Chapter 168 Coming for you
Serena’s POV
No.
No, no, no—
My chest tightened as I spun in a slow circle with my eyes scanning the empty room again like she might magically appear if I looked hard enough.
She was supposed to be here, this was the place, right?
This was where they said, I mean this was where he said. Everything added up to here, everything lined up perfectly.
Everything save for the one person I came here for, the one person I risked it all for.
My mother.
I took a deep breath as I pulled out my phone to ask questions to the one person I could talk to know.
But before I could, a loud crash echoed from somewhere down the corridor.
My head snapped towards the door as voices, followed by footsteps, drew near to where I was.
Shit.
I moved fast, shoving my phone back into my pocket instinctively right before another bang broke out.
It was closer this time, they must be checking rooms.
My pulse spiked.
Where the hell could they have taken her to?
Why move her now?
Why—
The door down the hall burst open and I heard it loud and clear. Followed by a resounding order. “They’re here—check every room!”
My grip tightened around the gun in my hand.
Okay.
Okay, think.
I stepped back, pressing myself against the wall beside the door, slowing my breathing down despite the chaos rising inside me.
If they came in, I wouldn’t hesitate.
The footsteps stopped right outside, and I watched a shadow pass from the little gap under the door.
The handle twitched, and I raised the gun high.
Just as the door flew open, I fired straight at whoever that was and the force jerked through my arm as the man stumbled back with a shout.
I didn’t wait, I ran as fast as I could through the corridor that exploded into chaos.
“Gun! She’s armed!”
“Stop her!”
I sprinted down the hall, slamming my boots against the concrete floor as hard as I could as bullets tore into the walls behind me.
They were getting close, way too close.
I turned sharply, nearly slipping as I darted down another way, my lungs were burning already.
This place was bigger than I thought as I kept twisting and turning, quickly getting confused till a hand grabbed my arm out of nowhere.
I reacted instantly, twisting again and slamming the butt of my gun into his face.
He grunted, loosening his grip just enough for me to pull free and shove him hard into the wall.
“Stop!” He barked, lunging again.
I fired immediately and he dropped. I turned immediately and set myself on another line.
Run.
Run.
Run.
My chest heaved as I pushed forward with my legs screaming for a break, but that would be the dumbest thing now.
My mind raced faster than my body, but all I could think of was how right the mystery guy was.
I'd rushed into this, came in without a plan. All I knew was that I'd get my mom, and we'll survive our way out of here.
So far, none of that has worked in my favor.
Another turn and I hit a dead end.
Shit.
Footsteps still followed behind me and I spun, scanning and spotting a window far off.
I hurried to it but found it locked. I slammed my elbow into the glass once, but nothing. Then the second one cracked it just as the voices got closer.
The third hit shattered the glass and I climbed through without thinking, ignoring the sharp sting as pieces of broken glass scraped my arms and legs.
I dropped hard onto the ground on the other side with pain shooting up my legs.
I staggered, then forced myself to run again.
And I didn’t stop till I couldn’t hear them anymore. I didn’t stop till the silence felt real.
Only then did I slow, leaning over with my hands on my knees, dragging in air like I hadn’t breathed in years.
What just happened?
My head spun as I looked back towards the building in the distance.
She wasn’t there, they moved her.
But why?
Where?
My stomach twisted violently.
I came all this way, risked everything, just to find out she was gone.
Gone.
An empty feeling settled deep in my chest, heavier than anything I’d carried before.
I couldn’t even picture walking, couldn’t even imagine leaving the country without her.
My fingers curled into a fist. No. No, I couldn’t think like that.
I straightened slowly, forcing myself to breathe.
Think.
Move.
Survive.
Find another way.
That's all I have to do now.
By the time I reached the road, exhaustion had settled deep into my bones.
A passing car slowed when I stepped into the street, and I didn’t even hesitate.
“Anywhere but here,” I said as I got in.
The town I ended up in felt smaller than the last, but people like myself barely had choices to make.
I found a cheap place, barely asking questions, barely answering any.
The moment I shut the door behind me, the silence hit me again, harder this time.
I sank onto the bed, staring at nothing as I thought about it all again.
She was gone. The one person I came for—
Gone.
My throat tightened as I dragged a hand over my face, exhaling shakily.
No, I'm not done yet.
This isn't over.
I reached for the phone, navigating over to the unknown one.
My fingers hovered for a second before I typed down on it.
Me: Where is she?
The reply didn’t come immediately.
Unknown number: I don’t know.
My brows pulled together.
Me: What do you mean you don’t know?
A second passed without a response. Then:
Unknown number: She was moved before you got there.
My chest tightened again. So he really didn’t know. Or he was lying.
I didn’t have the strength to figure out which.
So I let the phone drop beside me, letting my body sink deeper into the mattress as exhaustion finally dragged me under…
I don’t know how long I slept, maybe an hour or so.
Maybe less. But when I woke up, my head felt heavy and my thoughts came slower.
My hand reached blindly for the phone and there was a new message from the unknown number.
I frowned slightly as I opened it and I shot up straight immediately.
Unknown number: Dante will be captured tonight.
Dante’s POV
Something felt… lighter.
Not enough to notice if you weren’t paying attention. But I was.
“Careful,” Nico muttered as I passed him a file. “You’re starting to look like a decent human being.”
I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. “Don’t push it.”
He smirked slightly, watching me. “You’re in a good mood.”
“I’m in a normal mood.”
“Since when?” He asked and I didn’t answer that.
I didn’t need to, I just shrugged and flashed him a smile with a nod.
The rest of the morning went smoothly. Too smoothly.
Meetings wrapped up faster than usual and conversations felt strangely easier.
Even the tension that usually lingered in the room felt… thinner.
My secretary hesitated at the door at one point. “You seem… different today.”
I raised a brow. “That a complaint?”
She shook her head quickly. “No, sir.”
“Then don’t worry about it,” I replied with a smile.
By the time evening rolled in, I was already done much earlier than usual.
Nothing pressing came up, nothing urgent.
So I left.
As I walked out, my mind went to Valentina. I hadn't spoken to her since I took the kids away, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't want to see my face now
I got in and drove down to the hotel. I walked by as everywhere felt warm today.
I lingered at her door, but kicked against the idea at the last second, maybe tomorrow.
I walked past and into my room, pouring myself a drink and letting the burn settle in my throat as I leaned back, loosening my tie slightly.
I remained relaxed and alone till around ten when faint sounds drifted up from below.
Cars, much more than usual.
I glanced towards the window, frowning slightly.
Who checks into this particular hotel at this hour?
But I shrugged and ignored it.
Ten minutes later, I stretched out on the bed, letting my eyes close briefly.
Then, a knock pulled me out of the sleep.
My eyes opened immediately with another knock following.
I sat up slowly, frowning.
“I didn’t order anything,” I called out.
“Room service,” a voice replied.
“I said I didn’t order anything.”
A pause. Then another knock, more insistent this time.
My expression hardened. “Go away.”
Silence.
Then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I reached under the pillow, pulling out my gun as I stood.
The knocking continued as I moved towards the door.
“Who is it?” I asked in a low voice.
No one said a word, then, a familiar voice spoke calmly.
“Long time no see, Dante.”
Everything in me froze at that voice before my grip tightened around the gun.
But just as I was about to react—
A bang exploded through the door.