“It wasn’t an accident,” Marco mutters grimly.
“No, it wasn’t,” I agree, my jaw tightening. “Whoever did this wanted us dead.”
“Not you.” Valentina’s voice shakes as she forms the words. “Or Marco. Not you two.”
Marco’s gaze flickers to the car, then back to me. “She’s right. Someone purposefully tampered with this SUV knowing full well Valentina and Leo would be the only passengers in it. We need to act fast. Announce their deaths. It’s the only way to keep them safe while we figure this out.”
I know he’s right. “Do it. Spread the word. Valentina and Leo are dead.”
Valentina doesn’t speak as the car glides along the quiet, shadowy streets. Leo’s soft breaths hitch against her chest, his little arms looped tightly around her neck. She looks out the window, her profile illuminated by passing streetlights, and I see the same fire that’s been burning in her since the moment I met her—only now, it’s accompanied by exhaustion and fear.
The car pulls to a stop outside a nondescript hotel. It’s far from the luxury of the estate, far from the gilded walls that have shielded them—however imperfectly—from the chaos of my world. But it’s safe. For now, that’s all that matters.
I step out of the car, my eyes sweeping the dimly lit surroundings. Marco moves silently at my side, his presence steady, alert.
“We’re here,” I say, opening the back door.
Valentina glances at me, her expression calm but resolute. Carefully, she untangles herself from Leo’s small frame, cradling him as she steps out with practiced ease.
Her eyes scan the building, and I see her calculating—not with anger or unease, but with the precision of someone who knows what’s at stake. “How long do we stay?” she asks, her tone low, even.
“Not long,” I reply. “It’s temporary, but secure. No one will think to look for us here.”
She nods, adjusting Leo in her arms. “Good.”
We move inside quickly, the modest lobby coming into view: worn wooden paneling, the faint hum of an old ceiling fan, and a clerk who barely glances up from his crossword puzzle. This is the kind of place designed to be forgotten.
Marco hands me the keys, and I waste no time heading for the stairs. Valentina follows close behind, her steps silent, purposeful. On the second floor, the hallway stretches ahead, dim and quiet, the faded carpet swallowing our footfalls.
I unlock the door to their room and push it open. The space is small but clean—two beds, a table, a chair, and heavy curtains to block out prying eyes.
Valentina steps inside and sets Leo down gently on one of the beds. He stirs, rubbing his eyes, but stays quiet, clutching his toy car. Her gaze sweeps the room, sharp and discerning. “It’ll do,” she says, her voice matter-of-fact.
I glance at her, a flicker of relief tugging at the tension in my chest. “I’ll check in regularly. Marco will be close by. No one will get near you.”
She meets my eyes, her expression steady. “I know,” she says simply. “I trust you.”
Fuck. I love her. “Good.”
Behind me, Marco clears his throat. “We should move. Staying too long isn’t wise.”
I linger for a moment longer, watching as Valentina smooths Leo’s dark curls, whispering something soft that makes him settle into the blankets. Her movements are deliberate, protective—no panic, no hesitation.
She looks up as I hesitate at the door. “Go,” she says firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. “We’ll be fine.”
The drive back to the estate is silent, but the storm inside me is anything but. My hands clench and unclench, and I barely wait for Marco to brake before I’m out of the car, the fury boiling over.
“Get everyone in the hall,” I bark, my voice sharp as a whip. Marco nods, already moving.
By the time I enter, the men are assembled, a sea of uneasy faces filling the grand space. I stop at the center, letting the weight of my silence settle over them.
“This,” I say finally, my voice low and deadly, “should never have happened.”
No one dares speak.
“Who was on car duty?” I demand, my glare sweeping the room like a blade.
A man steps forward reluctantly. Pietro—a veteran in the ranks, steady but clearly shaken under my scrutiny.
