Two

The rain continued its relentless assault as Alessandro’s grip on Isabella’s hand tightened. His dark eyes burned with defiance as he stepped in front of her, shielding her from the enforcer’s icy glare.

“Isabella,” the man barked again, his voice echoing in the narrow alley. “Step away from him. Now.”

Her heart thundered in her chest. Every instinct screamed at her to obey, to fall in line as she always had. But then Alessandro’s fingers brushed against hers—a silent reminder of why she was there. Of what they were fighting for.

“No,” she said, her voice shaking but resolute. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The enforcer’s gaze flicked to Alessandro, his lips curling into a sneer. “You’re a Rossi,” he spat, venom dripping from the name. “You have no place here.”

Alessandro stepped forward, his tall frame casting a shadow over the man. “And yet here I am,” he said coolly, his tone laced with quiet menace. “What are you going to do about it?”

The enforcer’s hand hovered over his weapon, tension crackling like static in the rain-soaked air. Isabella’s breath hitched as she realized how easily this could spiral out of control. A single wrong move, a single misstep, and everything could be lost.

“Stop!” she cried, stepping between them before the tension could snap. Her coat clung to her like a second skin, the rain plastering her hair to her face. “Please, just…let me explain.”

The enforcer’s eyes narrowed. “Explain what? That you’ve betrayed your family? That you’ve chosen him over everything we’ve built?”

“It’s not like that!” she protested, though she wasn’t sure if she believed it herself. “I just—”

“You just what?” the man interrupted, his voice sharp as a blade. “Do you have any idea what this will cost us? What it will cost you?”

She faltered, the weight of his words pressing down on her. But before she could respond, Alessandro spoke.

“She’s not going anywhere with you,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “If you have a problem with that, take it up with me.”

The enforcer’s hand twitched toward his gun, and for a heart-stopping moment, Isabella thought he would draw it. But then he stepped back, his eyes cold and calculating.

“You’re making a mistake,” he said, his gaze cutting to Isabella. “Both of you.”

And with that, he turned and disappeared into the rain, leaving them alone once more.

Isabella and Alessandro stood in the rain, their breaths mingling in the cold air. Her heart was still racing, but she forced herself to meet his gaze.

“That was too close,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his jaw tight. “We need to be more careful. If they find out—”

“They already know,” she interrupted, her voice trembling. “Or at least, they suspect. That man…he’s one of my father’s best. He wouldn’t have come here unless he was certain.”

Alessandro’s eyes darkened. “Then we don’t have much time.”

She swallowed hard, the weight of their situation pressing down on her. “What do we do?”

“We run,” he said without hesitation. “Tonight. Before it’s too late.”

Her breath caught. Run? Leave everything behind—her family, her life, her name? The thought terrified her. But as she looked into Alessandro’s eyes, she knew there was no other choice.

“Okay,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her. “Let’s do it.”

But before they could move, a low rumble filled the air. Isabella turned, her heart sinking as headlights cut through the darkness.

Three black SUVs pulled into the alley, their engines growling like predators closing in on their prey. The doors opened, and men poured out, their faces cold and unyielding.

At the head of the group stood Don Giovanni Lombardi, his expression carved from stone.

“Isabella,” he said, his voice a deadly calm. “Get in the car.”

She froze, her pulse thundering in her ears. Alessandro stepped in front of her, his stance protective, but she could see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

Giovanni’s gaze shifted to Alessandro, his lip curling in disdain. “You’ve made a grave mistake, boy.”

Alessandro didn’t flinch. “The only mistake was thinking you could control her forever.”

Giovanni’s eyes narrowed. “And the only mistake you’ve made is thinking you can protect her.”

The rain fell harder, a relentless drumbeat against the pavement. Isabella’s heart pounded as she realized there was no escape—not from her father, and not from the war that was about to begin.