Elena’s POVDarkness.It wrapped around me, thick and suffocating. My body felt like dead weight, pain pulsing through every limb, my mind struggling to surface from the void.Then, a sharp ache in my side made me gasp.I was awake.I blinked, my vision blurry as the dim lighting of an unfamiliar room came into focus. The air smelled of antiseptic and something earthy, like damp wood. The mattress beneath me was thin and stiff, and a rough wool blanket scratched against my skin.Where the hell was I?Memories hit me like a sudden storm—gunfire, Alessandro bleeding out, the car chase, the crash. The darkness swallowing us whole.My breathing hitched.Alessandro.I tried to sit up, but pain sliced through my ribs. A groan slipped from my lips, and my body betrayed me, too weak to fight. My arms trembled under my weight before I collapsed back onto the bed.The door creaked open.I forced my gaze toward it, my muscles tensing as a shadow stepped inside.A man—broad-shouldered, mid-fortie
Elena’s POVThe air was thick with dust, the scent of blood clinging to the wooden walls of our hidden space. Every nerve in my body was on edge, my breath shallow as I pressed myself against the cold wall, feeling the faint rise and fall of Alessandro’s weak breathing beside me.The only thing between us and death was a thin wooden partition—and the man who had saved us was now at the mercy of the killers searching for us.Then came the sound that made my stomach lurch.Shattering glass.A loud crash, followed by the heavy stomping of boots. They were inside.My body tensed. I knew this moment would come, but I had hoped—prayed—that we would have had more time.“Search every damn room!” a voice barked. The authority in it sent a cold chill through my veins. These men were trained killers. Ruthless. Efficient. If they found us, there would be no second chances.I swallowed the fear rising in my throat, shifting my focus to Alessandro’s unconscious form beside me. His wounds still look
Elena’s POVThe air in the hidden room was thick with tension. Every breath felt like a struggle, every heartbeat like the ticking of a time bomb. Had they truly left? Or was this another trap?Through the thin cracks in the wooden planks, I could still hear the heavy boots retreating, the muffled curses of men frustrated that their prey had slipped through their fingers.Then came the voice that sent a wave of relief through me.“Let’s move,” the leader of the gang ordered. “There’s nothing here. We’ll search the other sectors before dawn.”I stayed frozen, barely daring to breathe, as the enforcer who had been moments away from opening our hiding spot hesitated.“But, boss, I swear I—”“I said we move,” the leader cut in sharply. “Do you want to waste time on ghosts, or do you think they could escape the gun we shot at them?”A tense silence.Then, finally—A grunt of frustration, followed by heavy footsteps retreating toward the door.The battered man who had saved us groaned in pa
Elena’s POvThe silence between us stretched, heavy and thick, broken only by the distant sounds of birds chirping beyond the cracked window. Alessandro sat on the edge of the bed, the early morning light streaming over his face, painting shadows beneath his eyes. He looked different now—less the unshakeable Mafia boss, more the man behind the walls, the one I was just beginning to understand.He was staring at me.Not with that usual smirk or the commanding glare he wore like armor, but with something softer, deeper.“What is it?” I asked, voice barely above a whisper.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze dropped to the bruises along my arms, the small tear along my shirt where blood had dried in the fabric. I caught the flicker in his eyes—the storm of emotion barely held back.“You fought like hell,” he said finally. “You moved like you were born for it.”I almost laughed, the sound catching in my throat. “Wasn’t exactly a choice, was it?”“No,” he said, “but you didn’t
Elena Pov Later that evening, a heavy silence hung in the air inside the small, dimly lit room. Elena sat near the window, her back turned towards Alessandro as she gazed into the distance. The gentle flicker of the candlelight illuminated her features, casting long shadows across her face. Despite the warmth in the room, she felt an unsettling chill creep up her spine. The conversation she’d had with her father earlier had left her feeling uneasy, her instincts screaming that something wasn’t right.Her father’s voice had been calm, reassuring even. He had promised to help, to send aid for both her and Alessandro. But something in his tone, the way he avoided certain questions, had gnawed at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t being completely honest. She wanted to trust him, to believe that he had the best intentions, but the dark past of her family’s ties to the Mafia whispered doubts in her mind. Could he truly be the ally they needed, or was he already playing a d
Elena povThe moment Alessandro said those words—"They're coming. This time, we either run… or we fight"—my heart clenched with fear.I could see it in his eyes; he wasn’t exaggerating. This wasn’t just another threat. It was real.They were close. Too close.Alessandro pushed himself off the bed, moving with a determination that barely masked the pain he was clearly still feeling. I rushed to his side, trying to support his weight, but he shook his head firmly. “We need to move. Now.”The man who had risked everything to help us, battered and bruised, stepped forward. “There’s a path... through the woods behind the house. Leads to an abandoned cabin... it’s hidden well. You might make it there.”His voice was strained, every word costing him pain. Blood stained the side of his shirt where he had taken most of the gang’s fury.Alessandro turned to him, grim and reluctant. “Come with us. We can’t leave you here.”But the man shook his head with a sad smile. “I’ll slow you down. If I st
