Chapter 190: I’m Going Anyway

POV: Lila

“You’re not going.”

Dante’s voice was calm.

Too calm.

Like he’d already made the decision and there was no point arguing about it.

I stared at him, my fingers still curled around the edge of the note they’d left behind.

“They gave a location,” I said. “And a deadline.”

“I know.”

“Then we don’t have time to stand here and debate this.”

“We’re not debating,” he replied. “You’re staying here.”

I let out a slow breath, trying to keep my voice steady.

“No,” I said. “I’m not.”

Something in his expression shifted, just slightly.

A warning.

“Lila.”

“I mean it,” I continued, stepping closer. “They took Vivian. They left a message asking for me. That’s not a coincidence. That’s a trade.”

“It’s a trap,” he corrected.

“I know that.”

“Then act like it.”

“I am,” I shot back. “I’m acting like someone who understands what’s at stake.”

Dante’s jaw tightened.

“And I’m acting like someone who’s trying to keep you alive.”

“I don’t need you to decide that for me.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t,” I said firmly. “You said it yourself—they’re targeting me. That means this doesn’t end if I hide behind you. It just gets worse.”

“That doesn’t mean you walk straight into their hands.”

“It means I don’t let them control the board without showing up,” I replied.

The tension between us stretched, sharp and unyielding.

Marco stayed quiet near the door, watching both of us like he knew stepping in would only make things explode faster.

“You’re not thinking clearly,” Dante said.

“I’m thinking exactly as clearly as I need to,” I said. “They want me there. That means I have leverage.”

“Or it means you’re the bait.”

“Same thing,” I said.

“No,” he said. “Not even close.”

I shook my head, frustration building again.

“You’re not listening to me.”

“And you’re not listening to me,” he shot back.

“I hear you,” I said. “I just don’t agree with you.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that I’m right.”

A small, humorless smile tugged at my lips.

“You really believe that, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” I said. “Then believe this too.”

I stepped back, putting just enough distance between us to make it clear.

“I’m going.”

Silence.

Cold.

Immediate.

Dante didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

But the air in the room shifted in a way that made my chest tighten.

“Lila,” he said finally, his voice lower now, more dangerous, “if you walk out that door—”

“What?” I challenged. “You’ll stop me?”

A pause.

Not long.

But long enough.

“If I have to,” he said.

I held his gaze, steady.

“You won’t.”

“Don’t test that.”

“I’m not testing anything,” I replied. “I’m making a choice.”

“And it’s the wrong one.”

“Maybe,” I said. “But it’s mine.”

For a second, I thought he might actually try to stop me.

Step forward. Grab my arm. Block the door.

But he didn’t.

He just stood there, watching me, his expression unreadable.

And somehow, that felt worse.

“You think this is about control,” he said quietly.

“It is.”

“It’s not,” he said. “It’s about survival.”

“And what about Vivian?” I asked. “Does she just… wait? Hope we figure it out before it’s too late?”

His silence was answer enough.

“I’m not doing that,” I said.

“You might not have a choice.”

“I do,” I replied. “I always do.”

I turned toward the door.

“Lila.”

His voice stopped me just for a second.

I didn’t turn around.

“Don’t do this.”

Something in the way he said it almost made me hesitate.

Almost.

But then I remembered the note.

Bring Lila.

And the image of Vivian’s empty hospital bed flashed in my mind.

“I already am,” I said.

And I walked out.

—

The location they gave wasn’t far.

Too close, actually.

An abandoned building on the edge of the city. The kind people stopped noticing years ago.

Perfect for something like this.

I parked a block away.

No guards.

No backup.

Just me.

The silence outside felt heavy, like the world itself was holding its breath.

I stepped out of the car, closing the door quietly behind me.

Think.

Don’t rush.

Every instinct I had was telling me this was a mistake.

But walking away wasn’t an option.

I moved toward the building slowly, scanning everything.

Windows.

Rooftops.

Shadows.

Nothing obvious.

Which made it worse.

Because people like this?

They didn’t make mistakes.

“You came alone.”

The voice came from behind me.

Calm.

Satisfied.

I didn’t turn right away.

Of course they were watching.

“You asked for me,” I said.

I turned slowly.

A man stepped out from the side of the building, hands relaxed at his sides like this was just another meeting.

Not the same man from the casino.

Different face.

Same energy.

Controlled.

Calculated.

“And here you are,” he said.

“Where’s Vivian?”

Straight to the point.

No reason to pretend.

He smiled faintly.

“Safe.”

“I want to see her.”

“In time.”

“No,” I said. “Now.”

His smile didn’t change.

“You don’t make the demands here.”

