"Stay down!" Luca's voice cut through the chaos as another hail of bullets shattered what remained of the cabin windows.Sofia's heart pounded in her ears as she huddled behind the couch, her hands shaking as she gripped the gun Luca had given her. She'd never fired a weapon before, and the weight of it felt foreign and terrifying in her hands.Luca moved with the fluid grace of a predator, his own gun an extension of his arm as he returned fire. The sharp crack of gunshots filled the air, punctuated by the splintering of wood and the tinkling of broken glass."We need to move," Luca growled, his eyes scanning the room for an escape route. "There's a trapdoor in the bedroom, leads to a tunnel. We can use it to get to the garage."Sofia nodded, her throat too tight with fear to speak. As another volley of bullets rained down, Luca grabbed her hand, pulling her into a crouch."On my mark," he said, his voice low and intense. "We run. Don't stop, don't look back. Just follow me. Ready?"
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the prodigal son and his runaway princess."Vivian Blackwood's voice dripped with sarcasm as she led Sofia and Luca into her office. The room was a stark contrast to the nondescript exterior of the building – sleek, modern, and filled with cutting-edge technology.Luca rolled his eyes, but Sofia could see the fondness in his expression. "Good to see you too, Viv. Thanks for meeting us on such short notice."Vivian waved a hand dismissively, settling into a plush leather chair behind her desk. "When the great Luca Moretti calls in a favor, who am I to refuse? Especially when it comes with such... interesting company."Her piercing gaze settled on Sofia, who fought the urge to squirm. She felt like Vivian was looking right through her, reading every secret, every fear."Sofia Russo," Vivian said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I've been following your career with interest. Never thought I'd see you on this side of the law, though."Sofia lifted her chi
"You can't seriously be considering this, Luca!" Sofia's voice rose with frustration as she paced the small living room of the safehouse. "It's obviously a trap."Luca stood by the window, his posture rigid, eyes fixed on the city skyline. The news of Giulia's kidnapping had transformed him, bringing out a cold, ruthless side that both frightened and fascinated Sofia."Of course it's a trap," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But it's my sister. I don't have a choice."Enzo, seated on the worn couch, cleared his throat. "Boss, maybe we should consider other options. We could-""No." Luca's response was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. "We do this my way. I go in alone, make the exchange. You two stay here and work on decrypting the rest of that ledger."Sofia moved to stand in front of Luca, forcing him to meet her gaze. "And what happens when they kill you both? How does that help anyone?"For a moment, Luca's mask slipped, and Sofia saw the turmoil in his eyes. The
"Sofia, don't do this." Luca's voice was low, a dangerous edge to his words that sent a shiver down Sofia's spine.She kept the gun steady, her gaze flicking between Luca and her father. The warehouse was so quiet she could hear her own heart pounding in her ears."Sorry, Luca," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "But I'm done being a pawn in everyone else's game."Marco Russo's laugh cut through the tension like a knife. "Well, well. It seems my daughter has more spine than I gave her credit for. But do you really have what it takes to pull that trigger, Sofia?"Sofia's grip on the gun tightened. "Want to find out?"For a moment, no one moved. Then, everything happened at once.A shot rang out, the sound echoing off the warehouse walls. Glass shattered overhead as Enzo crashed through a skylight, raining down a hail of gunfire. In the chaos, Luca lunged for Giulia, while Elena took advantage of the distraction to headbutt one of her captors.Sofia's world narrowed to a serie
"You've got to be kidding me," Sofia groaned, eyeing the wheelchair with disdain. "I can walk, you know."Luca's expression remained impassive, but Sofia could see the amusement dancing in his dark eyes. "Hospital policy, bella. Don't argue."Three days had passed since the warehouse showdown, and Sofia was more than ready to leave the sterile confines of the hospital. She'd spent most of that time drifting in and out of consciousness, her moments of lucidity filled with Luca's constant presence and Elena's careful monitoring.Now, dressed in fresh clothes Giulia had brought her, Sofia felt almost human again. The pain in her shoulder had dulled to a persistent ache, manageable with medication."Fine," she conceded, allowing Luca to help her into the wheelchair. His touch lingered longer than necessary, sending a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with pain or medication.As Luca wheeled her through the hospital corridors, Sofia couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. S
"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!" Giulia's cheerful voice cut through Sofia's peaceful slumber, accompanied by the sudden flood of sunlight as curtains were thrown open.Sofia groaned, burying her face deeper into the plush pillows. "What time is it?" she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep."Time to get to work," Giulia replied, perching on the edge of the bed. "Come on, I've got coffee and croissants waiting downstairs."Reluctantly, Sofia dragged herself into a sitting position, wincing as the movement pulled at her injured shoulder. The events of the past few days came rushing back, and with them, a renewed sense of urgency."Alright, alright," she conceded, running a hand through her tangled hair. "Give me fifteen minutes to shower and I'll be down."Giulia nodded, her expression softening slightly. "How are you feeling? Really?"Sofia considered the question as she gingerly rotated her shoulder. "Better," she said honestly. "Still sore, but nothing I can't handle.""Good," Giul
"Sofia, get down!" Luca's voice cut through the chaos as another burst of gunfire erupted in the hallway.Sofia dropped to the floor, her heart pounding in her ears. She crawled towards the door, pressing her ear against it to try and make sense of the commotion outside.The sound of breaking glass and muffled shouts filled the air. Sofia's mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. Had her father found them? Or was this some other enemy of the Moretti family?Suddenly, the door flew open, nearly hitting Sofia in the face. Luca stood there, his shirt splattered with blood, a wild look in his eyes."We need to move," he growled, reaching down to pull her to her feet. "Now."Sofia didn't hesitate. She grabbed the gun she'd hidden under her pillow and followed Luca into the hallway.The scene that greeted them was one of chaos. Broken glass littered the floor, and the acrid smell of gunpowder hung in the air. Two bodies lay motionless near the staircase, men Sofia didn't re
"We need to move," Luca's voice cut through the tense silence that had settled over the motel room. "It's not safe to stay in one place for too long."Sofia nodded, her mind already racing with possibilities. "Where to?"Giulia, who had been pacing the small room like a caged tiger, stopped abruptly. "I might have an idea," she said, a sly smile playing at her lips. "Remember that old safehouse Dad used to use? The one by the lake?"Luca's eyebrows shot up. "The summer house? That place hasn't been used in years.""Exactly," Giulia said triumphantly. "No one would think to look for us there."Sofia watched the exchange between the siblings, fascinated by the way they seemed to communicate without words. It was a stark reminder of the bond they shared, a bond she had never experienced with her own family."It's risky," Luca mused, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "But it might be our best option right now."Decision made, they moved quickly. Sofia found herself once again in