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Then, without warning, Giacomo’s eyes narrow. His gun swings away from Maria—aiming directly at Daniele.

“No!” I shout, but the sound is swallowed by the deafening crack of gunfire.

The shot rings out—sharp and fast.

Daniele stumbles back, a gurgled gasp escaping his lips as blood blooms across his abdomen.

My heart seizes in my chest.

“No!” I roar, my finger tightening on the trigger without thought.

The shot I take is swift. Decisive.

Giacomo’s head explodes in a spray of blood and bone.

His body hits the ground hard, blood pooling beneath him, eyes staring blankly at nothing.

I rush to Daniele’s side, my gun falling from my hand as I kneel beside him. He’s bleeding heavily, his face pale, the life draining from him with every passing second.

“Daniele, stay with me!” I shout, my hands pressing against the wound, desperate to stop the blood from flowing.

He struggles to open his eyes, his voice barely a whisper. “Papá… forgive me… I… I didn’t mean… to…”

“Danny, no,” I choke, my voice cracking. “Shh… save your strength. I’m here, my boy. I’m here.” Tears blur my vision, but I don’t care.

“Just stay alive,” I beg him, my hand trembling as I press it to his chest. “Please.”

His eyes flutter open for the briefest moment, a faint smile curling at the edges of his lips. “I’m sorry…” His words fade, and with one last shaky breath, his eyes close.

“Daniele!” I scream, shaking him, but there’s no response. The world around me tilts and sways, and for a moment, everything goes dark. I can’t breathe, can’t think, can’t process it.

And then I hear it. A soft, sickening thud.

I turn, and my heart freezes.

Maria.

She’s collapsed on the ground, her body unmoving, her face pale.

“Maria!” I shout, stumbling toward her, grief and fear crashing over me. My hand trembles as I reach out, fingers brushing her skin, feeling the chill.

And then, from somewhere far off, I hear the wail of sirens, ambulances drawing closer.

But in that moment, all I can think about is her.

My heart pounds in my chest, its rhythm erratic, jagged. Daniele’s body lies next to me, the blood soaking into the floor, and Maria… Maria is still unconscious, her body cold to the touch.

I feel like I’m drowning, like the world is closing in around me. I can’t breathe, can’t think straight. I need to save her. I need to save them both.

I pull Maria’s limp body into my arms, pressing her against me, desperate to feel the warmth of her skin. Her breath is shallow, but it’s there. The faint rise and fall of her chest keeps me grounded, pulling me back from the edge of insanity.

“Maria,” I whisper, my voice breaking as I shake her gently. “Please, come back to me. Please…”

Her eyelids flutter, and my heart skips a beat. A flicker of hope, the smallest spark in the darkness. But then her eyes remain closed, and I feel the weight of despair settle heavily over me.

The door bursts open, and a team of paramedics floods into the room—their presence like a breath of fresh air in a world suffocating with grief.

They move with practiced precision. One of them immediately kneels beside Daniele’s body, assessing thedamage, while another approaches Maria, who is still in my arms.