The tunnel was damp, cold, and endless. Every step Serena took echoed against the stone walls, reminding her she was deep underground with only one man to trust—the same man she should fear.
Her fingers ached from gripping Lorenzo's hand, but she didn't dare let go. Not when shadows chased them, not when danger breathed down their necks.
"They'll follow," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"They'll try," Lorenzo said. His tone was sharp, but his thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles as if grounding her. "But I know this estate better than they do. Keep moving."
Serena bit her lip to keep from crying. Her silk gown snagged on jagged stone, the hem torn and dirty. She had never felt so stripped of her world—no chandeliers, no gowns, no protection from her father's empire. Just her, a man with a gun, and the darkness.
Then it came—the sound.
Boots pounding against stone. Shouts echoing from behind them. The attackers had found the tunnel.
Serena's blood froze. "They're coming—"
Lorenzo's grip tightened. "Run."
She stumbled at first, but adrenaline carried her forward. Their footsteps thundered through the tunnel, breath ragged, fear clinging to every gasp.
A shot rang out, the bullet ricocheting off the wall just inches from her shoulder. Serena screamed, but Lorenzo yanked her into an alcove, pressing her against the wall with his body shielding hers.
"Don't move," he hissed.
Her chest heaved against his. The tunnel was pitch-black, and the warmth of him pressed so close that every breath tangled with his.
The men's voices grew louder, then faded as they raced past, unaware of the narrow space where Serena and Lorenzo hid.
For a moment, the world shrank to silence. Serena realized she could feel his heartbeat—fast, steady, alive—against her ribs.
When Lorenzo finally leaned back, the brush of his lips was so close she almost thought he'd kiss her again. But instead, he whispered, "We need to keep going."
Her legs shook as she nodded. They slipped back into the tunnel, moving faster until finally, a faint silver glow appeared ahead. The exit.
Lorenzo shoved open a rusted iron grate, and the cool night air hit Serena's skin like salvation. They emerged into the woods behind the estate, the trees black silhouettes against the moon.
"Where now?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
"Safe house," Lorenzo said. "A mile east. We keep off the roads."
They trudged through the forest, Serena's bare feet aching, her gown heavy with mud. But every time she faltered, Lorenzo slowed, steadying her with a hand at her waist.
At last, a small cabin appeared through the trees, hidden by shadows. Lorenzo led her inside, securing the door before lowering his gun.
Serena collapsed onto a worn sofa, trembling from head to toe. She buried her face in her hands, tears finally spilling.
Everything—her father's lies, Matteo's watchful eyes, the blood, the gunshots—it all crashed down at once.
"Hey," Lorenzo's voice was softer now, closer. She felt the dip of the sofa as he sat beside her.
"I can't… I can't do this," she whispered.
"Yes, you can." His hand covered hers, warm and steady. "You're stronger than you think, Serena. You just don't know it yet."
Her tears slowed. She turned to him, searching his face in the dim light. "Why do you care so much? I'm nothing to you."
His jaw worked, as if fighting the words. "You're not nothing."
Her breath caught. "Then what am I?"
For once, Lorenzo looked shaken. His eyes flickered to her lips, then back to her eyes. "You're the reason I haven't walked away."
The confession left her dizzy. Her chest tightened, her pulse racing in ways that had nothing to do with fear.
But before she could speak, before she could ask what he truly meant, the sharp sound of breaking glass shattered the fragile moment.
Both of them froze.
Lorenzo's hand went instantly to his gun. His eyes hardened, his body shifting in front of hers once again.
"They found us," he growled.
Serena's breath hitched. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
And just like that, the nightmare wasn't over.
It was only beginning.
End of Chapter 7 – Hunted Hearts