Raven's POV – The Long Road
The streets outside of the city raced past, the flickering lights of the highway illuminating the road as Raven drove, her knuckles white against the steering wheel. She could feel the heavy weight of everything pressing down on her chest—the memories, the pain, the guilt. Every turn she took felt like it pulled her deeper into a spiral she couldn't stop.
Her pulse thrummed in her ears, drowning out all other sound except the rhythmic beating of her heart. She had been here before, in this place of uncertainty. But this time, everything was different.
She was not the woman she used to be, the carefree, naive girl who once danced under the stars with Aurelio. Now, she was a woman who carried the weight of their shattered past and the future of her daughter. Luna.
She had been forced to leave the country six years ago, with no goodbyes, no explanations. Her life had been torn apart the moment she found out she was pregnant with Aurelio's child. Her parents, disgusted by the scandal, had disowned her. They didn't even want to hear her side. They wanted her to leave—to disappear.
And she did.
But she had always wondered if Aurelio had ever tried to find her. He never did. Not once.
The thought stung like a knife to her heart.
Now, she was back, but not for the reasons she'd ever hoped. She had to save him. He was in danger.
"Isabella, where exactly is this warehouse?" Raven's voice was tight, laced with the fear she refused to show on the outside.
"It's a few miles past the old docks, Raven. The place is a black hole. No one ever goes near it unless they have business with Enzo."
Raven cursed under her breath. Enzo. The same man who had played her like a pawn all those years ago, pulling strings she hadn't even known existed. The same man who was now after the one person she couldn't afford to lose.
"What if we're too late?" Raven asked, though she knew the answer. There was no room for doubt.
"You'll get there in time," Isabella said, her voice unwavering. "Aurelio can hold his own. You know that better than anyone."
Raven's grip on the wheel tightened. She hoped Isabella was right. But she couldn't afford to be wrong.
The headlights of their car cut through the darkness as they sped down the road, each mile feeling heavier. She didn't know what she was walking into. But she wasn't about to back down now. Not when she had everything to lose.
Aurelio's POV – Under Siege
The pain in Aurelio's side was unbearable. It was as if someone had plunged a knife into him and twisted it with every shallow breath he took. His vision was blurred, his thoughts sluggish. Blood seeped through his fingers, but he refused to let himself collapse.
He couldn't. Not now.
Aurelio could hear the footsteps approaching—slow, deliberate. Enzo's men were closing in, and there was no escape.
But his mind kept drifting to her. Raven.
Six years had passed since she disappeared, but in some twisted way, it felt like no time at all. The anger, the bitterness—everything he had buried deep inside resurfaced the moment he saw her. She was just as beautiful as he remembered, her presence a deadly mix of vulnerability and strength. But now, he knew she was hiding something. Something she wasn't telling him.
He had no idea that she'd kept a secret. A secret that could unravel everything.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice—too familiar to be a comfort.
"Still alive, I see?" Enzo's voice slithered from the shadows, a cold, mocking tone that sent a shiver down Aurelio's spine.
Aurelio could barely stand, but he straightened himself, glaring at Enzo as he stepped into view. "What is it you want, Enzo?" he growled, his voice raw.
"What do I want?" Enzo smiled, almost amused. "I want you to suffer for your betrayal. You've done things you can't take back. And now, you'll pay the price."
Aurelio's eyes narrowed. "I've been paying for your games for years. And now, you're going to pay for mine."
Before Enzo could reply, a distant sound reached Aurelio's ears—tires screeching, a car roaring to life in the distance. Raven.
Aurelio's heart skipped a beat.
She was here.
But how?
Luna's POV – The Decision
Luna sat on the bed in her dimly lit room, her legs crossed as she stared at the door. It had been hours since the man had locked her in here, and she was starting to feel the weight of isolation creeping in. The silence was suffocating, the shadows in the corners of the room seeming to stretch with every passing second.
The man who had captured her wasn't like the others. He wasn't as crude or as overtly violent. But there was something about him—something cold and calculating that made Luna's skin crawl.
She refused to show fear. Her mother had taught her better than that.
She reached for the small box hidden beneath the bed, her fingers brushing against the smooth edges of the toy she'd smuggled in. It was a simple thing—an old stuffed bear. But it was hers. Her mother had given it to her, and in the darkest of moments, it was all she had left to hold onto.
I can't let him break me, Luna thought fiercely. She wasn't like these people. She wouldn't bend, wouldn't break.
The door creaked open, and Luna's heart lurched. The man stepped inside, a smirk curling on his lips as he leaned against the doorframe.
"How are you holding up, little one?" he asked, his voice low, almost affectionate.
Luna refused to answer.
"You know," he began, stepping further into the room, "your father is a disappointment. Always has been. He never cared about you. And your mother—she's too weak to save you."
Luna's fists clenched. "You're lying."
"Am I?" The man took another step closer, his eyes glinting with malice. "Your father's been compromised. He made deals with the wrong people. If he had really wanted to, he could've saved you long before now. But instead, he's left you here, with me."
Luna swallowed hard. She hated hearing this. She hated that even for a moment, she might believe it.
"You're wrong," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "My father loves me. He'll come for me."
The man's laugh was cold. "We'll see about that."
Raven's POV – The Reckoning
The warehouse loomed ahead, dark and imposing. The closer they got, the more Raven's heart thudded in her chest. Every instinct told her to run, to turn back and save herself. But she couldn't. Not now. Not when everything she cared about was on the line.
"Stay close," Raven muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows as she moved toward the entrance.
Isabella, who had been oddly quiet since they arrived, gave a small nod and followed behind. Her movements were tense, every step measured. She had her own demons to face, but right now, they were in this together.
Raven could hear the muffled voices of men inside—the sound of danger closing in.
She didn't know what would happen once they breached the door. But there was no turning back.
The sudden rush of footsteps caught her attention, and without thinking, she raised her gun, her grip firm. The door creaked open, and in that split second, chaos erupted.
Bullets rang out, but Raven didn't hesitate. She fired back, her heart pounding with every shot. She could see the outlines of figures moving in the dark, their silhouettes shifting. She wouldn't let them take her daughter's future.
She wouldn't let them take Aurelio's life.