I leaned closer. "Marco DeLuca doesn't hire six men for a job this important. He hires twenty and sends them in waves. So I'll ask again—how many more are coming?"
"Fourteen. One hour."
Fuck.
I stood and nodded to Domenico. "Get him medical attention, then move him to the safe house. I want every detail he knows about Marco's operation."
"Done. Give me ten minutes to coordinate the evacuation route." He glanced at my shoulder, the blood seeping through Valentina's field dressing. "You need that looked at."
"Later."
"Alessio—"
"Later." I moved toward the door, every muscle screaming protest.
"Wait." Domenico's voice stopped me. "Just… wait a second."
I turned. He stood in the doorway of my ruined study, surrounded by broken glass and bullet holes and the bodies of men who'd come to kill us. His face was grim.
"What?"
"Marco sent twenty operators. For one woman." He met my eyes. "This isn't just about the blood debt anymore. This is personal. He wants you both dead badly enough to declare war."
"I know."
"Do you?" He stepped closer, voice dropping. "Because in twenty-three years, I've never seen you like this. You took a bullet and didn't even notice until after. You gave her a weapon and kept her at your side instead of locking her in the panic room. You're about to run with a woman Marco DeLuca wants dead, which means every ally he has will be hunting you both."
"What's your point?"
"My point is you need to be sure." His voice was quiet, serious. "Once we leave this building, there's no going back. You'll be breaking the blood oath completely. The old families won't forgive it. You'll have enemies on every side. So I need to know—is she worth it?"
The answer came without hesitation. "Yes."
"Even if it costs you everything?"
"Everything I have means nothing if she's dead."
Domenico studied me for a long moment, and I saw the exact second understanding clicked into place.
"You love her."
I wanted to deny it. Couldn't find the words.
He exhaled slowly. "Fuck. Alessio, it's been five days—"
"I know how long it's been."
"This is—" He stopped, ran a hand through his hair. "Tell her, Alessio. She deserves to hear it."
I sighed. "I know."
"Besides, this is the kind of thing that gets people killed. Both of you."
"I'm aware, Domenico."
"Are you?" His voice became firmer. "Because the last time you loved someone this much, Eva died. And you nearly destroyed yourself trying to get revenge."
The name hit like a gut punch.
