#49 - Powerless

#49 - Powerless
Vincenzo Leone

The roar of the explosion tore through the walls of the Cúpula, swallowing the murmuring of the political discussion that was taking place backstage, far from our eyes and ears during the pause.

The sound was violent, unprecedented. The floor vibrated intensely beneath my feet, the lamp exploding over my head. It seemed like a door to hell had just opened in the parking lot.

My mind stopped functioning as a Don who analyzed and considered calculating the damage, the territory, the soldiers, and returned to functioning as a protective man in a panic. A raw fear hit me, a rage that hammered in the pit of my stomach. I had just kissed her, felt her mine again, after almost losing her. If I lost her there, it would be my failure, my responsibility for having left her alone.

I didn't have to search long; I saw Victoria emerge accompanied by Luca, heading towards me. Since the incident with Victoria being taken hostage, she has been staying at the mansion as a way to provide support after the trauma of the false accusation.

"What is happening? Where is Caterina?!" I yelled, my voice hoarse, almost a growl that tore through me.

"Don, we were leaving, and a car exploded!" Luca shouted, pale. "Then another, and then one inside the Cúpula."

"It was at the entrance!" Victoria yelled, pointing desperately.

We ran to the Main Hall, but it was too late. Chaos had set in. Leaders were screaming, trying to protect themselves, women were crying. Smoke clogged the airways and blocked the vision.

My eyes frantically swept the confusion. Where? Where was she? The panic was suffocating, and I saw myself about to lose my head. Then I ran, went back to where we were before.

And then, I saw her.

Near the main entrance, where the windows overlooked the street, was Caterina. But she wasn't alone.

I found her at the entrance, protected by Adrian Monti.

He had hugged her, pushing her behind a heavy column, using his own body as a shield. He was hunched over her, protecting her from the rain of glass that hit his back.

I felt a sudden, immense relief, so much so that for a second, I was paralyzed. Relief. She was alive. It didn't matter how or with whom.

But as I approached, I saw that Adrian was not in good shape.

When he stood up, staggering, I saw the damage. He was covered in soot and small cuts, bleeding on his shoulder and face. He hadn't calculated the risk; he had acted on pure instinct, putting himself in front of her.

Adrian had protected Caterina during the explosion and was seriously injured. He did what I should have done.
I witnessed the Don I despised become a man, a truth more jarring than the blast. He protected her.

This image hit me like a punch to the gut. Adrian, the man I despised, the weak Don... he threw himself over her. I had to admit: it wasn't the action of a Don. It was the action of a man, the only thing left in him.

This made me rethink the attitudes I would take from then on.

Caterina gently pushed him away. She was always the first to act. Her mind was in crisis medic mode. She was already inspecting his body like a paramedic.

"He's full of shrapnel! Vic, help me!" she ordered.

"Take off his suit, Cat. Vincenzo, we need a stretcher and medical supplies, now!" Victoria ordered with her medical knowledge, and Luca and I went to get help.

No one was thinking about fights or divorce; now it was a survival method amidst an attack. This was not something we could predict, but something dark was happening to have the second attack in such a short time.

Measures had to be taken quickly. But now, what mattered was getting people out of there, safe.

I gave orders to my security chief and knelt beside them, helping where I could while the soldiers patrolled, trying to find other sources of explosion.

We didn't know if the worst had passed, and the situation was desperate.

"What exploded?" Caterina asked.

"Some cars!" Luca confirmed. "And some bomb was planted here at the entrance, so we better move to a safe zone."

As we dragged Adrian to a safer area, we heard two more distant bangs, in quick succession. Boom. Boom.

Victoria shuddered. Adrian moaned in pain, and Caterina had a static look that no longer expected the worst in anything. She was having days of terror one after another.

"That wasn't an accident," Victoria whispered. "That was an attack. Against the Cúpula or someone who is here. Something serious is happening, Vincenzo."

We looked at each other. Someone wanted the meeting of leaders to end in blood and chaos. The war had been declared since the day of the ball meeting, where Caterina and I kissed for the first time.

I looked at Caterina after they had tended to Adrian's injuries, who was resting as much as possible. She was going to follow Victoria to help with the rescues, but that was too risky.

"Stay close to me. You are mine, Caterina. I can't lose you, do you understand?"

"I need to help Victoria organize the rescue," she insisted, but she squeezed my hand. "The injured need help, and I know what to do with her. I learned a lot helping her in college. Luca will take care of Adrian, we will go to the injured."

I nodded, and we ran in the opposite direction. I watched them act quickly, feeling momentarily powerless just carrying a gun. This was a war zone, and vigilance was necessary at all times.

Victoria and Caterina moved towards the main door, which was now dismantled, while I guarded them.

But as they went, something caught their attention. They stopped abruptly at the destroyed entrance.

They were staring at something out there, in the smoke. Something they didn't expect to see.