Chapter 201 Two Hundred& one

Chapter 201 Two Hundred& one
The quiet didn’t last long.

Giovanni’s phone buzzed.

He frowned slightly, pulling it out of his pocket.

Unknown number.

He answered anyway. “Giovanni.”

“Mr. Monti…” the voice on the other end was tense. “This is Officer Reyes.”

Giovanni straightened immediately. “Yes officer Reyes How may I help you sir?

There was a pause.

Then..

“She’s gone.”

Giovanni’s expression hardened. “What do you mean… gone? Who!”

“Elara escaped,” Reyes said, voice tight. “She complained of stomach pain. They moved her to the hospital wing under guard…”

A sharp breath came through the line.

“…she overpowered them. Took a knife .”

Giovanni stood up slowly.

“What did she do?” his voice dropped.

Another pause.

“She stabbed two officers,” Reyes said quietly. “They didn’t make it.”

Silence.

Cold.

Heavy.

Raven straightened on the couch, instantly sensing the shift. “Gio…?”

Giovanni didn’t answer her.

His grip tightened around the phone. “And now?”

“She fled,” Reyes continued. “We have units searching, but she’s dangerous, Mr. Monti. More than before. We believe she may come after you… or your family.”

Giovanni’s jaw clenched. “She won’t get near them.”

“You need to secure your home,” Reyes said. “We’re sending officers your way.”

“Okay,” Giovanni replied.

The call ended.

Slowly… he lowered the phone.

The room felt different now.

That peace?

Gone.

Raven stood up carefully, ignoring the pain. “What happened?”

Giovanni looked at her.

“Elara escaped.”

The words hit like a shockwave.

Raven’s face went pale. “What?”

“She killed two officers and ran,” he added, his voice cold now.

Gabriele, who had been leaning nearby, straightened immediately. “Shit… You’re kidding.”

“I wish I am.”

Gabriele ran a hand through his hair. “That psycho…”

Bianca and Valeria went quiet instantly.

Isla’s hand moved to her chest. “Oh my God…”

Alessandro’s expression hardened. “Then we prepare.”

Giovanni nodded.

“Everyone stays inside,” he said firmly. “Doors locked. No one moves alone.”

Raven stepped closer to him. “She’s coming here… isn’t she?”

Giovanni looked at her.

“Yes.”

Raven swallowed hard.

Gabriele stepped forward. “Then let her come.”

Giovanni’s eyes darkened.

“No,” he said quietly.

“If she shows up this time…”

His jaw tightened.

“…i will kill her.”

For a moment… no one moved.

The weight of Giovanni’s words settled over the room.

This time… it ends.

Raven’s hand found his arm, gripping it lightly. “Gio…”

He looked at her, his expression softening just a little. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Or Ganni.”

Gabriele stepped forward, already pulling his phone out. “I’m calling the security team. We lock this place down now.”

Alessandro nodded. “Do it.”

Within seconds, the house shifted again.

Lights outside flicked on.

Security gates locked.

Men moved into position around the property.

The calm, warm home from minutes ago…

Was gone.

Now it felt like a fortress.

Upstairs, Ganni stirred in his sleep.

Raven looked toward the stairs, worry flooding her face. “He can’t wake up to this…”

“He won’t,” Giovanni said firmly. “I’ll make sure of it.”

But even as he said it…

They all knew.

If Elara came..

Then….

Gabriele came back into the room. “Perimeter’s secured. Cameras are up. No blind spots.”

Alessandro added, “Police?”

“They’re on their way,” Giovanni said.

Isla moved closer to Raven. “You should sit… you’re still healing.”

“I’m fine,” Raven insisted, even though she wasn’t.

Her eyes were fixed on the door.

Waiting.

Minutes passed. Hours passed

Too slow.

Too quiet.

Every sound felt louder.

Every shadow felt wrong.

Then…

A noise. Outside.

Tires. Fast.

Everyone froze.

Gabriele moved instantly toward the window, pulling the curtain slightly.

Headlights cut through the darkness outside the gate.

A car.

Speeding.

“Shit…” he muttered.

Giovanni stepped beside him, his expression going cold.

The car didn’t slow down.

Didn’t stop.

It rammed straight into the gate.

Metal crashed.

The sound echoed through the entire property.

Isla gasped.

Bianca grabbed Valeria.

Raven’s heart jumped.

“She’s here…” she whispered.

The gate gave way halfway, hanging broken.

The car engine died.

Silence followed.

Thick.

Terrifying.

The driver’s door creaked open slowly.

Giovanni’s eyes locked onto it.

“Stay behind me,” he said quietly.

The door opened fully.

And Elara stepped out.

Hair messy.

Clothes stained.

Eyes wild.

But smiling.

That same twisted smile.

She looked up at the mansion like she had just come home.

“I told you…” her voice carried faintly through the night.

Giovanni stepped forward slightly.

“I’d come back.”

Raven’s breath caught.

Giovanni’s jaw tightened, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Don’t come any closer, Elara,” he said, voice low, dangerous. “One step, and you’ll regret it.”

Elara laughed, a soft, chilling sound that carried across the yard. “Oh, Gio… you always were dramatic. You think you could just lock me up after all I did for you.”

She took a step forward, slow, deliberate, like she was taunting him.

Raven instinctively stepped back, instinct screaming at her to hide, to protect Ganni. But Giovanni’s hand went out, stopping her.

“Stay behind me,” he said, calm but deadly.

Elara’s eyes flicked to Ganni, who was peeking from behind Raven. Her smile twisted, and her voice softened just enough to be terrifying.

“And him… he’s mine too,” she said, pointing toward Ganni. “All of you… belong to me now.”

Gabriele moved closer to the edge of the porch, hand resting on his gun, ready to act.

Giovanni didn’t flinch. “You’ve hurt enough people, Elara. You’re done. It ends tonight.”

Elara’s laughter grew louder, almost hysterical. She spun suddenly, pulling something from her coat…a small bag. Giovanni’s eyes sharpened.

“Poison?” he whispered under his breath, but she only smiled wider.

“Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe… just it’s empty .”

Before anyone could react, she charged toward the stairs, grabbing Ganni from behind Raven as she cut her with a knife

Giovanni’s voice snapped. “Stop her!”

The brothers moved instantly. Gabriele aiming his gun, Giovanni running forward, heart pounding, mind focused on one thing: get Ganni safe.

Elara’s wild grip tightened, Ganni screaming.

“GIOVANNI! HELP!” Raven’s voice cracked with fear and anger.