Trying to kill my wife

The guard shot at me, but he had missed.

I stumbled backward, heart slamming in my chest. Isabella’s face twisted in fury. “ Don't you know how to Shoot!” she screamed.

The guard raised the gun again, but this time I dodged. The shot rang out, I scrambled toward the hallway, feet slipping on the marble. Another shot echoed. Something grazed my shoulder, then I saw blood trickle down, but I kept running.

I darted into the next hallway and shoved a bookshelf down behind me with a loud crash. It bought me a few seconds.

What do I do?

I ran into the dining room and locked the doors, my heart racing as I pressed myself against the wood. I yanked out my phone again, still no reply from Marco.

Another bang, they were trying to break through then the banging stopped. I grabbed a steak knife from the table, I crouched behind the table and forced myself to breathe.

Suddenly I heard footsteps behind me, shit I had forgotten the back entrance.

I spun around, just in time to see the second guard lunging for me. He knocked the knife out of my hand. I screamed and fought, hitting him with fists and nails and whatever I could.

He shoved me hard, I crashed into the table and hit the floor.

Pain exploded in my ribs, he moved toward me again but then—

Bang.

The sound was deafening, for a second I thought he’d shot me.Then I saw the guard collapse, blood pooling beneath him.

I looked up, Marco stood at the doorway

Isabella, standing behind the first guard, locked eyes with him. She looked visibly shaken and frozen like she bad seen a ghost.

“Y-y-you s-shouldn’t have come back so soon,” she said bitterly.

Marco didn’t answer, he stepped into the room, aiming the gun at her now.

“hm Isabella.” he muttered smirking.

Marco’s eyes shifted to me. I was still on the floor, “You okay?” he asked.

I nodded.

He gestured with the gun. “Get up. Stay behind me.”

I scrambled to my feet, shaking, and stood close behind him.

Marco looked at Isabella like he was staring at an insect.

“Trying to rob me was stupid,” he said. “Trying to kill my wife?”

He stepped forward, his voice was deadly calm. “You just signed your death sentence.” I shivered slightly at how cold he sounded.

But Isabella was shaking like a leaf by now, her eyes looked like she was going through pain.

Marco’s jaw tightened. “you will pay for what you tried to do.”

“Take her,” he ordered the guards behind him. “Put her in the cell until I decide what to do with her.”

She didn’t resist, but as she passed me, she leaned in. “This isn’t over,” she whispered. “He can’t protect you forever.”

I didn’t flinch. “Then you better hope I don’t survive next time.”

Her eyes narrowed, for once, she was the one speechless.

Marco waited until she was gone before lowering the gun. Then he turned to me.

“You shouldn’t have been there,” he said quietly.

“She was robbing you. What did you expect me to do? Just watch?” I snapped, still shaking.

He didn’t say anything at first. Then: “You could’ve been killed.”

I blinked at him. “So could you.”

He let out a dry laugh, his eyes flickering down to the blood on my sleeve. He stepped forward, but I held my hand up.

“I’m fine.”

“You should’ve told me the truth,” I said. “About my father.”

His expression didn’t change—but I saw something flicker there.

“I will,” he said. “But not tonight.”

He turned away and walked back toward the study.

“Where are you going?”

“To make sure there aren’t more rats hiding in my house.”

And just like that, he disappeared into the shadows again.

I stood there, shaking, my body sore, adrenaline still coursing through my veins.

I had survived.

But something told me this wasn’t even close to being over.

This was my life now.