"Bring her here and we'll get her in the safe room."
"No."
"Tristan, fucking listen to me. It's the safest place for her. You know as well as I do that's Gino out there. If he gets into your house, he can shoot through bars. Shoot through walls. She'll be safer here. Bring her HERE."
I gave him a sharp nod and he moved out of my way.
CHAPTER18
Luna
The bedroom door opened and the rush of relief that hit me when I saw Tristan standing there made me lightheaded. He looked better, a little less pale than when he left.
Thank you.
"We need to go, Luna."
The words had barely left his lips, when suddenly, through the open bedroom door, I heard a series of sharp, distinct pops.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The sound was unmistakable, sending a jolt of fear through my body. It was quickly followed by the rapid staccato of what sounded like an army of guns firing, the noise echoing through the house and causing my heart to race with dread. I froze, my mind reeling as I tried to process the chaos erupting around us, wondering what fresh hell awaited me now.
My eyes flew to Tristan as he stilled, listening. Without a word, he turned and rushed from the room, one hand over the hole in his side.
"Tristan!" I screamed, my voice raw with terror. There was more gunfire, the harsh blasts ripping through the air, and this time, I heard shouts—angry, frantic voices I couldn't identify. They seemed to be coming from everywhere at once, surrounding the house in a cacophony of chaos and violence.
Oh, my god. A rush of adrenaline surged through my veins, the force of it throwing me off balance. I staggered, catching myself against the wall as my heart raced wildly in my chest, pounding against my ribs like it wanted to break free and take off without me. Fear prickled along my skin, raising the fine hairs on the back of my neck and sending icy tendrils of dread slithering down my spine. I couldn't seem to catch my breath, my lungs constricting as panic clawed at my throat. What the hell was happening? Were we under attack?
Still barefoot, I ran through the mess on the floor and shook the cell door, knowing it would do no good. "Tristan!" I screamed again.
I ran into the bathroom, searching for something I could use as a weapon.
"Luna."
I froze behind the bathroom door. Tristan. It was Tristan. A sob of relief tried to escape, and I slapped my hand over my mouth. I stayed where I was. I wasn't stupid. It could be a trap. Someone could have him at gunpoint.
Someone like Gino. Because who else would be attacking us?
I heard the clink of a key in the lock and the creak of the cell door. "Luna!"
Peering through the crack between the door and the wall, I saw him. Tristan was inside the cell. He had a gun in his left hand. And he was alone.
As soon as I came out, he grabbed my arm. "Come on. We have to go."
"Where are you taking me?" I cried. Now that I was out of that room, it sounded like World War 3 was happening right outside his door. "Tristan, we can't go out there."
At the front door, he stopped and turned to face me. I sucked in a breath when I saw how dead his eyes were. The fire that always burned within them when he looked at me was gone, and I wouldn't admit to myself how much I missed it. Ignoring the chaos outside, he gently brushed my hair back from my face. "Luca has a safe room in his house. I'm taking you there."
"You told me I'd be safe here. You told me I'd be safe in your cell. You could lock us both in." I didn't know why I was arguing with him. The only thing I'd ever wanted was to be out of that fucking cell. But I couldn't let him leave again. He was in no shape to fight.
"That was before your father brought a Russian army to our doorstep." He coughed, wincing.
"We can hide here," I insisted.
But he tightened his jaw and shook his head. "It's all right. You're safe with me. I won't let anything happen to you." Taking my hand, he cracked open the door and looked around. Then he turned and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. "You do not leave my side, do you understand? You stay with me. No matter what. And you do exactly as I say."
I nodded.
