I'd been quiet for a moment. Running my fingers through her hair. Feeling the silk of it between my fingers.
"We won't. I'll make sure you make it out even if I don't. That's not negotiable."
She'd sat up fast. Looked at me with those brown eyes that saw too much. "Don't say things like that. Don't talk about dying like it's acceptable. I need you alive, Kai. I need you with me."
"And I need you safe more than I need to breathe. You're my life, Aria. The only thing that makes any of this worth doing. If keeping you alive means I don't make it out, then that's a trade I'll make every single time without regret." I'd cupped her face. Made her look at me. "I'm at peace with dying for you. Completely at peace. Because a world where you're alive and safe is better than any world where you are not in it."
"That's not romantic. That's terrifying."
"It's honest." I'd pulled her close. Held her. "But it's not going to come to that. I'm getting us both out. We're going to have our future. I promise."
She'd turned in my arms. Her mouth had found mine. Clinging like she could keep me alive through sheer force of will.
I'd held her. Memorized the way she felt. The way she tasted. The sounds she made. Stored every detail for safekeeping.
Just in case I'd been wrong about us both making it out.
The memory faded. Brought me crashing back to the present.
I was in the armory at Marco's safe house, loading weapons with methodical precision. Checking magazines. Testing sights. Making sure everything was perfect.
Because if we only got one shot at this, it had to count.
My arm still hurt like hell. The stitches pulled every time I moved. But pain was good. Kept me sharp. Kept me focused on what mattered.
Getting to Aria before my father destroyed her.
The door opened. Marco walked in looking grim. Pale. Like he was carrying news he didn't want to deliver.
My stomach dropped. I knew that look. Had seen it enough times to recognize bad news before a single word was spoken.
"What happened? Tell me now."
Marco closed the door behind him. Ran his hand over his face. "I got information from inside the estate. From Mrs. Rossi."
"And?"
"Aria tried to escape. She and Lia made a run for it during the diversion we'd planned for tomorrow. They almost made it." He paused. "Luca caught them. Salvatore lost his shit. He's moving Aria to the mountain compound. The wedding is tomorrow instead of three days from now."
The words hit like bullets. Each one finding its mark. Destroying something inside me.
I started pacing. Couldn't stand still. Needed to move before the rage building in my chest exploded.
"Fuck. Fuck!" I grabbed the nearest thing, a chair, threw it across the room. It shattered against the wall. "Is she okay? Did he hurt her? And Lia, what about Lia?"
"Both alive. Both physically okay as far as Mrs. Rossi knows. But Kai, Salvatore is at the compound with Aria right now. The wedding is tomorrow. We're out of time."
Out of time. The words echoed in my head. I'd promised to save her. Promised we'd both make it out. Promised a future and I was failing. Every second she spent with my father was another second I'd failed to protect her.
"We're going now." The decision was instant. Absolute. "Forget the plan. Forget being careful. I'm getting her out tonight."
"Kai, a direct assault on the compound is suicide. The place is fortified. High walls. Armed guards. Your father will kill her the second he sees us coming. He'll put a bullet in her head just to hurt you before we can reach her."
"Then what the fuck are we supposed to do, Marco? Sit here and wait while he marries her tomorrow? While he touches her? While he destroys everything I love?" My voice was rising. Control slipping. "Tell me what to do because I'm coming up empty onoptions that don't involve storming that compound and killing everyone between me and her."
Marco gripped my shoulders. Hard. Forced me to look at him. "We use the Council authority. We go in legally. Surround the compound. Announce we're there to arrest Salvatore under Council orders. Demand he surrender. With the Council backing us, his men might stand down. They're loyal to him but they're not suicidal. They know crossing the Council means death."
I wanted to argue. Wanted to say that wasn't fast enough. That legal approaches took too long. That Aria needed me now.
