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Raffaele laughed, his voice carrying over the distance. “Did you think it would be that easy?” he taunted, his finger hovering over the trigger. “I know you betrayed me, Sofia. Now you and Massimo are going to pay the price.”
Sofia’s eyes were wide, fear flashing across her face, but she didn’t flinch. “What do we do—” she began, but I cut her off.
“Get down!” I barked, pulling my gun from its holster. “Now!”
Sofia ducked just as Raffaele raised the rocket launcher to his shoulder, his smile widening. I felt time slow, every second stretching out as I lifted my weapon, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.
I couldn’t miss. Not this time. Not with her life on the line.
“Not today,” I growled, squeezing my own trigger.
The shot rang out, echoing down the empty street. For a split second, I thought I’d missed—Raffaele’s grin never faltered. But then his head snapped back, a spray of crimson erupting as the bullet hit its mark. His body crumpled like a ragdoll, the rocket launcher falling from his hands, clattering uselessly to the ground.
Sofia gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, eyes wide with shock. “Did you…?”
I nodded, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my gun still trained on the fallen figure. “I had to,” I muttered, lowering the weapon slightly but not entirely. “He wasn’t going to stop.”
The engine in Raffaele’s car was still running, but there was no movement from the men inside. I could see their faces through the windshield—confused, terrified, unsure of what to do now that their leader lay dead in the street.
“Is it… over?” Sofia asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Not yet,” I murmured.
There were still the rest of Raffaele’s men to deal with.
I shifted the car into drive, the engine purring beneath us as I watched the men in the sedan scramble. They were panicked, caught between running and staying, unsure of their next move.
I rolled down my window, lifting my gun again, aiming it steadily at the windshield of their car.
“Get out of here!” I barked, my voice cutting through the silence. “Tell anyone left that they could run, or they will die—those are their only choices.”
One of Raffaele’s men dove into the driver’s seat, his hands gripping the wheel, his eyes darting between me and the rest of the men with him. He knew he didn’t stand a chance if they stayed.
“Go!” I shouted again, and this time he nodded, slamming the car into reverse.
The tires screeched as they peeled away, the sedan reversing quickly before the driver shifted into gear and sped off. I keptmy gun trained on them until they were out of sight, my heart pounding in my chest.
“They’re gone,” Sofia murmured, her voice still tight with adrenaline.
I reached for her, my hands moving over her arms, her shoulders, her sides, checking for any sign of injury. “Are you hurt?” I demanded urgently. “Did they hit you?”
She shook her head, but I couldn’t stop. My hands kept roaming, searching, needing to know she was okay. I ran my fingers over her legs, her waist, pressing gently, feeling for any hidden wounds.
“Sofia,” I murmured, my gaze fixed on hers, “tell me you’re fine.”
She caught my hands in hers, holding them tight, forcing me to stop. “Massimo,” she said softly, her voice steady, her eyes locking onto mine. “I’m fine. I promise.”
“Good,” I muttered, my hands lingering on her for a moment longer. “I just… I can’t lose you.”
She smiled, a reassuring light in her eyes. “You won’t,” she whispered. “I’m right here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
I nodded, feeling a fierce protectiveness swelling in my chest. “We need to get out of here,” I said firmly, pulling my hands back and gripping the wheel. “Before anyone comes looking.”
She nodded, sliding back into her seat, her hand still holding mine for a moment longer. “Let’s go,” she agreed.
I shifted the car into gear, slamming down on the accelerator, the tires screeching as we sped away from the scene. I kept myeyes on the road, my heart still pounding, but I reached out and took her hand in mine and squeezed it tight.
As I drove through the narrow streets, weaving in and out of traffic, I glanced over at her, her expression calm and focused despite everything we had just gone through. I could still see the fire in her eyes, the resolve that had kept her steady when the bullets were flying, and Raffaele had come at us with everything he had. She’d handled herself like she’d been born to this world, fearless and sharp, never flinching, never hesitating.