FIVE YEARS AGO
The building groaned under the weight of the fire. Wooden beams cracked and fell with sharp, splintering sounds as smoke coiled through every corner like a living thing. Alessia staggered forward, her lungs burning with each breath. The air was so thick with heat and soot that it felt like she was breathing fire.
"Rafael? Dad? Mum?" Her voice was hoarse, barely rising above the hungry roar of the flames. No reply came only the sound of timber collapsing somewhere deeper in the house.
She reached the top of the staircase, but before she could climb down, the floor ahead gave way with a deafening crash, forcing her back. Heat blasted against her face, making her eyes sting.
"Help!" she screamed, but the smoke seemed to swallow her words.
Every breath she took brought more smoke into her lungs, each inhale felt like a knife cutting down her throat. She coughed violently, dropping to her hands and knees as the world tilted sideways.
Her body begged her to give in, to close her eyes and let the darkness take her. But through her blurring vision, she saw a figure, tall, broad-shouldered, moving with urgent strides towards her.
He crouched beside her, strong arms lifting her off the ground. She felt her head rest against a solid chest, the beat of his heart steady against her cheek.
"Hang on, Aly," the man said, deep but to Alessia his voice was muffled, as though coming from far away. "Hang on, Aly. I'll get you out of here."
Her lips trembled. "Rafael…" she whispered, clutching weakly at his shirt as he carried her through the smoke, away from the heat, away from the flames, and out from the building.
************
Smoke filled the air as Dominic dropped to his knees, swaying as dizziness threatened to overtake him. He still held Alessia in his arms, tightly.
"Boss!" Ray's voice cut through the chaos. He burst through the main doors, slamming them wide. A scarf was tied tightly over his nose and mouth, his eyes scanning the scene.
"Find the boss!" he ordered the other guards rushing in behind him. "The rest of you, stand guard, we're under attack!"
Some guards fanned out toward the exits, weapons drawn, while others darted deeper into the building.
"Boss!" Ray called again, moving toward the altar.
"Ray," Dominic called out. His voice was strained but steady.
Ray's boots pounded against the marble as he closed the distance, finding Dominic kneeling with Alessia still cradled in his arms.
"Take her to safety," Dominic ordered, forcing the words out. "Make sure she's unharmed."
"But boss, what about you?"
"That's an order, Ray." Dominic's tone left no room for argument. "I can take care of myself."
Ray's jaw tightened, but he quickly pulled a scarf from his jacket and handed it to Dominic. Without another word, he took Alessia, cradling her protectively as he hurried toward the exit.
Dominic tied the scarf over his nose and forced himself to his feet. His vision wavered, but his instincts stayed sharp.
He noticed a shift in the air behind him. Footsteps too quiet for a panicked civilian.
He pivoted fast, just in time to see a bat swinging toward his head. He ducked, the weapon whistling past his ear.
"Good day, Mr. Moretti," a voice said. It was a smooth and crisp English accent. Out of the smoke stepped a man in a tailored white suit, a black gas mask covering his face. "I hope you liked my wedding gift."
"Maxwell," Dominic said, recognizing the accent, the name like venom on his tongue.
"I'm impressed you're still standing after all that gas you've inhaled." Maxwell's tone dripped with mockery. "What a perfect opportunity it is to see you unarmed."
He swung the bat again, aiming for Dominic's head. Dominic blocked it with his forearm but dropped to one knee, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Ray had left with Alessia.
"You should focus on the enemy in front of you," Maxwell sneered, swinging again. This time, the bat connected with the side of Dominic's head, sending him crashing to the ground.
Outside, Ray sprinted toward a sleek black sedan parked at the corner. The air was alive with the sounds of combat, gunshots, shouts, and the metallic clang of weapons clashing. He avoided the battle, keeping Alessia shielded against his chest.
He laid her gently in the back seat, then slid into the driver's seat and turned the key. The engine roared, and he sped away from the chaos.
In the side mirror, he noticed two dark vehicles appear, following behind them fast. Ray cursed under his breath. He accelerated, trying to lose them.
The pursuers matched his speed. Their windows rolled down, and men leaned out, firing at Ray's car.
Ray swerved to dodge the bullets, his foot pressing the accelerator to the floor.
He risked a glance over his shoulder to check on Alessia who was still motionless but safe and pressed on.
Back inside, Maxwell stood over Dominic, pulling a pistol from inside his jacket.
"Time to say goodnight, Moretti, it is a pleasure to end you."
Before he could pull the trigger, two sharp sounds of gunshots echoed in the air, Maxwell staggered and fell, blood blooming across his abdomen.
"Sorry I'm late," Vivienne said lightly, lowering her smoking pistol as she approached. Her eyes flicked over Dominic with faint amusement. "What a sorry state you're in."
"Where's Alessia?" Dominic demanded, ignoring the blood trickling down the side of his face.
"Even now, your little birdie is all you can think about?" she teased, making him shoot her a death glare.
"She's en route to your safe house," Vivienne added. "I made preparations for an escape, just like you asked." She handed him a tablet displaying a live map. A small red dot moved steadily along the route and then stopped.
"Why did it stop?" Dominic asked sharply.
Vivienne's brows furrowed. "I don't know. Looks like they've been intercepted."
Dominic grabbed Maxwell's fallen gun, his movements were swift, ignoring the pain, and he strode toward the exit. He shot every enemy he came across.
Ray's hands clenched on the steering wheel as headlights appeared ahead, a car speeding straight toward them. He swerved hard, tires screeching, and the vehicle slammed sideways into a tree.
The impact knocked the air from his lungs and sent his head crashing against the steering wheel making him unconscious.
Within seconds, other cars screeched to a halt around them. Doors opened and boots crunched on gravel.
A man in dark clothing approached, yanking open the back door. Without hesitation, he pulled Alessia from the seat, carrying her toward one of their waiting vehicles before they all drove off.