Then I recognized Grayson's silhouette, followed by Leo's unmistakable frame.
"It's the Donatis," I breathed, relief flooding through me.
Thank Christ.
Eric lowered his weapon but didn't relax completely. "Good timing."
We climbed out of the car as Sofia rushed toward us, followed by Elena and Meredith. Behind them, a team of security personnel fanned out across the parking lot, a handful heading down to where Eric had left his guard with the bodies.
"Are you okay?" Sofia reached me first, her hands gripping my shoulders as she searched my face.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just another normal night in Ironstone, you know? Getting kidnapped, having people die. Really living my best life here."
I glanced at Eric, who nodded over Sofia's shoulder before heading for the men to help deal with the clean-up. I focused on the group of women who had become family to me.
Elena pulled me into a tight hug, and I felt her trembling slightly. "When we realized what was happening..."
"I know," I said, squeezing her back. "But I'm okay. Eric was here."
Meredith joined our little huddle, concern etched across her features. "This shatters the last of the alliance. Whatever fragile peace existed with the Malatestas just died with those two."
I watched as Leo, Grayson, and Eric stood in a tight circle, their voices too low to hear but their body language radiating controlled fury. Other men were carrying body bags up the path now, Ivan with them.
They'd wrapped them up quite quickly; then again, it needed to be handled fast. Couldn't have some bodies stirring up the public.
"I'm assuming they went after me to stop Eric and this alliance, right?" I asked, the pieces clicking together. "To prevent them from helping push the Malatestas out."
"Probably," Sofia agreed. "But they misjudged your connection to all of us. They thought you were just Eric's girl, not someone tied to the Donati and Savoca families through Elena and us."
"How mad are Leo and Gray?" I asked, glancing toward where the men stood.
Meredith's lips pressed into a thin line. "The Malatestas are already trying to flee the city. Their operations here are collapsing faster than anyone expected."
"Because of me," I said, realizing I was the cause for all of this.
"No," Elena cut in sharply. "Don't you dare blame yourself for this, Ivy. You didn't choose to get kidnapped. You didn't start a war."
"But if I hadn't been involved with Eric?—"
"It would have been someone else. Probably even just Eric," Sofia interrupted. "The Malatestas chose to act like this. They chose their fate when they decided to go after someone under our protection."
"This is their third strike," Meredith added quietly. "More than most families would ever get. The Donatis won't be holding back anymore. None of us will be."
I rubbed my arm and chewed my cheek, suddenly cold despite the mild evening air. "What does that mean exactly?"
"It means the Hales will work with the Donatis and Savocas to eradicate the Malatesta presence in Ironstone completely," Meredith said. She spoke matter-of-factly, but I caught the tremor of concern underneath. "Leo's done playing nice."
I watched as one of the vans departed with the bodies, then more of the vehicles left, leaving only three behind. The cleanup crew had worked with unsettling efficiency. How many bodies had they cleaned away before?
It was not something I wanted to think too hard about. Within the timespan of us talking, there was no visible evidence of what had happened here, I imagined. Just us standing in a parking lot under flickering street lamps, like the violence by the river had been nothing more than a bad dream.
Leo broke away from the group and approached us. "Elena, Ivy, you're both going back to Elena and Jackson's place. We will have a security detail set up on you both."
"I can stay at my apartment," I started, but Leo's expression stopped me cold.
"That wasn't a suggestion," he said, though his tone remained gentle. "Until we know how many Malatestas are still operating in the city, you're both potential targets."
"What about Eric?" I asked as I let my gaze slip past him to the man in question.
