Adriana's POV
"Adriana!"
I turned sharply. Luca was standing a few feet away, his weapon raised as he looked past me.
"There are too many!" he shouted.
I glanced toward the courtyard. He was right. Figures moved through the smoke from every direction. Some ducked behind the cars, others hovered near the gates, and more were rapidly advancing from the eastern side.
Alessio fired twice before grabbing my arm.
"Stay close."
"I am."
"Closer."
I almost rolled my eyes. Even in the middle of a literal war, he was still trying to dictate exactly where I stood.
A sudden burst of gunfire erupted from the opposite side, the sharp cracks echoing off the stone. Alessio reacted instantly, pulling me behind a concrete pillar.
"Luca!" he yelled over the noise.
"Yeah?"
"Take the southern perimeter. Don't let anyone break through."
Luca nodded immediately. "Got it." He disappeared into the smoke, two of Alessio's men trailing close behind him.
Alessio turned his full attention to me. "You're going home."
I stared at him, incredulous. "What?"
"You heard me."
"No."
His expression hardened, his features cutting into sharp lines. "Adriana."
"I said no."
"This isn't a discussion."
"It is when you're telling me to leave you in the middle of a battlefield!"
His jaw clenched so tight his muscle ticked.
"You're already hurt."
I looked down at my arm.
The cut wasn't deep, but dark blood was actively smearing across my skin. "I can still hold a gun."
"That isn't the point."
"Then what's the point?"
"You." His voice dropped to a low, rough register. "You're the point."
I went quiet. For a second, the gunfire seemed distant.
Alessio stepped closer. "I told you to stay home because I don't know what's coming next. I don't know how many men they have brought. I don't know who that person was."
The stranger. The disembodied voice we'd heard earlier.
The one man we'd never managed to see through the darkness and smoke.
My stomach tightened. Neither of us knew who he was, and somehow, that frightened me more than the bullets.
Alessio reached down and took my hand. "Go home. Lock the doors. Wait for me."
I shook my head, my grip tightening on his. "I'll wait for you here."
"Adriana."
"No."
His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. "Why are you making this difficult?"
"Because you're asking me to sit somewhere safe while you're out here risking your life."
"I can handle myself."
"I know."
"Then go."
"I can't." I swallowed hard,looking straight at him. "Because if something happens to you while I'm sitting at home, I'll never forgive myself."
His expression softened slightly.
Before he could speak, another explosion shook the ground.
He immediately pulled me against his chest. "Stay behind me."
"I can fight."
"I know."
"Then stop treating me like I'm helpless."
"I don't think you're helpless." He looked directly into my eyes, his gaze burning. "That's exactly why I'm scared."
My heart skipped a beat.
Before I could answer, someone shouted from the southern side.
"Boss! They're coming through!"
Alessio released his grip on me. "Stay here."
I lunged forward and grabbed his wrist. "I'm coming."
"No."
"Yes."
"Adriana—"
"I said I'm coming, Alessio."
He stared at me for several seconds. Finally, he exhaled sharply, defeated breath. "Fine." He pointed toward the wall behind us.
"But you stay beside me. Not ahead. Not behind the men. Beside me."
I nodded quickly. "Deal."
We broke cover and moved together. The courtyard had turned into chaos. Heavy smoke covered almost everything, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.
A sharp gunshot rang out close by. Alessio fired back instantly.
Another man appeared through the haze directly ahead.
I raised my weapon, aligned the sights, and the trigger. One shot.
He dropped out of sight into the fog.
Alessio glanced over his shoulder at me. "Good."
I frowned, keeping my weapon up. "Was that a compliment?"
"Don't get used to it."
I small smile tugged at my lips despite the danger. Then, his eyes suddenly shifted toward the darkness.
"What?"
He didn't answer. I followed his gaze, but saw nothing–onky swirling smoke and dancing shadows.
But then,a voice echoed from somewhere beyond the courtyard.
Low. Perfectly Calm.
Almost amused.
"You two really don't know when to stop."
The sound made my blood run entitely cold. Alessio immediately raised his gun, aiming blindly in the dark. "Show yourself!"
Silence stretched. Then a quiet, mocking laugh drifted throug the air before fading completely. He was gone again.
Alessio's expression became unreadable, his eyes dark.
"Who is he?" I whispered.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
His eyes met mine. "I swear to you Adriana, I don't."
Another deafening round of gunfire interrupted us. Luca appeared through the smoke, breathing heavily. "They're retreating from the south!"
Alessio nodded. "Good. Push them toward the eastern gate."
Luca glanced at me. "Is she okay?"
Alessio answered before I could. "She will be."
I gave him a look. "I can answer for myself."
A faint, tired smile touched Luca's lips. "Yeah. She's definitely okay."
"Go," Alessio ordered. Luca disappeared again.
Alessio turned back to me. "You're still going home."
I groaned. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
"And what are you going to do?"
"Finish this."
"Without me?"
"With you somewhere safe."
I crossed my arms. "Not happening."
He stared at me. I stared back. Finally, he shook his head. "You're impossible."
"And you're stubborn."
"I'm your husband."
"And I'm your wife."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Exactly my problem."
I smiled back. His hand found mine. For just a second, everything became quiet.
No gunshots. No shouting. No smoke.
Just us.
Then Alessio squeezed my hand. "Stay alive."
I nodded. "You too."
His gaze lingered on me. "I mean it, Adriana."
"So do I."
He lifted his gun again. The softness disappeared from his face. Once again, the Don returned. And together, we stepped back into the war.
The moment we stepped back into the chaos, a bullet struck the ground inches from my feet. I flinched. Alessio immediately pulled me closer. "Are you hurt?"
"No."
He looked at me for another second, making sure I wasn't lying.
Then he turned toward the courtyard. "Stay with me."
"I am."
We moved forward. The smoke was getting thicker, making every shadow look like a person. Somewhere ahead, Luca's men were still fighting. "Alessio!" Luca's voice echoed. "They're falling back!"
"Don't let them regroup!" Alessio shouted.
I followed him toward the eastern side, my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind us. I turned.
Nothing. Only darkness.
"Alessio…" He looked back.
"What?"
"I heard something."
His expression instantly changed. He raised his gun and slowly stepped in front of me.
"Stay behind me."
We waited.
Nothing.
Suddenly, aphone began ringing somewhere in the smoke.
Both of us froze. Alessio's eyes narrowed.
The ringing stopped. A second later, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He pulled it out. Unknown number.
He answered.
Neither of us spoke.
A distorted voice came through the other end. "You should have listened to me, Don."
Alessio's face went cold. "Who are you?"
A quiet laugh. "You'll find out soon."
The call ended. Istared at him. "What did he say?"
Alessio slowly lowered the phone. "Nothing good." And somehow, I knew— this war was only the beginning.