Page 36

Without another word, I grab her hand, and we take off running into the darkness. The ground beneath us shifts to loose gravel, our feet slipping as we push forward. My heart beats so loud it almost drowns out the distant sounds of shouting behind us.

We burst out onto a narrow gravel road. In front of us, parked crooked under a flickering streetlamp, is a car. Two men lean against the hood, lazily smoking, their faces lit up by the faint glow of their cigarettes.

The moment they spot us, they straighten.

“Well, well—what do we have here?” one of them whistles, his voice thick with amusement.

I raise the gun, steady despite my racing pulse. The metallic click of the safety snapping off echoes like a warning shot. My arm doesn’t waver. “Keys. Now.”

Their cocky smirks vanish. The taller one’s eyes widen as he spots the blood drying on my hands. The other drops his cigarette, backing away slowly.

“No problem—take it. Take the car.”

Both men stumble back, hands raised, backing into the shadows as if they can disappear entirely.

Emilia grabs the keys off the car’s hood as I keep the gun trained on the two of them. “Good boys,” I mutter under my breath.

“Let’s go!” Emilia shouts, yanking open the passenger side door and diving in.

I slide into the driver’s seat, my hands trembling slightly now that the immediate threat has passed. The engine roars to life. Without a glance back, I slam my foot on the gas and tear down the road.

Gravel spits from the tires, and the two men disappear in the rearview mirror as the headlights carve a path through the darkness.

^^^^

The church gates loom ahead like a sanctuary glowing in the night. I slam the brakes, gravel skidding beneath the tires. The headlights cut through the fog, illuminating the stone walls and iron bars.

Before I even pull the keys from the ignition, two guards storm toward us, weapons drawn. Their faces harden when they see the car, but the moment their flashlights hit my face, their expressions shift into one of shock—and relief.

“It’s her,” one of them whispers sharply.

The other lowers his weapon and waves us forward. “Open the gates. Let her through.”

The iron gates groan open, and I drive inside, barely breathing. My fingers tighten around the wheel as the weight of everything catches up to me. The car screeches to a halt right outside the church entrance.

Brother Stefano is already there, pale as a ghost, his hands trembling as he rushes toward me. I barely manage to open the door before he pulls me into his arms.

“Child….” His voice breaks. His grip tightens around me, like he’s afraid I’ll vanish if he lets go. “You’re bleeding. What have they done?”

I pull away slightly and force a tired smile. “It’s not my blood. I’m safe—for now.”

He studies my face, as if searching for any crack in my words, but I steady my voice. “Listen to me. We don’t have time. Vittoria—”

“I know,” he cuts in gravely. “She’s gathered the Families. She’s holding an emergency council meeting at first light. She’s calling for a full dissolution of both your and Serevin’s claims. She means to take everything.”

My stomach sinks. “All of it?”

He nods. “If the council sides with her, you and Serevin will lose all holdings—yours, your father’s legacy, even the Accardi ports. They’ll reallocate it all under the Vittoria Accardi faction.”

I clench my jaw, feeling the rage simmer beneath my ribs. “Can you stall the meeting?”

He breathes deeply, nodding. “Yes. The council won’t convene for another few hours. The elders will allow a delay if you call for a private audience.”

“Good. Then I have time,” I say, my voice low and sharp. “Because I’m not going to that meeting until I save him first.”

Brother Stefano’s brow furrows. “You mean Serevin, the man whose aunt planned this?”

“Yes.” My eyes flash. “They’re holding him, Stefano. I’m not losing him like this. I need men. I need weapons. And I need them now.”

For a moment, he studies me—this girl who returned from hell and was hell bent on saving her enemy.

He hesitates. His brow furrows. “Fioretta….” His voice softens. “You know what you’re asking. And you know who you’re risking this for.”

I meet his gaze without flinching. “Yes.”

He presses further. “You know he colluded with his aunt to steal from you. He is an enemy.”

I exhale slowly, swallowing the lump in my throat. My pulse drums beneath my skin, and for a brief moment, my chest tightens with all the memories crashing back. The betrayal. The rooftop. The diary. The meetings. His lies.

And yet.

“I know,” I whisper. “I know he betrayed me. I know he helped them. I know he let them strip me of everything I was. And still….” My voice breaks, but I catch it, clenching my fists. “I can't live without him.”

Brother Stefano’s expression is unreadable, but I see the flash of pain cross his face.

“I don’t mind him as my enemy,” I continue, voice sharper. “But he needs to stay alive to remain one.”

We stare at each other—a silent battle neither of us wins.

Then his head dips in quiet resignation. “Give me five minutes.”

Without another word, he vanishes into the church.

The heavy wooden doors shut behind him, leaving me and Emilia in tense silence. She paces near the car, her arms crossed tightly against her chest.

“You sure you want to do this?” she mutters.

I don’t answer.

Five agonizing minutes crawl by, and then the doors swing open.

Brother Stefano emerges, flanked by armed men in black tactical gear.

Two heavy armored cars roll into view from the side courtyard, headlights cutting through the mist. The men load ammunition, rifles, and crates into the trunks. Silent, efficient, ready.

“Your army, child.” Brother Stefano gestures toward the vehicles, his face grim but resolute. “Use them wisely."

He looks around and then snaps his fingers.

One man runs up to him holding a bulletproof vest. Brother Stefano takes my hand and leads me to a quiet corner, with the man holding the vest following behind us.

The man gives me the vest, and Brother Stefano says, “It looks thin, but it can take a few shots. Slip it on before you go.”

I nod, my chest tightening.

"God be with you, child."

He and the man leave. I pull my T-shirt off, slip on the vest with shaky hands, and then slide my shirt back on; the vest is barely visible.

I go back to Emilia, who is pacing and mumbling.

“Stay here. You’ll be safe at the church," I tell her.

But she steps forward, voice trembling but determined. “No. You need a rat with you to sniff out other rats.”

Her words hang heavy between us. I narrow my eyes at her, searching for any hint of deceit.

I sigh. “Fine. But don’t slow me down.”

With the vest, I can take a few shots for her if things get bad,

Emilia swallows, nodding quickly. “Deal.”

I motion to the men. “Load up. We move now.”

The engines roar to life, and we speed into the darkness—straight into war.