Chapter 167 – Time to Talk

Chapter 167 – Time to Talk
Vittorio’s POV

“Signore! Signore!”
Ombra’s voice ripped through the hall like a scream.

I was halfway through pulling on a shirt when she burst into the room, eyes wide, face pale.
“It’s Madam Katarina—she’s hurt! The war room door was open. She’s on the floor—there’s blood!”

For one second, everything stopped. Then I was moving.
Without shoes and no shirt. Just shorts and  the rush of adrenaline. In my body
Valentino came out of his room at the same time, his hair was a mess and gun already in hand.
“What happened?” he barked.
Ombra was still panting. “The nanny found Katarina in the  war room. Said she was bleeding. I—I think someone attacked her.”

He didn’t wait for more.

We moved with speed.

The house blurred. I barely saw the marble or the guards we passed. My head was ringing too loud to hear anything except her name.

Please not her. Not again.

When we reached the west wing, Ombra pointed. “There!”

The war room door was half open and  Blood smeared the floor.
And she was there—Katarina—lying on her side, hair fanned out, one hand still clutching an apple.

I dropped to my knees beside her.m “Kat!”
Her lips moved, a tiny groan. “Hmm?”
Thank God She was alive.

Valentino knelt too, checking her pulse. “It’s steady.” He exhaled hard. “Jesus Christ, Vittorio, she’s fine. Just bleeding.”

“Fine?” I snapped. “She’s bleeding on the floor!”

I lifted her carefully, cradling her head. Blood stained my fingers. “Get a towel. Get something.”

Ombra rushed out, yelling for help.

Katarina’s eyelids fluttered. “Stop shouting,” she muttered weakly. “You’re louder than the bleeding.”

I almost laughed, almost. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Valentino gave a low whistle. “You really know how to give us heart attacks, sweetheart.”

She blinked at both of us. “What happened?”  “You tell us,” I said. “Who did this?”

She winced, sitting up with my help. “I woke up early. Went to the kitchen. I was hungry.”
Valentino rolled his eyes. “Of course you were.”

“Shut up,” I said.

She rubbed the back of her head, frowning. “I heard footsteps. I followed them. It was Fiorella.”
The name hit like a punch.
“Fiorella?” I repeated.
“She was in your safe,” Katarina said slowly. “When I asked her what she was doing, she hit me. That’s all I remember.”

For a second, none of us spoke. Valentino stood. “She hit her? That woman hit her?”
My jaw clenched. “Where’s Fiorella now?”

Ombra returned with towels and a small first-aid kit. “I don’t know, signore. I saw no one leave this wing.”
“Then she’s still here,” I said.

Valentino radioed the guards. “Find her. Check every corridor, every damn room.”
Then the Static crackled. Then a voice: “Copy that. Last seen heading toward the cleaning area.”
Valentino snorted. “Probably to wash her sins off.”

I took the towel from Ombra and pressed it gently to Katarina’s head. “You stay here. Ombra, don’t let her move.”

Katarina pushed my hand away. “I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding.” I spoke gently
“It’s just a cut.”
“You’re staying here.”
She looked up, eyes sharp. “You can either waste time arguing with me or go catch her before she runs.”

Valentino grinned. “She’s got a point.”  I glared at him. “You’re not helping.”
“I’m not wrong either.”

Katarina tried to stand. I held her still.
“You’re stubborn as hell,” I said.
“Learned from the best,” she said back.
“Stay,” I warned again.
“No,” she said, standing anyway.
I sighed. “You’re going to make me gray before my time.”
She smirked. “You’re already halfway there.”

Even Valentino laughed at that.

Fine. I gave up. “Ombra, grab her if she faints.”
“I won’t faint,” Katarina muttered.
We started walking fast toward the cleaning hallway. The guards met us halfway, guns drawn.
“Sir, we’ve got movement inside the storage area.”
“Open it,” I ordered.

I motioned for everyone to stay silent.  

The hallway went dead still. Even the air felt heavy.  

My hand hovered near my gun—not because I was scared, but because I didn’t trust what waited inside.  

Valentino cracked his neck, muttering, “She’s about to regret breathing our air.”  

When the latch clicked open, I caught the smell of bleach and something metallic—fear.  

The door creaked.

Inside stood Fiorella. Hair messy. Eyes wild. A broom handle clutched like a weapon.

She froze when she saw us.

Katarina gasped behind me. “That’s her.”

Fiorella’s eyes flicked from me to Valentino to Katarina. “It’s not what it looks like,” she said.

Valentino raised an eyebrow. “Then what’s it look like, sweetheart? Because from here, it looks bad.”

“I was cleaning—”
“Don’t insult me,” I cut in. “You were in my safe.”

Her lips pressed tight. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Then explain it.”
Silence.

Suzy peeked out from behind a mop bucket, clutching her bear. I hadn’t even seen her there.
“Mama?” she whispered. “They asked where you were. I told them you were cleaning…”

She looked so small—barefoot, eyes swollen from crying.  

Her little voice broke something in me. She didn’t even understand what her mother had done, only that everyone suddenly looked at her like she was part of it.  

Fiorella went pale. “Suzy, go to your room.”
The girl didn’t move.

Katarina stepped forward, blood still streaking her hairline. “You hit me for nothing. You could’ve asked.”

Fiorella flinched. “You don’t understand. I didn’t have a choice.”

Valentino leaned on the wall, watching her. “You people never do.”

I took a step closer. “Where’s the map?”
Her mouth opened, then closed again.
Valentino’s voice was low. “She hid it somewhere.”
“Of course she did.”

Fiorella backed up till her shoulders hit the wall. “You can’t stop what’s coming,” she said suddenly.
I stared at her. “Try me.”

Valentino’s smirk dropped. “Who are you working for?”

Fiorella’s hand shook around the broom handle. “It won’t matter. They’re already coming.”

Katarina frowned. “Who’s coming?”
Fiorella looked at her, voice low and cracked. “The ones who sent me here.”

I felt the air change then. Cold. Heavy.

Valentino crossed his arms. “Guess it’s time to find out who the hell you really are.”

Fiorella didn’t speak. Didn’t move.

But the look in her eyes said everything—
she knew we were out of time.

And so did I.