me from my thoughts.I blinked, realizing Iâd been clutching my arms so tightly that my nails had dug into my skin. I loosened my grip. "Yeah?""We need to go. The police will be here soon."I gave a shaky nod.Leonardo took my hand, guiding me toward the car parked beyond the tree line. The headlights wer
Chapter 153:Leonardoâs POVThe photograph of the baby lay on the table, the words "Blood runs deep" scrawled across the back in thick red ink. Olivia sat beside me, her eyes locked on the image as though it might come to life. My own thoughts churned like a storm, each one darker than the last.Victor Russo had a son. An heir. A child born into a legacy of violence and manipulation."We didnât know," Olivia whispered, voice trembling. "We thought we ended the family."I ran a hand down my face, exhaustion pressing against my skull. "Victor always had contingency plans. We underestimated him.""But how?" she asked. "We dug into every aspect of his life. There was nothing about a kid.""Because he wanted it that way." I stood and paced the length of the living room. "Victor was always obsessed with bloodlines. Family. Legacy. Of course, heâd hide a child until he was ready to use him."Olivia rubbed her arms. "He looked so...calm. That boy at the door. Like he wasnât scared at all.""
Chapter 152: LEONARDO!Leonardo's pov.The timer stopped at 00:59.Olivia dropped the knife and collapsed against me, sobbing. I held her tightly.Harris groaned. "Did...we win?"I glanced at Victorâs body. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling."Yeah," I said. "We won."Harrisâs team arrived within minutes. They removed the bomb and secured the mansion. Harris, bruised but breathing, sat on the porch while medics checked his vitals.Olivia and I stood nearby, watching the sunrise paint the sky in soft oranges and pinks."Itâs really over," she whispered.I wrapped my arm around her. "This time, it is."She leaned into me. "No more running?""No more running," I promised.The Russo family was gone.And we were finally free.Oliviaâs POVThe morning sunlight crept across the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over the Gael estate. The warmth should have brought comfort, a sense of peace after the nightmare weâd survived. But as I stood on the porch beside Leonardo, the weight of what
Chapter 151:Leonardoâs POVThe headlights sliced through the dark as I sped away from the cemetery, my knuckles white against the steering wheel. Olivia sat beside me, silent, her body rigid with fear. The message on my phone echoed in my mind:âThe devil doesnât die.âVictor Russo was alive. Or someone who looked and sounded exactly like him.I didnât believe in ghosts. But I knew the Russos were capable of almost anything. Victor had faked his death once already. Why not twice?"Leonardo," Olivia said softly.I glanced at her, her face pale in the dim light. "Yeah?""How...how is this possible?" Her voice cracked. "We saw his body. We saw the coronerâs report."I didnât have an answer. Iâd held Victorâs cold wrist to check for a pulse that day. Iâd seen the bullet hole in his forehead. But tonight...Iâd seen him standing beneath the trees, breathing, smiling."Weâre missing something," I said finally. "Something big."She hugged herself. "What if it really was him?"I gritted my t