“Emilia,” I tapped her on the shoulder. “Emilia, wake up.”
She didn't respond. I tapped her again, and then I heard the bang of gunshots that sprayed into my mansion. I looked across the balcony once more, and I saw that the black cars filled the street. Some of the men had found their way in by jumping over the fence, and my guards retaliated by shooting them down. From the looks of what was happening, we were outnumbered, but I wanted to keep Emilia safe.
“What's happening?” She asked in a low tone. Her body moved with unease and uncertainty. I wished I had an answer for her.
“Don't worry. It's going to be alright. I'll protect you.”
I held her, and we ran down the staircase in order to escape through the emergency exit door, but the men found it before we arrived. I took out my gun and shot one who almost made it through. He fell down dead. Emilia screamed.
“Are you alright, Boss?” One of my guards asked, and it pissed me off.
“Rally round the whole team. This is war.”
I took Emilia back in, and she looked terrified.
“What's happening, Viktor?”
“It's the political rivals. They're angry that I came for you and killed their men.”
“So they're here to kill you?”
“Yes, my love. But it's okay. I'm going to protect you.”
We walked back into the mansion and followed the passage to the underground exit. The lights turned on, and a large number of my guards were inside.
“What's going on here?”
“They've infiltrated the secret base, boss.”
“Impossible,” I said, and heard a shot from my right side.
Luckily, it didn't get me. The bullet hit the wall, and I ducked down while holding Emilia’s hand. We ran in retreat, and it dawned on me that this was more than just a minor attack. It was a full-blown ambush, and the political rivals really meant to spill blood. My blood and that of my wife. But I wasn't going to let that happen.
The glass door at the entrance lay shattered on the ground. The maids gathered in the kitchen area. Their eyes filled with terror. The bloodshed in my mansion caused by the rivalswas a sin that I swore wouldn't be forgiven. I hurriedly walked to the staircase, so I could hide Emilia in one of my secret spots.
Everything about her facial expression screamed fear. She didn't want to die, and I knew she didn't want me to die either. But I couldn't lose her to another again. No. That was the most important reason to stay alive.
While we walked up the staircase, multiple gunshots were aimed at us, and I ducked down in order to cover Emilia. Thankfully, more of my guards rushed into the mansion and continued searching the space.
“It's okay,” I said to her. “This will soon end. I promise.”
Emilia didn't nod or move a muscle; she just smiled at me with tears in her eyes. I wondered what was going on with her that made her act this way.
Then, I felt something on the palm of my hand. I looked down and saw blood. Emilia was shot. My eyes bulged in horror. My greatest fear had caught up with me, and I found myself hopeless in the moment.
“No,” I roared. I didn't know the moment when tears trickled down my face. I wiped at them with the back of my hand, but I couldn't hide the pain I felt.
“Stay with me. Emilia, please. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here with you, so be strong.”
Her eyes narrowed, and I feared they would close. I begged her to open her eyes, but I knew it would not be enough.
“Look at me, my love. Just look at me for a moment. There's no one else here but me, Emilia. Open your eyes and look at me.”
My plea was in vain as her eyes finally closed shut. I raised her forehead to mine and kissed her. The tears kept rolling, and I feared that every minute I spent with her drew her closer to death. So I lifted her and turned around. My heartthudded, my breath was heavy, and I knew that I wanted every rival that trespassed on my mansion to be shot dead.
Fortunately, Dimitri ran across the hall to get to me. He stood silent when he saw Emilia in my hands, unconscious.
“Do what you must,” I said to him. “Obliterate with no mercy.”
