Chapter 142:Leonardo’s POVThe hallway was cold and dimly lit as I sprinted after Harris. My footsteps echoed on the polished floors, the weight of the gun in my hand grounding me. The intruder was fast, but we were faster. We reached the stairwell just as the door slammed shut.Harris yanked it open, and we both charged down the stairs. The scent of sweat and adrenaline filled the air. I could hear the intruder’s footsteps a few flights below us, each step sharp and deliberate.“He’s heading for the garage!” Harris shouted.I nodded, pushing myself harder. My muscles burned, but I didn’t care. Whoever this was—whoever had sent those messages to Olivia—wasn’t leaving this building alive.We hit the garage level and burst through the door. The overhead lights flickered, casting long shadows across the concrete.“There!” Harris pointed.A figure in a black hoodie sprinted toward a black SUV parked near the exit. I raised my gun and fired twice. The first shot missed. The second shat
Chapter 143:Leonardo’s POVThe cold air cut through me as I crouched behind the boulder, my gun gripped tightly in my hand. Olivia clung to my arm, her breaths sharp and uneven. The forest around us had gone deathly silent. Only Elena’s voice lingered, echoing through the trees."Come out, come out, Leonardo..."Her tone was light, teasing, but there was steel beneath it. The same cold, detached cruelty Victor had used. The Russo siblings shared more than blood—they shared a talent for fear.I scanned the woods, searching for movement. The trees cast long shadows in the fading sunlight, making it hard to spot anything. Elena was out there, waiting. Watching.“Leonardo,” Olivia whispered, voice trembling. “She sounds just like him.”I squeezed her hand. “I know. But she’s not Victor. We’ll stop her.”Olivia swallowed hard, nodding, though fear still filled her eyes.A soft crack of a branch to our right snapped my focus. I shifted, raising my gun in that direction. My heart pounded,
Chapter 144:Olivia’s POVThe soft hum of the television filled the living room as I sat curled on the couch, a blanket wrapped tightly around me. The movie playing on the screen was something lighthearted, a romantic comedy with forced laughter and predictable dialogue. But I wasn’t watching. My eyes were on the window, scanning the shadows outside for movement.Leonardo sat beside me, his arm draped over my shoulders. His warmth should’ve comforted me, but the fear still clung to me like a second skin. Weeks had passed since Elena Russo’s death. Weeks since I’d pulled the trigger and ended the nightmare that had haunted us for so long.But the nightmare hadn’t ended. It had just shifted into something quieter.“See anything?” Leonardo asked softly.I shook my head. “No. But it feels like someone’s watching.”His jaw tightened. “I know the feeling.”He didn’t say it to dismiss me. He felt it too. The invisible weight pressing down on us. The feeling of unseen eyes tracking our ever
Chapter 145:Leonardo’s POVThe shattered phone lay on the floor, screen cracked beyond repair. The message still echoed in my mind like a gunshot."You killed the sister. Now meet the family."Family.Victor and Elena were supposed to be the end of it. But we’d been wrong. Again.Olivia sat on the couch, knees pulled to her chest, eyes locked on the broken phone. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow.I knelt in front of her, taking her trembling hands in mine. “Look at me, Olivia.”She didn’t respond. Her gaze remained distant, unfocused.“Olivia.” My voice softened. “Stay with me.”Her eyes flicked to mine. “They’re still out there,” she whispered. “It’s not over.”“No,” I said. “But we’ll fight. Like we always do.”She squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t keep living like this.”I didn’t have an answer. I couldn’t promise her safety when I didn’t believe it myself.I grabbed my phone and called Harris.“Leonardo?” he answered immediately.“They just sent a message,” I said, voice t
Chapter 146Leonardo’s POVThe engine roared as I sped toward the address Darren Russo had sent me. My heart pounded in my chest, faster than the tires spinning beneath me. Olivia was in his hands. Darren wanted me to come to him, and I would. But I wasn’t walking into his trap blind.I hit the Bluetooth button on the dashboard. “Call Harris.”The phone rang once before he answered. “Leonardo?”“They took her,” I said through clenched teeth. “Darren Russo. He sent me an address.”“Send it to me. I’ll get a team there.”“I’m already on my way.”“Leonardo, wait for backup—”“No time.” I sent him the location. “If I don’t make it, finish this.”“You’re not dying today,” Harris growled.I ended the call and tightened my grip on the steering wheel.I couldn’t die today. Olivia needed me.The address led me to an abandoned industrial complex on the outskirts of the city. The crumbling buildings were covered in graffiti, windows shattered, rusted metal doors hanging from their hinges. The
Chapter 147:Olivia’s POVThe words on the phone screen burned into my mind: "Mommy's coming."I stood frozen beside Leonardo, my breath caught in my chest. The picture of Liana Russo stared back at me from the folder Harris had handed him. She looked like Alicia—high cheekbones, sharp eyes, and lips pressed into a thin, unforgiving line."She's alive?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.Harris rubbed his jaw. "Yeah. We thought she died years ago, but she went underground after Victor's arrest. She’s been orchestrating everything from behind the scenes."Leonardo's grip on the folder tightened until the edges bent. "How did we miss her?""She was smart," Harris said. "Real smart. We found accounts linked to her all over Europe. She moved money, hired people, built a network. Victor and Elena were just the front line."My stomach turned. "And now that they’re gone, she’s coming for us."Leonardo slammed the folder onto the table. "Let her come," he said, voice low and hard. "We’ll