“Then why ask for me?” I countered. “If I don’t matter, you could have taken anyone.”

A flicker of amusement crossed his face.

“Oh, you matter,” he said. “More than you realize.”

“Then prove it,” I said. “Show me she’s alive.”

He studied me for a moment, like he was deciding something.

Then he reached into his pocket.

Pulled out his phone.

Tapped the screen once.

And turned it toward me.

A video.

Vivian.

Tied to a chair, her head tilted slightly, eyes closed.

But breathing.

Alive.

Relief hit me so fast it almost made me dizzy.

“What did you do to her?” I asked, my voice tightening.

“Nothing permanent,” he said. “She’s just… insurance.”

I clenched my fists.

“You said bring me. I’m here. So let her go.”

He chuckled softly.

“You’re not in a position to negotiate.”

“Then what do you want?”

His gaze locked onto mine.

“You.”

The word settled between us, heavy and sharp.

“I’m already here,” I said.

“Not like this,” he replied.

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” he said slowly, “you’re going to come with us. Quietly. No resistance.”

“And if I don’t?”

His smile widened just slightly.

“Then she doesn’t leave here alive.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Of course.

Of course it wasn’t that simple.

I forced myself to stay calm.

Think.

There has to be something I’m missing.

“You’re making a mistake,” I said.

“Am I?”

“Yes,” I replied. “Because if you hurt her, you lose your leverage.”

“Only if we don’t already have what we need.”

A chill ran through me.

“What does that mean?”

But he didn’t answer.

Instead, he took a step closer.

“Enough talking,” he said. “You’ve seen her. Now it’s time to hold up your end.”

I didn’t move.

“Lila,” he added, his tone still calm but with an edge now, “don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

I glanced around again.

Still nothing.

No movement.

No sign of anyone else.

But that didn’t mean they weren’t there.

Watching.

Waiting.

“You really think I’m just going to walk into this?” I asked.

“I think,” he said, “you care enough to.”

My jaw tightened.

He wasn’t wrong.

And he knew it.

I took a slow breath.

One step forward.

Then another.

Closing the distance.

“Good,” he said, satisfaction clear in his voice.

Every part of me was on edge now.

Ready.

Waiting.

For something.

Anything.

And then—

A sharp crack split the air.

The man in front of me jerked suddenly, his body twisting as he stumbled back.

For a second, I didn’t understand what had happened.

Then I saw it.

The blood.

A dark stain spreading across his shoulder.

A gunshot.

My heart jumped into my throat.

Another crack echoed, louder this time.

The second man—one I hadn’t even seen—dropped from the rooftop above, hitting the ground hard.

Sniper.

Someone was shooting from a distance.

Protecting me.

I froze, my eyes darting around, trying to find the source.

Where—

“Move!”

The injured man shouted, scrambling backward, panic breaking through his calm for the first time.

More footsteps.

More movement.

They weren’t alone.

Of course they weren’t.

Another shot rang out.

Closer this time.

Precise.

Controlled.

One of the men rushing toward me dropped instantly.

My pulse was racing now.

This wasn’t part of their plan.

Which meant—

Someone else was here.

Someone on my side.

But who?

“Get her!” someone yelled.

Hands reached for me from the side, fast and rough.

I twisted, trying to pull away—

Another shot.

The man grabbing me collapsed before he could even tighten his grip.

My breath caught.

Whoever this was…

They weren’t missing.

“Lila!”

The voice came through my earpiece.

Dante.

Sharp. Urgent.

“Get down. Now.”

I dropped instantly, crouching low as another bullet tore through the air above me.

“I told you not to come,” his voice came again, tight with something I couldn’t quite place.

Anger.

Relief.

Both.

“You didn’t listen,” he added.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, my heart still racing. “But someone’s shooting—”

“I know,” he cut in.

“You know?” I repeated.

Another shot echoed.

Closer.

Louder.

And for the first time—

I noticed something.

The pattern.

The precision.

Every shot placed perfectly.

Every movement anticipated.

“Who is that?” I asked.

A pause.

Too long.

“Dante,” I pressed, my voice sharper now, “who is covering me?”

Silence.

Then—

“That’s not our sniper.”

Everything inside me went still.

“What?”

Another shot rang out.

Closer than before.

And this time—

I saw it.

A flash of movement on the rooftop across the street.

A figure.

Still.

Focused.

Watching everything.

Watching me.

My breath caught.

Because even from this distance—

I could feel it.

That presence.

Familiar.

Dangerous.

Intentional.

“Then whose is it?” I whispered.

No answer came.

Just another shot—

And the sudden, terrifying realization that whoever was protecting me…

Might not be doing it for the reasons I thought.