He’s moving through the garden, heading straight toward her. My blood runs cold. He was supposed to be reassigned far from the main property. He should not be here.
If he crossed the perimeter without my men alerting me, something is very wrong.
“Fuck.”
I bolt out of the study, running down the hallway. The alarms suddenly explode through the estate, loud, piercing, signaling a full breach.
“Marco!” I shout as I sprint toward the garden.
He comes running from the opposite direction, already armed. “We’ve got a breach! Multiple hostiles inside the perimeter!”
“Daniel has Eleonora!” I roar.
Chaos erupts.
I bark orders without slowing down. “Triple the guard on Sienna! Get her to the safe room now!”
Soldiers pour out of the barracks, shouting orders. Gunfire cracks in the distance. I run faster, heart pounding in my throat, fear like I’ve never known clawing at my chest.
Marco is right beside me, barking commands into his radio.
We burst into the garden just as I see Daniel dragging Eleonora deeper into the shadows. She’s fighting him hard, but he’s bigger and stronger.
“Eleonora!” I shout, pulling my gun.
Daniel turns, spots me, and yanks her closer like a shield. Several of Gallo’s men emerge from the trees, weapons raised.
I fire without hesitation, dropping the first man who aims at her. Marco takes down another. My men flood the garden, exchanging heavy gunfire with the intruders.
I move forward, eyes locked on Eleonora, pure rage and terror driving every step.
Daniel’s face twists with panic as he realizes he’s trapped. He raises his gun toward me.
I will burn this entire garden to the ground before I let him take her.
Eleonora is the real target. This breach was designed to divide my men, to pull them in different directions while they tried to snatch her.
Gunfire cracks from two sides at once. Gallo’s men are pushing hard through the gardens, while Massimo’s forces strike the front of the house, trying to force us to split our defense. Clever. But not clever enough.
I run faster, heart hammering.
I fire another shot, careful not to hit her. The shot hits Daniel in the shoulder. He screams and staggers, losing his grip on her.
I’m on him in seconds, ripping Eleonora free and shoving her behind me.
“Stay down!” I shout, pushing her behind a thick stone wall as Gallo’s men open fire.
Bullets chew up the ground around us. I put my body between her and the incoming shots, shielding her completely while returning fire.
Marco and my men spread out, engaging the attackers in a brutal firefight. The garden turns into a battlefield, muzzle flashes, shouting, the sharp smell of gunpowder thick in the air.
Andrea Gallo himself emerges from the trees, eyes wild with fury. He’s reckless tonight, charging forward like a man possessed, convinced Eleonora still belongs to him.
“You stole what’s mine, Lombardi!” he screams.
Massimo arrives moments later with more of his men. The bastard is assisting Gallo. Not to save his daughters but to reclaim control of his collapsing alliance. He’s willing to let everything burn as long as he walks away with power intact.
Marco and my soldiers hold off Gallo’s shooters while I face both threats at once. Eleonora stays low behind the wall, breathing hard, eyes wide with terror but still alive.
