"I have to go," I say, grabbing my coat.
Valentina snaps her head toward me. "Are youinsane?You can’t just walk into a war zone, Sofia!"
I shake my head, pacing, my mind spinning. "He’s not answering. The comms are barely working. We don’t have time to wait andhopehe gets the message. He needs to knownow—if they detonate that place with him inside—" I cut myself off, my throat tightening.
Valentina pushes out of her chair, stepping into my path, her expression fierce. "Youcannotgo in there."
"Ihaveto."
"No, you don’t." Her voice rises, sharp, but beneath the frustration, there’s something raw in her eyes. Fear. "You think I don’t know what this feels like? I do, Sofia. I know exactly what it’s like to sit here, powerless, while the man you love throws himself into battle. It kills me every time Luca walks out that door, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we can’t always save them."
Her words hit me like a slap.
I shake my head. "That’s not what this is."
"Isn’t it?" She exhales, voice thick with emotion. "Marco’s men are trained for this. He’s trained for this. You—you’re carrying his child. You think he’d want you anywhere near that place?"
My chest tightens at the mention of the baby.
She’s right. He wouldn’t want me there.
But that doesn’t change the fact that if he doesn’t get this message in time, he’ll die.
And I can’t—I won’t—let that happen.
I grip Valentina’s hands, my voice softer now. "I know you’re scared for me. I know this is reckless. But if I don’t go, Marco might not make it out. And then what? What kind of life do I have without him? What kind of life doesour childhave?"
She stares at me. Then, after a long, painful beat—she closes her eyes.
A muscle jumps in her jaw before she exhales, shaking her head. "You’re impossible."
I manage a weak smile. "So I’ve been told."
Valentina presses her fingers to her temples, muttering something under her breath before sighing. "Fine. But you’re not going alone."
My breath catches.
She crosses her arms. "I’ll drive."
Relief surges through me, but there’s no time to process it. I nod, grabbing my phone and checking the tracking feed one last time. Marco’s last known position was deep inside the villa.
We don’t have long.
As we rush toward the garage, Valentina turns to one of Marco’s guards. "You. Get me a vest for her.Now."
The man hesitates, glancing between us.
Valentina levels him with a glare. "Now."
He moves.
The moment he returns with a vest, I strap it on, barely feeling the weight of it over the adrenaline coursing through me.
Valentina takes a minute to check on Leo. Once she’s done, she meets me outside the car.
She slides into the driver’s seat of one of the armored SUVs, gripping the wheel with the same determination I feel burning in my own chest.
As we speed toward the villa, my thoughts spiral.