Elena’s Pov The weight of Alessandro’s words hadn’t left me since he said them: “They’re coming. This time, we either run… or we fight.” My heart pounded against my ribs like a warning drum. The man who saved us—bruised and barely able to stand—had returned inside, urgency lacing his words. We didn’t have much time. Alessandro wasted no breath. “We’re moving,” he said. His voice was rough but steady, his eyes already scanning the room like a battlefield commander. “There’s an abandoned cabin deep in the forest. We’ll go there.” “But he won’t survive another move like this,” I said, gesturing to the wounded man. “Neither will you.” “We have no choice.” The old man—who had risked everything for us—shook his head. “I’ll stay.” “No,” I said firmly. “We won’t leave you behind.” His weathered hand found mine. “You must. They’re coming for him… and they’ll burn everything in their path. I’ll buy you time. If I stay, I might be able to slow them down, mislead them. But if we all go, th
Elena PovThe snap of the twig outside the cabin makes my heart leap into my throat. I freeze, the cold of the forest seeping into my bones as the quiet of the night feels suffocating. My fingers instinctively curl around the hilt of the knife I’ve kept at my side since we started running. It’s small, but I’ve learned that in moments like these, every weapon counts. My breath hitches as I peer through a crack in the cabin’s wall, my pulse hammering in my ears. The shape of a shadow flits across the treeline, moving slowly, deliberately. My eyes widen, every instinct screaming at me to remain silent.I hold my breath, trying not to make a sound, not even a rustle. But then I hear another snap—closer this time. I grip the knife tighter, my fingers aching from the tension. The shadow is moving closer. I need to act now. I move silently, as quietly as I can, and place a hand gently on Alessandro’s shoulder. His body is stiff beneath my touch, but it doesn’t matter—I need him awake, alert,
Elena povThe figure in the cave entrance looms like a specter, cloaked in darkness. My heart stops, my breath catching in my throat. His voice cuts through the silence, commanding and chilling. “Come with me—if you want him to live.” The words reverberate in my mind, each one a jagged shard of fear, and I can’t move, can’t think. My eyes flick between him and Alessandro, who’s slumped against the cave wall. The weight of the moment is suffocating. My instincts scream at me to run, but where? My only choice is to decide—quickly—if I’m going to trust him, or if this is the trap I’ve been fearing.He doesn’t move, doesn’t even flinch as I stare at him, but his presence fills the entire space. It's overwhelming, suffocating, like the air itself has thickened. His eyes bore into me, but I can’t read him. The seconds stretch, dragging with the weight of everything hanging in the balance. Save Alessandro. But trust this man? My body is frozen between fear and desperation. I can’t afford t
The air in the cave felt thick with tension, each breath Elena took a struggle against the weight of fear pressing on her chest. But it was the voice—her name, whispered through the trees—that was the true torment. It was familiar, a sound that should have been comforting. But instead, it rattled through her bones like a cold wind.“Elena…”Her heart stuttered in her chest. The voice was unmistakable, too clear to be mistaken. But it wasn’t a voice that should be calling her.“Elena…” The sound slithered through the darkened forest, soft and echoing, growing closer with each passing second.The breath caught in her throat as she tightened her grip on Alessandro’s hand. His fingers felt cold beneath hers, the warmth of life slipping away with every second. She couldn’t let fear paralyze her, not now, not when they were so close to safety.But she was terrified. Terrified of the voice—terrified of what it meant. It was the kind of fear that held her in place, immobilizing her, as if ans
Elena Pov The forest is still.Still in that terrifying way—where silence feels too complete, too deliberate. Every leaf is holding its breath. Even the wind seems to hesitate.I crouch low beside Alessandro, his body slumped against the thick roots of a gnarled tree. His breath is shallow, ragged—each exhale a whisper against my ear. My hand trembles as I press against his chest, checking for warmth, for movement. He’s alive, but barely.Then I hear it.That voice.Calm. Icy. Controlled."Run all you want. We always find you."It’s not a threat. It’s a promise.My heart slams against my ribs like a trapped animal, and for a brief moment, I can’t breathe. I glance through the foliage. Nothing. Just darkness. Trees. Shadows that could be anything. Or anyone.But I feel it. We’re surrounded.I grip the dagger tighter in my hand and turn to Alessandro. “We have to move,” I whisper, though I know it’s a miracle he’s still conscious. His lips part, but no words come. Just a groan. Pain, f
