جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 114

Valentina’s POVThe Ferraro estate had been abandoned for twenty years, but someone had recently been there.I noticed the lights first.Three floors of the old mansion stood in darkness, except for a single window on the upper level. A faint yellow glow spilled through the curtains, making the place look less abandoned than forgotten.The iron gates hung open.Dante parked several metres from the entrance and switched off the engine.Neither of us spoke immediately.I stared at the house, remembering what Adrian had told us.Don’t trust the woman who looks like Valentina. Both of them.I had no idea what that meant.One woman with my face was already enough to make me question everything I knew about myself. Now there were apparently two.Dante reached across the console and took my hand.“Whatever happens inside, stay close to me.”I looked at him.“You know I can’t promise that.”His jaw tightened.“Valentina.”“If one of our children is in danger, I’m going to help them. I’m not s

Valentina’s POVThe gunshot was followed by a heavy thud.“Dante!”I couldn’t see anything. The room had plunged into complete darkness, and people were shouting from every direction.I reached for the nearest person, but my fingers caught only empty air.“Dante, answer me!”“I’m here!”His voice came from my left.I stumbled toward it, knocking into a chair. Someone grabbed my wrist.I screamed and tried to pull free.“It’s me!” Serena gasped. “It’s Serena!”I stopped fighting.“Where is Dante?”“I don’t know. Stay down!”Another shot rang out.A small hand slipped into mine.The little girl.I knew it was her before she spoke.“Mommy, I’m scared.”I pulled her against me.“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”I didn’t know whether that was true, but I couldn’t let her hear the fear in my voice.Emergency lights flickered on.The room appeared in fragments: Helena beside the wall, Elena crouched behind the cot, Serena on the floor, and Adrian leaning against the doorway.Dante was n