Chapter 5 - BLOOD
“Put it down,” Massimo said.
Luca’s gun stayed raised.
My hands were covered in the guard’s blood.
I couldn’t breathe.
“Luca,” I whispered.
His eyes moved toward me.
“Get behind the wall.”
Massimo didn’t blink.
“You heard her. Put the gun down.”
Luca fired.
I screamed.
The bullet passed beside Massimo and hit a man emerging from the stairwell behind him.
The attacker collapsed.
Luca lowered the weapon.
“You’re welcome.”
Massimo stared at the body.
Then at his brother.
“You could have said something.”
“I thought the dramatic option suited the family.”
Even Massimo looked annoyed.
Within six minutes, security controlled the house.
Three attackers were dead.
Two escaped.
One guard nearly bled out in my hands.
I stayed with him until the ambulance arrived.
When I finally stood, my legs shook.
Massimo watched me.
“You should sit.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re covered in blood.”
“So are you.”
“It isn’t mine.”
“That doesn’t help.”
I walked into the bathroom and scrubbed my hands.
The water turned pink.
Then red.
Then clear.
But I could still feel the warmth of the blood.
My breathing broke.
Suddenly, I couldn’t stop shaking.
The door opened.
Massimo came in.
“Go away.”
“No.”
“I don’t want you to see me like this.”
He rolled closer.
“That makes two of us.”
I laughed once.
It became a sob.
I covered my face.
Massimo said nothing.
He simply sat beside me.
After a moment, his hand wrapped around my wrist.
Not controlling.
Just there.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“For what?”
“Bringing you into this.”
I lowered my hands.
His face looked exhausted.
“You didn’t force me to come.”
“I should have made you leave.”
“You tried.”
“I should have tried harder.”
“You really don’t understand women, do you?”
“Not remotely.”
I laughed through the tears.
His thumb brushed the side of my wrist.
The room went quiet.
Too quiet.
Our eyes met.
Something changed.
He leaned closer.
I didn’t move.
Then his phone rang.
He cursed.
I stood quickly.
Massimo answered.
A voice spoke.
His expression hardened.
“Where?”
He listened.
“I’m coming.”
He ended the call.
“What now?”
“They caught one of the men who escaped.”
“Good.”
“No.”
His jaw tightened.
“He says the attack wasn’t meant to kill me.”
“Then what was it meant to do?”
Massimo looked at me.
“To test the house.”
“Test it for what?”
His eyes went cold.
“For the real attack.”
Before I could answer, Luca appeared in the doorway.
“There’s more.”
He held up a security photograph.
It showed one of the attackers entering through a service gate.
Beside him stood someone from inside the estate.
May you like
Someone opening the gate.
Elena.
