A rush of relief flooded through me as I saw Dante standing there, battered but alive. With hurried steps, he limped into the room, swiftly shutting the door behind him. In one fluid motion, he dragged the unconscious Silas inside, his movements decisive and firm. He threw Silas to the side before swiftly grabbing nearby wires and tying him up with electric cables."Are you alright?" His gruff voice rumbled through the tense air as he turned his gaze towards me. His sharp jawline was shadowed by his buzz cut, and specks of blood marred his once-clean face. Despite his intimidating presence, there was a familiarity about him, a sense of protection that surrounded me whenever he was near. From the moment I first laid eyes on him, I knew there was no denying the aura of violence that clung to him. Yet, at this moment, as he stood before me, I felt a bond with him that transcended mere kinship. He was like the brother I never had, a steadfast ally in the cruel world that surrounded us. I
Glancing cautiously around the dimly lit hallway from the safety of the doorway, I confirmed it was clear of any lurking guards. With a silent exhale, I slipped out into the corridor, my footsteps muffled against the cold, hard floor. My mission was clear: locate the guards and buy Dante the precious time he needed to establish contact with Nikolayev, our potential ally in this perilous situation.For now, I needed to get caught so that they could take me to Alejandro and then-"What are you doing out? Get her!" The harsh command pierced the silence of the hallway as the guard's voice echoed towards me. Acting on instinct, I feigned surprise and attempted to flee in the opposite direction. But my efforts were futile as I intentionally stumbled over the uneven steps, a desperate ploy to maintain the facade of panic. Before I could regain my balance, strong hands gripped my bicep, yanking me upright with brutal force. I struggled against their hold, hoping to sell the illusion of resist
I noticed Silvio's struggle to maintain composure, to conceal his instinctual response to my unexpected appearance, though it was evident he wasn't entirely successful. As the initial shock subsided, his jaw clenched, and a flicker of rage ignited in his eyes upon noticing my partially dishevelled state. Despite being restrained, his muscles tensed, visibly straining against the bindings. It was clear he harboured a primal urge to unleash havoc upon everyone in the room. I understood that only the ropes tethering him to the chair prevented him from launching himself at Alejandro, tearing him apart limb by limb.Alejandro must be thinking the same thing, because he motioned two bulky men to step closer to Silvio, clutching their weapons just in case.Looking pleased with this turn of events, Alejandro laughed and dragged me to the middle of the room, his grip on my arm horrendously tight."You know, it's so easy to destroy a man like you," he remarked casually, gripping my hair tightly
Confusion clouded my senses as I struggled to discern whether I had struck my head or if the explosion had left me dazed. The cacophony of gunfire outside the walls pierced through the haze, echoing into the room. Smoke billowed around me, choking my lungs as I reflexively tried to rise to my feet."Sadie! Keep low!" Silvio's voice cut through the smoke, its roughness indicating the strain. "Stay down, Cara Mia," he urged, concern evident in his tone. “Do you hear me?”"Yes!" I shouted in exhilaration, relief flooding me at the realization that he was alive—and able to talk. Staying close to the floor, I cautiously glanced from behind the fallen table beside me. Across the room, Silvio lay on his side, bound to the metal chair.Observing the smoke swirling in from the ceiling vent, I noted the room's desolation save for Silvio and myself. The commotion, whatever it was, seemed to be unfolding beyond these walls. Dante must have received my signal. Nearly overcome with relief, I seized
Silvio's heartbeat echoed through my palms, a rhythmic drumming that drowned out all other sensations. At that moment, I was utterly consumed by him, seeking warmth and safety in his embrace. His touch, firm yet tender, traced soothing patterns across my back, calming the storm raging within me. With one hand entangled in my hair, he cradled me gently, his arms a place against the chaos of my mind. Every movement, every caress, whispered reassurance, a lifeline in the tempest of my panic. And as he rocked me, his strength became my anchor, holding me together as I shattered, knowing that in his embrace, he’d gather me.“Hush… everything’s alright. I won’t let anything hurt you, shh.” He hummed softly, tilting my face into the warm curve of his neck, where I nestled, inhaling his comforting scent. With each sniffle, I bobbed my head gently, seeking comfort in his arms.“He… He said he’ll… he’ll kill you.” Tears flowed freely as I submitted to sobs, feeling every ounce of strength drain
"It's agonizing, isn't it? Letting her go," Alejandro scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips as he clicked his tongue in mocking amusement. "Do you honestly believe she can evade death? She's fated to die alongside you and your mother."Silvio's jaw tightened, his fists curling into tight balls of restrained fury. "Where is she?" His voice rumbled low and deep, carrying the weight of his smouldering rage, a storm brewing beneath a deceptively calm surface, ready to unleash.Alejandro chuckled darkly, a sinister sound that echoed through the tense air, his head shaking in mockery as he dragged his broken leg forward. Despite his injury, he kept the gun trained unwaveringly on Silvio."And you think I'd answer that?" His words dripped with venom, laced with a chilling indifference to the perilous situation. "You're quite amusing, Silvio. Have you ever heard a psychopath warn their victim?" His laughter carried a menacing edge, a glimpse into the depths of his depravity as he toyed wi
Dante forcefully pulled me along, the adrenaline coursing through my veins like a raging river. The echoes of the explosion still reverberated through the building, each tremor a stark cue of the chaos that had erupted just minutes earlier. I could feel the walls quivering around us as if they too were struggling to contain the violence. I knew we had so much less time left.But, there was a suffocating tightness gripping my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs with relentless vigour. It was a sensation both physical and haunting, the reminder of the man I had left behind. Silvio. My heart clenched painfully at the thought of him, refusing to beat without him by my side.Though I held onto faith in Silvio, doubts gnawed at the edges of my mind like hungry wolves. I couldn't bring myself to trust Alejandro, not when he had made his intentions towards Silvio abundantly clear. He had threatened him countless times, his words dripping with malice and contempt. I knew deep down that ther
"Always a dog, wagging your tail, barking on that bastard’s order. How long till you are nothing but just dust sticking to his shoes, huh?" His hand moves to wipe the blood from his torn lip, a defiant glint in his sharp hazel eyes.Dante meets Silas's gaze with a steely depth, his expression betraying none of the fatigue that weighs heavily on his shoulders. Despite the chaos surrounding them, both of them exuded a sense of power and control.The tension between the two was almost palpable. Dante knew Silas was trying to provoke him. Bottom of FormDante's heart pounded in his chest like a drumbeat of impending doom, gripped by the chaos unfolding around him. The surroundings were tainted by the acrid smell of gunpowder, now resembling a battleground where every step could mean life or death. Not only his, but Silvio’s, Sadie’s. Fuck! This was not easy, the escape would take much more than he originally bargained for.He could smell the gunpowder mixing with the oceanic breeze. One w