Chapter 148:Olivia’s POVThe sound of gunshot still rang in my ears as I stood in the middle of the De Luca estate’s grand living room. The air was thick with the sharp, metallic scent of blood. Liana Russo’s body lay sprawled across the marble floor, lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling.Leonardo stood beside me, his breathing heavy, his hand gripping mine tightly. My own pulse raced beneath my skin, the gun still warm in my grasp. My fingers trembled around the trigger.“It’s over,” Leonardo said, voice low and steady. “She’s gone.”I wanted to believe him. I really did. But the past few months had taught me that the Russo family didn’t play by normal rules. They had always been two steps ahead of us, twisting every moment into a game we couldn’t escape.My gaze shifted to Liana’s body. Her eyes—cold, calculating even in death—seemed to watch me. Her lips were parted, as though she was about to deliver one final taunt.A shiver ran through me. “She said the family wouldn’t stop
Chapter 149:Leonardo’s POVThe cold metal of the gun pressed against my palm as I crouched beside the car, Olivia clinging to my arm. The phone screen glowed with that final message: "You can’t outrun us forever."I clenched my jaw. They were right. We’d been running for months, moving from one safe house to another, always looking over our shoulders. The Russo family had turned our lives into a twisted game, pulling us into their web of fear.But this was where it stopped.I met Olivia’s wide, terrified eyes. “No more running,” I said.She swallowed hard. “What does that mean?”“We go after them.”“How?” Her voice shook. “We don’t even know who they are.”“They know us,” I said, standing and scanning the parking garage. “That’s their weakness.”The building was eerily silent. Harris’s men were either dead or gone. I checked the bodies of the masked men we’d passed on the way down—three in total. Professionals. Silent and efficient. Each carried a custom-modified weapon. No IDs. No
Chapter 159: Growing TogetherOlivia's POV"Mommy! Can I go play outside?" Lily's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.I turned to find her standing by the back door, already in her sneakers, her backpack slung over her shoulder as though she was ready for an adventure."Did you finish your chores first?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.Lily made a face but nodded. "Yes, Mommy. I made my bed, and I put away my books."I smiled. "Alright, go ahead. But make sure to stay close, okay?"She grinned and ran outside, her blonde hair streaming behind her. Ethan, who had been playing with his toy cars on the floor, looked up at me."Mommy, can I go outside too?"I knelt down to his level, brushing a stray curl from his face. "After breakfast, sweetie."He pouted but nodded, his little lips pulling into a tight line as he held up his toy truck.I went back to the kitchen, turning off the stove and preparing to set the table. Just as I placed the last plate down, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap
Chapter 158: A Life of LoveOlivia’s POVThe afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting soft golden hues over the yard. I stood by the kitchen sink, watching through the window as Leonardo played outside with our daughter. Their laughter echoed in the crisp air, blending with the rustling of leaves.She sat perched on his shoulders, her tiny hands gripping his hair as he ran in circles, pretending to be a horse.“Faster, Daddy!” she squealed.Leonardo groaned dramatically. “Princess, Daddy is getting old.”She giggled, tapping his head. “No, you’re not! You’re strong like a superhero!”I smiled, my heart swelling.This was our life now. Simple, filled with love.No more running. No more looking over our shoulders. Just us.I wiped my hands on a towel and made my way outside. The air was crisp, the scent of pine and fresh grass wrapping around me.Leonardo spotted me first. A slow grin spread across his lips. “Look who finally decided to join us.”Our daughter gasped. “Mommy,
Chapter 157: A Love That LastsOlivia’s POVThe sound of soft laughter echoed through the cabin as I stepped into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow over the wooden floors. The air smelled of fresh coffee and something sweet—pancakes, maybe.I followed the scent, my heart warming at the sight before me.Leonardo stood at the stove, shirtless, wearing only loose pajama pants. His dark hair was still tousled from sleep, and the muscles in his back flexed as he flipped a pancake with effortless ease. But what made me smile the most was the little girl sitting on the counter beside him, her tiny hands clapping together as she watched her father cook."Again, Daddy!" she giggled.Leonardo grinned and spun the spatula between his fingers before tossing the pancake into the air. It flipped twice before landing perfectly back in the pan."Like that, princess?" he asked.She nodded enthusiastically, her brown cur
