Adriana's POV.
The laugh echoed through the darkness.
Cold. Calm.
Almost amused.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Alessio didn't move.
His entire body remained in front of mine, blocking the red laser that still danced across his chest.
"Show yourself," he growled.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then—
A gunshot tore through the night.
Alessio shoved me down.
The bullet struck the wall behind us, sending pieces of stone flying.
"Stay down!" he barked.
"I can fight!"
"I know."
His eyes met mine for half a second.
"And that's exactly why I'm telling you to stay behind me."
Before I could argue, another series of gunshots erupted.
The entire courtyard exploded into chaos.
Men rushed from the shadows.
Gunfire flashed through the darkness like lightning.
I grabbed the weapon at my side and fired toward the figures advancing from the eastern gate.
One fell.
Another took his place.
"There are too many!" Luca shouted from somewhere behind us.
Alessio didn't answer.
He was already moving.
He fired twice before crossing the courtyard, every movement controlled and deadly.
I followed.
Because there was no way in hell I was letting him face this alone.
"Adriana!"
I turned.
A man was charging straight toward me.
I raised my weapon—
But he was already too close.
He grabbed my wrist.
I twisted hard, slammed my elbow into his ribs, and broke free.
His knife flashed.
I ducked.
The blade passed inches above my head.
I kicked his knee.
He stumbled.
I struck him again.
He fell.
I stood there breathing heavily.
Then I heard Alessio.
"Adriana!"
I looked up.
His expression had changed.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For me.
A gunman stood behind me.
I froze.
Alessio fired.
The man dropped.
Silence seemed to swallow the battlefield for one impossible second.
Then Alessio was beside me.
His hands caught my shoulders.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
"Alessio—"
"Answer me."
"I'm fine."
His jaw tightened.
"You were supposed to stay behind me."
"And you were supposed to stop trying to get yourself killed."
His eyes narrowed.
"This isn't the time."
"It never is with you."
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Gunfire continued around us.
Men shouted.
Smoke filled the air.
Yet somehow, all I could see was him.
His eyes softened.
Just slightly.
Then his thumb brushed a smear of blood from my cheek.
I didn't know whose blood it was.
I didn't want to know.
"You scare the hell out of me," he whispered.
My breath caught.
"You?"
He gave a humorless laugh.
"Especially me."
Another explosion shook the ground.
We both turned.
The eastern gate had been breached.
More men poured through.
Alessio immediately raised his weapon.
"Get to the house."
"No."
"Adriana."
"I'm staying."
His eyes hardened.
"This is a war."
"I know."
"You could die."
"So could you."
That stopped him.
I stepped closer.
"I'm not hiding while you fight for both of us."
His gaze remained locked on mine.
Then he leaned closer.
"Fine."
My eyebrows lifted.
"Fine?"
"If you insist on standing beside me..."
He loaded another magazine.
"...then don't fall behind."
A strange smile touched my lips.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
We turned toward the battlefield together.
And this time—
I wasn't behind him. I was beside him.
The next wave came fast.
We fired together.
One.
Two.
Three.
The enemy scattered.
Luca and the others pushed forward from the opposite side, forcing them toward the ruined gate.
"Move!" Alessio shouted.
We advanced.
Every step took us deeper into the smoke.
A man appeared through it.
Then another.
Then five more.
My gun clicked.
Empty.
I cursed under my breath.
"Adriana!"
Alessio grabbed my hand and pulled me behind a concrete pillar just as bullets tore through the space where I'd been standing.
"I need another magazine."
He pulled one from his belt and handed it to me.
"Last one."
I stared at him.
"What about you?"
"I'll manage."
"You always say that."
"And I'm always right."
"You're insufferable."
His lips almost curved.
"Yet you married me."
Before I could answer, he stepped out from cover.
I followed.
The battle intensified.
The enemy wasn't retreating.
They were surrounding us.
My stomach tightened.
"Alessio..."
"I know."
"They're closing in."
"I know."
He looked around.
Then his expression changed.
Not fear.
Calculation.
"Luca!"
"Yeah?"
"Take the southern side!"
Luca nodded and disappeared into the smoke.
Alessio turned to me.
"When I say run, you run."
"No."
His eyes flashed.
"Adriana."
"I'm not leaving you."
He stepped closer.
His voice dropped.
"If something happens to me—"
"Don't."
"Listen to me."
"No."
His fingers closed around mine.
"I need you alive."
My throat tightened.
"And I need you alive."
For once, he had no answer.
A distant voice suddenly echoed through the smoke.
"De Luca!"
Everything went still.
Alessio slowly looked toward the voice.
A figure stepped from the shadows.
Tall.
Armed.
Surrounded by men.
I couldn't see his face clearly.
But I recognized the voice.
The laugh.
The same one from moments ago.
Alessio's expression turned murderous.
"So," the man said, spreading his arms, "the great Don finally brought his weakness onto the battlefield."
My blood ran cold.
Alessio stepped forward.
"Say her name."
The man laughed.
"Why? Afraid I'll hurt her?"
Alessio raised his gun.
"You already made that mistake."
The man smiled.
"Then let's see how far you'll go for her."
He snapped his fingers.
Every gun around us pointed toward me.
My heart stopped.
Alessio moved instantly.
He stepped in front of me again.
But this time—
I stepped beside him.
His head turned.
"Adriana..."
I lifted my weapon.
"If she's the battlefield," I whispered, staring at the enemy, "then let them come."
Alessio stared at me.
And then, slowly—
He smiled.
Not softly. Not lovingly.
Like a man who had just remembered exactly who he was.
"That's my girl."
The first shot fired.
Then another.
And the war began all over again.