The first scream echoed through the casino like a siren.
Then another gunshot rang out.
Glass shattered near the entrance as people began running in every direction.
My heart jumped into my throat.
"Dante—"
Before I could finish, his arm wrapped firmly around my waist and pulled me behind him.
"Stay close," he ordered.
His voice was calm, but the tension in his body told a different story.
More gunshots exploded across the room.
Men in black suits stormed inside the casino, weapons raised.
Everything happened so fast.
People dove under tables.
Chairs crashed to the floor.
Someone knocked over a poker table, sending chips scattering everywhere.
My hands trembled as I clutched Dante's jacket.
"Those are Romano men," Isabella muttered beside us, her face pale.
Dante's eyes were cold as steel.
"They're not here for money."
Another bullet smashed into a chandelier above us.
Glass rained down across the floor.
"Move!" Dante barked.
Two of his guards immediately surrounded us, guiding us toward the back of the casino.
But suddenly three armed men blocked the hallway.
My breath caught.
They wore black masks, their guns pointed straight at us.
One of them laughed.
"Well, well," he said. "Look who we found."
Dante stepped forward slightly, placing himself between them and me.
"You're trespassing," he said coldly.
The masked man shrugged.
"Boss Romano sends his regards."
My stomach twisted.
Boss Romano?
The man lifted his gun.
"And he wants the girl."
My heart nearly stopped.
"What?" I whispered.
Dante's body went completely still.
Then his voice dropped to something terrifyingly quiet.
"You're not touching her."
The masked man smirked.
"Actually…"
His gun slowly pointed toward my stomach.
"We just want what she's carrying."
Fear exploded inside me.
They wanted the baby.
Before anyone could react—
Dante moved.
So fast I barely saw it happen.
He grabbed the gun from one of his guards and fired.
Bang.
One of the masked men dropped instantly.
The other two fired back.
Gunshots exploded in the hallway.
Dante shoved me behind a marble pillar.
"Stay down!" he ordered.
My heart pounded violently as I crouched on the floor.
Bullets ricocheted off the walls.
The guards fired back.
One of the attackers fell.
But the third man suddenly rushed forward.
Straight toward me.
My breath caught.
Before I could move, his hand grabbed my arm violently.
"Got her!"
Panic surged through my body.
"Let me go!" I screamed.
The man tried dragging me toward the hallway.
But he didn't get far.
A deafening gunshot echoed right beside us.
The man froze.
Then slowly collapsed to the floor.
Dante stood behind him.
Gun still raised.
His chest rose and fell slowly.
His dark eyes were burning with pure rage.
He grabbed my shoulders quickly.
"Are you hurt?"
I shook my head, too shocked to speak.
His hands briefly moved to my stomach.
Checking.
Protective.
When he confirmed I was okay, he exhaled slowly.
Then his expression turned deadly again.
He looked toward the casino floor where more gunshots echoed.
"This ends tonight," he said quietly.
Isabella stepped forward nervously.
"You can't go out there now. There are too many of them."
Dante handed his gun to one of his guards.
"Take her back to the mansion," he ordered.
My heart dropped.
"What about you?"
His gaze returned to me.
Cold.
Focused.
Dangerous.
"I have a war to finish."
Fear tightened my chest.
"You could get killed."
Something strange flickered in his eyes at my words.
But it disappeared quickly.
"I don't lose wars," he said calmly.
Then he turned to leave.
But before he walked away, he looked back at me one last time.
"And no one touches what belongs to me."
My heart skipped.
Moments later the guards were already leading me toward the back exit.
Gunshots echoed behind us.
People screamed.
And as we stepped outside into the cold night air…
I realized something terrifying.
The mafia war that just started tonight…
Was because of me.
And the baby I was carrying.