Chapter 156: EpilogueOlivia’s POVThe mountain air was crisp as I stood on the wooden balcony, gazing at the endless stretch of pine trees below. The sun had just dipped behind the peaks, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The wind whispered through the branches, carrying with it the clean scent of rain and earth.It was quiet here. Peaceful.Safe.For the first time in months, I could breathe without fear coiling around my throat. The Russo family was gone. Matteo Russo was dead. The house, the network, the legacy—destroyed. Harris had confirmed it with photos and reports. There was no one left to hunt us. No shadows lurking behind cameras. No footsteps echoing in the night.Leonardo stepped onto the balcony beside me, two mugs of coffee in hand. He handed me one, then wrapped his free arm around my waist, pulling me into his warmth."Thinking again?" he asked softly.I leaned against him, feeling his steady heartbeat through his sweater. "Always."He kissed the top
Final Chapter(155)Leonardo’s POVThe sharp sound of footsteps echoed through the stairwell as Olivia and I sprinted toward the exit. Smoke burned my throat, and every muscle in my body screamed for rest, but we couldn’t stop. Not now. Not with Matteo Russo closing in.We reached the ground floor and burst through the emergency exit into the alley. The cold night air hit me like a slap. I scanned the shadows for movement, gun raised. Olivia stood beside me, her eyes wide and wild.The phone in my pocket buzzed again.Another message.“You can’t run forever.”I gritted my teeth and shoved the phone back into my jacket. "He’s playing with us," I muttered.Olivia’s voice shook. "He’s just a kid, Leonardo.""No," I said, scanning the rooftops. "He stopped being a kid the moment Victor put a gun in his hand."She hugged herself, shivering. I placed a hand on her arm, grounding her. "We end this tonight.""How?" she asked.I didn’t have an answer.The phone buzzed again.I hesitated, then
Chapter 154Olivia’s POVThe smell of smoke lingered in the air as I stood beside Leonardo, staring at the burning ruins of the Russo compound. The flames crackled, devouring the walls, the floors—everything Matteo Russo had built to continue his father’s legacy.But the weight in my chest wouldn’t lift. The fire might’ve destroyed the compound, but the memories remained. The sight of Matteo’s small body hitting the floor haunted me. His lifeless eyes. The blood spreading across his shirt.He’d been just a boy. A boy raised to hate, to kill, to continue the twisted family tradition. And Leonardo had been forced to pull the trigger."Olivia," Leonardo said softly, his voice pulling me from my thoughts.I blinked, realizing I’d been clutching my arms so tightly that my nails had dug into my skin. I loosened my grip. "Yeah?""We need to go. The police will be here soon."I gave a shaky nod.Leonardo took my hand, guiding me toward the car parked beyond the tree line. The headlights wer
Chapter 153:Leonardo’s POVThe photograph of the baby lay on the table, the words "Blood runs deep" scrawled across the back in thick red ink. Olivia sat beside me, her eyes locked on the image as though it might come to life. My own thoughts churned like a storm, each one darker than the last.Victor Russo had a son. An heir. A child born into a legacy of violence and manipulation."We didn’t know," Olivia whispered, voice trembling. "We thought we ended the family."I ran a hand down my face, exhaustion pressing against my skull. "Victor always had contingency plans. We underestimated him.""But how?" she asked. "We dug into every aspect of his life. There was nothing about a kid.""Because he wanted it that way." I stood and paced the length of the living room. "Victor was always obsessed with bloodlines. Family. Legacy. Of course, he’d hide a child until he was ready to use him."Olivia rubbed her arms. "He looked so...calm. That boy at the door. Like he wasn’t scared at all.""
Chapter 152: LEONARDO!Leonardo's pov.The timer stopped at 00:59.Olivia dropped the knife and collapsed against me, sobbing. I held her tightly.Harris groaned. "Did...we win?"I glanced at Victor’s body. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling."Yeah," I said. "We won."Harris’s team arrived within minutes. They removed the bomb and secured the mansion. Harris, bruised but breathing, sat on the porch while medics checked his vitals.Olivia and I stood nearby, watching the sunrise paint the sky in soft oranges and pinks."It’s really over," she whispered.I wrapped my arm around her. "This time, it is."She leaned into me. "No more running?""No more running," I promised.The Russo family was gone.And we were finally free.Olivia’s POVThe morning sunlight crept across the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over the Gael estate. The warmth should have brought comfort, a sense of peace after the nightmare we’d survived. But as I stood on the porch beside Leonardo, the weight of what
Chapter 151:Leonardo’s POVThe headlights sliced through the dark as I sped away from the cemetery, my knuckles white against the steering wheel. Olivia sat beside me, silent, her body rigid with fear. The message on my phone echoed in my mind:“The devil doesn’t die.”Victor Russo was alive. Or someone who looked and sounded exactly like him.I didn’t believe in ghosts. But I knew the Russos were capable of almost anything. Victor had faked his death once already. Why not twice?"Leonardo," Olivia said softly.I glanced at her, her face pale in the dim light. "Yeah?""How...how is this possible?" Her voice cracked. "We saw his body. We saw the coroner’s report."I didn’t have an answer. I’d held Victor’s cold wrist to check for a pulse that day. I’d seen the bullet hole in his forehead. But tonight...I’d seen him standing beneath the trees, breathing, smiling."We’re missing something," I said finally. "Something big."She hugged herself. "What if it really was him?"I gritted my t