Elena povI hold my breath, the sound of the footsteps above the bunker reverberating through my entire body. The silence that follows feels heavier than anything I’ve ever known. Every muscle in me is tense, aching from exhaustion, but my mind is sharp. The knife in my hand is cold, and my fingers tremble against the handle. Stay calm, I tell myself.I press my ear to the floor of the bunker, straining to hear through the thick wood. Every second feels like an eternity. I wish I could see what’s happening above us—wish I could know who’s there. But I can’t. All I know is that they’ve found us. I hear the faint sound of something moving—a shift in the air, a shadow crossing the cracks in the ceiling. It’s not the hunter.My stomach drops. Shadow Blades. The very people I’ve feared for days now. They’ve come for us, and this time, there’s no running.I try to steady my breathing. The muffled sounds of their footsteps are precise, measured. Cold. They know what they’re doing. These are
Elena PovThe snap of the twig outside the cabin makes my heart leap into my throat. I freeze, the cold of the forest seeping into my bones as the quiet of the night feels suffocating. My fingers instinctively curl around the hilt of the knife I’ve kept at my side since we started running. It’s small, but I’ve learned that in moments like these, every weapon counts. My breath hitches as I peer through a crack in the cabin’s wall, my pulse hammering in my ears. The shape of a shadow flits across the treeline, moving slowly, deliberately. My eyes widen, every instinct screaming at me to remain silent.I hold my breath, trying not to make a sound, not even a rustle. But then I hear another snap—closer this time. I grip the knife tighter, my fingers aching from the tension. The shadow is moving closer. I need to act now. I move silently, as quietly as I can, and place a hand gently on Alessandro’s shoulder. His body is stiff beneath my touch, but it doesn’t matter—I need him awake, alert,
Elena’s Pov The weight of Alessandro’s words hadn’t left me since he said them: “They’re coming. This time, we either run… or we fight.” My heart pounded against my ribs like a warning drum. The man who saved us—bruised and barely able to stand—had returned inside, urgency lacing his words. We didn’t have much time. Alessandro wasted no breath. “We’re moving,” he said. His voice was rough but steady, his eyes already scanning the room like a battlefield commander. “There’s an abandoned cabin deep in the forest. We’ll go there.” “But he won’t survive another move like this,” I said, gesturing to the wounded man. “Neither will you.” “We have no choice.” The old man—who had risked everything for us—shook his head. “I’ll stay.” “No,” I said firmly. “We won’t leave you behind.” His weathered hand found mine. “You must. They’re coming for him… and they’ll burn everything in their path. I’ll buy you time. If I stay, I might be able to slow them down, mislead them. But if we all go, th
Elena povThe moment Alessandro said those words—"They're coming. This time, we either run… or we fight"—my heart clenched with fear.I could see it in his eyes; he wasn’t exaggerating. This wasn’t just another threat. It was real.They were close. Too close.Alessandro pushed himself off the bed, moving with a determination that barely masked the pain he was clearly still feeling. I rushed to his side, trying to support his weight, but he shook his head firmly. “We need to move. Now.”The man who had risked everything to help us, battered and bruised, stepped forward. “There’s a path... through the woods behind the house. Leads to an abandoned cabin... it’s hidden well. You might make it there.”His voice was strained, every word costing him pain. Blood stained the side of his shirt where he had taken most of the gang’s fury.Alessandro turned to him, grim and reluctant. “Come with us. We can’t leave you here.”But the man shook his head with a sad smile. “I’ll slow you down. If I st
Elena Pov Later that evening, a heavy silence hung in the air inside the small, dimly lit room. Elena sat near the window, her back turned towards Alessandro as she gazed into the distance. The gentle flicker of the candlelight illuminated her features, casting long shadows across her face. Despite the warmth in the room, she felt an unsettling chill creep up her spine. The conversation she’d had with her father earlier had left her feeling uneasy, her instincts screaming that something wasn’t right.Her father’s voice had been calm, reassuring even. He had promised to help, to send aid for both her and Alessandro. But something in his tone, the way he avoided certain questions, had gnawed at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t being completely honest. She wanted to trust him, to believe that he had the best intentions, but the dark past of her family’s ties to the Mafia whispered doubts in her mind. Could he truly be the ally they needed, or was he already playing a d
Elena’s POvThe silence between us stretched, heavy and thick, broken only by the distant sounds of birds chirping beyond the cracked window. Alessandro sat on the edge of the bed, the early morning light streaming over his face, painting shadows beneath his eyes. He looked different now—less the unshakeable Mafia boss, more the man behind the walls, the one I was just beginning to understand.He was staring at me.Not with that usual smirk or the commanding glare he wore like armor, but with something softer, deeper.“What is it?” I asked, voice barely above a whisper.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze dropped to the bruises along my arms, the small tear along my shirt where blood had dried in the fabric. I caught the flicker in his eyes—the storm of emotion barely held back.“You fought like hell,” he said finally. “You moved like you were born for it.”I almost laughed, the sound catching in my throat. “Wasn’t exactly a choice, was it?”“No,” he said, “but you didn’t