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But he also didn’t just lie—he buried the truth beneath every touch. Wore my father’s blood like a second skin and dared tocall it love. He let me walk blind into the dynasty that destroyed mine—and never once stopped me. He let me give myself to the very bloodline that slaughtered my family.

Marco takes a careful step forward, his eyes never leaving mine.

“We need to get you out of here,” he says softly. “You’re safe now.”

“Safe?” I bark out a hollow laugh. “With the son of the man who murdered my parents? That’s your definition of safe?”

Pain flashes across Marco’s face, raw and unfiltered—like a dam breaking inside him. “I never wanted this for you. For us,” he breathes, voice shaking. “Not the secrets. Not the danger. Not the poison in my blood that stains everything it touches.”

He steps closer, desperation carved into every line of his face. “If I could cut myself open and carve out the Bianchi name, if it would free you from the weight of it—I would. I kept the truth buried, not out of cruelty, but out of cowardice. Because I thought if you knew… I’d lose you. And I see now—” his voice shatters, “—I lost you anyway.”

A sudden explosion of gunfire in the hallway cuts him off. One of his men bursts through the doorway, breathing hard.

“Boss, we’ve got trouble,” he pants. “D’Angelo’s backup just arrived—at least twenty men. Heavy artillery. We need to move. Now.”

Marco’s expression shifts instantly, all trace of softness gone. “Clear a path to the west exit. I’ll get her out through the back.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I say, even as fear crawls up my spine at the sound of approaching gunfire.

Marco turns back to me, his face hard. “Your sister is waiting at the south gate with a car. Chiara is there right now. I had my men bring her when you were taken.”

His voice softens. “She will take you back to the mansion, where you’ll be safe. But first, you need to get out of here alive.”

The mention of Chiara hits me like a bucket of cold water. She’s here? I nod curtly, putting aside my rage for the moment.

Survive now. Then take your revenge.

“Fine,” I say flatly. “Let’s get this over with.”

Marco gives me a sharp nod, then moves to the doorway, gun drawn. “Stay close,” he orders.

“And keep your head down.”

I follow him into the hallway, stepping around Fabrizio’s men who lie moaning or unmoving on the marble floor. The sound of gunfire grows louder, coming from the direction of the main staircase. Marco signals for me to be quiet, then leads me down a narrow service corridor.

We move through the massive house like ghosts, Marco’s body constantly positioned between me and any potential danger. The irony isn’t lost on me—the son of my family’s killer now risking his life to save mine.

We reach a small door near the back of the house. Marco pushes it open carefully, scanning the gardens beyond for threats.

“The gate is three hundred yards straight ahead,” Marco says quietly. “My men have cleared the path. Run, don’t stop. Chiara will be waiting with a black SUV.”

I step toward the door, but Marco catches my arm. His touch burns through the fabric of my sleeve.

“Aria,” he says, his voice rough with emotion. “I know you hate me right now. But please, stay safe and go home with Chiara. Don’t try to?—”

More shouting erupts from inside the house. A bullet smashes through a nearby window, sending glass shards flying. Marco shoves me through the door.

“GO!” he roars, turning back toward the sound of approaching men.

I don’t look back. I run, my lungs burning, my legs pumping as I sprint across the lawn toward the gate. Behind me, the fighting gets louder.

The gate is already ajar. A black SUV idles just beyond it, the engine running. And there, leaning against the side, her face taut with worry, is Chiara.

“Aria!” she cries when she sees me, rushing forward to pull me into a fierce hug.

I collapse against her, my body suddenly remembering the terror and exhaustion of the past few days. “You’re here,” I whisper into her hair.

“Marco,” she says, pulling back to look at me. “He had me picked up yesterday, said you’d been taken. He was out of his mind with worry, Aria. I’ve never seen anyone look so?—”