Fire and Fury
Smoke rolled through the mansion halls, choking and thick. The gunfire had slowed, but the danger was far from over.
Lucian pushed forward through the chaos, every step a war against the flames that licked the walls. Isabella's terrified cries guided him, sharper than any bullet wound. He blasted down two men blocking the stairwell, his fury unmatched. His daughter would not be taken. Not tonight. Not ever.
Meanwhile, Elena crouched near the shattered dining room, the pistol trembling in her grip. She pressed her back to the wall, her ears ringing from the last explosion. She wasn't a trained fighter, but fear sharpened her instincts. A shadow moved across the smoke, and before she thought twice, she fired. The masked intruder fell, his weapon clattering across the marble floor.
Her breath came fast, her chest rising and falling. She hated violence—but if protecting Isabella and even Lucian meant staining her hands, she would.
"Cowards," Elena whispered to herself, her eyes narrowing as more boots thundered in.
One attacker lunged at her from behind. She barely had time to scream before a bullet whizzed past her head, dropping him instantly. Lucian's right-hand man, Marco, appeared, giving her a sharp nod.
"Stay alive, lady," he barked, before vanishing into the smoke again.
Upstairs, Lucian finally found Isabella, huddled in the corner of her bedroom with tears streaking her face. Relief washed over him so fiercely, he almost collapsed. He scooped her into his arms, his heart pounding as if it would break through his chest.
"Daddy's here," he murmured, his voice raw. "No one will hurt you."
But his relief didn't last long. From the window, he saw more black SUVs pulling into the driveway. Reinforcements. Whoever had planned this attack wanted to bury him tonight—with his family beside him.
He tightened his grip on Isabella. "We're not done yet," he muttered.
Downstairs, Elena clutched the gun tighter, whispering a prayer. She didn't know how much longer she could keep fighting, but one thing was certain—she would not run.
And when Lucian reappeared through the fire, Isabella safe in his arms, their eyes locked across the smoke and destruction. It was unspoken, but undeniable: they were in this together now.
Enemies wanted to rip them apart, but blood, fire, and danger were binding them closer than ever.