HELENA'S POV
The air in the room changed.
It wasn't just tense.
It was suffocating.
I could hear my own heartbeat loud in my ears as Vincenzo's gaze stayed locked on me cold, calculating, dangerous.
Not at me. But because of me, That was the scary part.
"Stay here," he ordered.
My chest tightened instantly.
"No."
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
Jason glanced at me like I had just signed my death certificate.
Vincenzo didn't move. Didn't blink. Didn't even breathe.
"Excuse me?" he said quietly.
"I'm not staying here," I repeated, my voice shaking but firm. "If Nathan is here because of me, then I.."
Before I could finish, he crossed the room in seconds.
His hand wrapped around my arm, not painfully, but firm enough to remind me who I was dealing with.
"You think this is a game?" he said, his voice low and deadly. "You think you get to decide when you're involved?"
"I already am involved!" I snapped, my emotions spilling over. "Everyone keeps saying I'm yours, I'm the reason, I'm the weakness.."
"Enough."
The word cut through me like a blade. Silence. Heavy Dangerous.
His grip tightened slightly, and for a second I thought he was going to lash out. But he didn't Instead, he leaned closer. Too close.
"You have no idea what kind of men are out there waiting for a chance to get to me," he whispered. "And now they know exactly how."
My throat went dry.
"By using me" I said softly.
His jaw clenched.
"Yes."
That one word carried everything.
Anger, Possession, Fear And something else. Something he would never admit.
Jason cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Boss, we don't have much time."
Vincenzo didn't take his eyes off me. Then finally
"Lock this floor down," he ordered. "No one gets in or out."
My eyes widened.
"Vincenzo"
"Stay. Here."
This time, it wasn't a command. It was a warning And I knew better than to push him further. Slowly, he let go of me and turned toward the door.
But just before stepping out, he paused.
Without looking back, he said
"If anything happens, you don't open that door for anyone except me."
Then he walked out.
Jason followed.
And just like that I was alone. The silence was worse than the chaos.
I stood there for a moment, frozen, before rushing toward the window.
From the second floor, I could see the front gates in the distance.
Black cars.
Men running.
Guns.
Shouting.
My stomach twisted.
This wasn't just a warning.
This was war.
Minutes felt like hours.
I started pacing, Then stopped. Then paced again.
My hands were shaking. My mind kept replaying one thing
"They know exactly how."
Me.
I was the weakness.
I was the target.
Suddenly
BANG!
I flinched hard, my back hitting the wall.
Gunshot.
Another one followed.
Closer this time.
"Vincenzo" I whispered, fear creeping into my chest.
I couldn't just stand here.
I couldn't.
I rushed to the door.
My hand touched the handle.
Stopped.
His voice echoed in my head
"You don't open that door."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Damn it"
Another gunshot. Closer. Too close.
My heart started racing faster. Something inside me snapped.
I opened the door. The hallway was chaos.
Men running. Voices shouting in Italian.
Footsteps everywhere.
No one even noticed me at first. I moved slowly, carefully, my heart pounding as I followed the noise.
Then I heard it. A voice I recognized instantly.
Nathan.
"Come out, Esposito!" he shouted somewhere below. "Or should I come find your little bride myself?"
My blood ran cold.
No.
No no no.
I moved faster, reaching the top of the stair And froze. Vincenzo stood at the bottom.
Gun in his hand. Eyes dark Empty and Dangerous. Facing Nathan.
Nathan laughed when he saw him.
"Ah.. there you are."
Vincenzo didn't respond.
He just raised the gun slightly.
Calm.
Controlled.
Terrifying.
"You picked the wrong day to show up," Vincenzo said coldly.
Nathan smirked.
"No," he replied. "I picked the perfect day."
His eyes slowly lifted And landed on me.
Everything stopped.
Vincenzo's body went completely still.
Slowly..
Dangerously..
He turned his head And saw me.
That was the moment I knew I messed up, Badly. His expression didn't explode. Didn't rage. Didn't shout. Which was worse, Much worse.
"Helena."
My name came out like a warning wrapped in fire.
I swallowed.
"I.."
"Get. Back. Upstairs."
Every word.
Sharp.
Controlled.
Barely holding something darker underneath.
Nathan chuckled.
"Well, well isn't this interesting," he said, tilting his head. "She doesn't listen to you very well, does she?"
Big mistake.
Before I could even blink
BANG!
Vincenzo fired.
The bullet grazed Nathan's shoulder.
Chaos exploded again.
Men started shooting.
I screamed, ducking instinctively as everything spiraled out of control.
And in the middle of it Vincenzo moved Fast, Deadly Straight toward Nathan And all I could think was this isn't just about power anymore. This is about me.
———
Sorry for keeping you all waiting…