Chapter 75

Chapter 75
Sofia's POV

The cell was cold and small.
No windows. No light except for the thin crack under the door.

I sat on the concrete floor, hands bound in front of me, wrists burning. The only sound was the dripping of water somewhere in the dark. Every few minutes, I thought I heard footsteps — but they never came close enough to see who they belonged to.

It was almost a relief when the door finally opened.

The man stepped inside, still calm, still smiling like this was a business meeting and not my prison.

“You’ve been quiet,” he said. “Thinking about him?”

I didn’t answer.

He crouched in front of me, resting his elbows on his knees. “You know, I admire him. The way he looks at you. The way he’d rather die than lose you.”

I glared at him. “Then you know what’s coming for you.”

He laughed softly. “Oh, I do. That’s why this is fun.”

He reached out, brushing his fingers along the rope around my wrists. I jerked away.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Relax,” he said. “You’ll see him soon enough. I made sure of that.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

He stood, straightening his coat. “He’s already on his way. My men have been tracking him since he left the river. Brave, but predictable. He always runs toward you — never away.”

My heart skipped. “If you hurt him—”

“Don’t worry,” he said, turning to the door. “I won’t kill him yet. Not until you ask me to.”

He left before I could speak. The door slammed shut, and I was alone again — shaking, furious, and more terrified than I wanted to admit.

Somewhere beyond the walls, thunder rolled. The sound reminded me of the gunfight, of Luca’s voice shouting my name as they dragged me away.

He’d said he’d find me.
And I believed him.

Still, as the hours crawled by, my thoughts turned sharp. What if they caught him? What if he walked into a trap?

I closed my eyes, whispering his name. “Luca… please be careful.”

Miles away, under the cover of rain, Luca stood in the back of a stolen jeep with Diego at the wheel. His face was cut and bruised, eyes bloodshot but determined.

“Are you sure she’s there?” Diego asked.

“She’s there,” Luca said quietly. “It’s her father’s estate. He’s taunting us.”

Alessandro, pale but conscious, leaned forward from the passenger seat. “Then we hit hard and fast. In and out before they know it.”

Luca shook his head. “No. We go quiet. If he thinks he’s in control, I’ll make him believe it — until it’s too late.”

Diego smirked. “Classic De Rossi move.”

Luca checked his gun. “This isn’t business. It’s personal.”

He looked out at the storm. His voice dropped, raw and low. “He took her once. I’m not letting it happen again.”

Back in the cell, I pulled at the ropes again until my wrists bled. I didn’t care. I had to get out.

The door creaked open without warning. Two guards stepped inside.

“On your feet,” one said.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked.

“Orders,” the other replied. “Move.”

They grabbed my arms and dragged me down the hallway. My feet barely touched the ground. We turned a corner, and I froze — the main hall.

It was lit now, full of armed men. The man stood at the center, smiling like a host welcoming guests.

“Bring her here,” he said.

They shoved me forward. I stumbled, but didn’t fall.

“Your timing’s perfect,” he said. “He’s almost here.”

I frowned. “Luca?”

He nodded. “You didn’t think I’d let him sneak in without an audience, did you?”

My stomach dropped. “You set a trap.”

He smiled wider. “Of course. You’re the bait.”

I glared at him, my heart pounding. “You’ll regret it.”

He stepped closer. “You still think he’s your savior. I wonder what you’ll think when he dies for you again.”

“I won’t let you touch him.”

He chuckled. “You’ll be too busy watching.”

I didn’t get to answer. Gunfire erupted outside.

The man turned sharply. “Positions!” he barked. “He’s here!”

Everything happened fast — shouting, boots pounding, bullets tearing through glass. I dropped behind a pillar, covering my head as chaos exploded around us.

A flash of movement caught my eye — the door bursting open, rain pouring in, and there he was.

Luca.

Soaked, bleeding, furious — and beautiful.

He moved like he’d done this a thousand times. Every shot precise, every breath a promise. Diego covered his flank while Alessandro dragged himself in behind them.

“Find her!” Luca shouted.

“Here!” I screamed.

He turned at my voice. The second his eyes found me, everything else disappeared.

“Sofia!”

He ran toward me, shooting two guards who tried to block his path. One grabbed me from behind; Luca fired without hesitation. The man dropped, and Luca reached me, hands grabbing my face.

“Are you okay?” he asked, breathless.

I nodded, tears blurring my sight. “You came.”

“Of course I came.” His thumb brushed my cheek. “I told you I would.”

He cut the rope at my wrists, his hands shaking. “Can you walk?”

“I can run,” I said.

He grinned. “That’s my girl.”

Behind us, the man shouted, “Don’t let them leave!”

More gunfire. Luca grabbed my hand, pulling me through the hall. We dodged bullets, sliding behind broken furniture. Diego yelled from the doorway, “Back exit’s clear— for now!”

Luca pulled me against the wall, checking the corridor. “Stay behind me.”

“I’m not leaving you again,” I said.

He met my eyes, voice low and steady. “Then we get out together.”

We started down the hall, but the man stepped out from the shadows ahead, gun raised. “Leaving so soon?”

Luca pushed me behind him. “It’s over. You’ve lost.”

The man smirked. “You still don’t get it. You walked right where I wanted you.”

He pressed a button on a small remote.

The floor beneath us trembled — then exploded.

The blast threw us backward. I hit the ground hard, coughing through smoke. My ears rang. I reached for Luca, but my vision was blurry.

“Luca!”

Through the haze, I saw him struggling to get up, blood on his arm. “I’m fine!” he shouted. “Run!”

“I’m not leaving you!”

The man’s laughter echoed through the smoke. “How many times will you risk everything for her, De Rossi? She’s the weakness that will destroy you.”

Luca fired blindly into the smoke. “You talk too much!”

The man dodged, then aimed his gun—right at me.

Luca saw it happen. He lunged forward, pushing me aside just as the shot fired. The bullet grazed his shoulder, spinning him around.

I screamed. “Luca!”

He fell to one knee, clutching the wound.

The man stepped closer, gun still aimed. “I told you this would end here.”

Luca tried to lift his weapon, but his hand trembled.

I moved before I could think. I grabbed the fallen gun near my feet and pointed it at the man. “Step away from him.”

He turned, smiling. “You won’t shoot me.”

“Try me,” I said, hands shaking but firm.

He took a step forward. “You don’t have it in you.”

“Want to bet?” I hissed.

For a second, no one moved. Then a distant sound broke through the silence — engines. Dozens of them.

The man’s smirk faltered.

Luca lifted his head, a faint smile forming. “That’s not me,” he said. “That’s my backup.”

The man’s eyes widened.

Before he could react, the front gates exploded inward. Black cars flooded the courtyard, headlights cutting through the smoke. Armed De Rossi men poured in, shouting orders.

Luca grinned through the blood. “Told you I don’t come alone.”

The man backed away slowly, disappearing into the chaos.

I dropped beside Luca, wrapping my arms around him. “You’re bleeding—”

“I’m fine,” he said, breathing hard. “You’re what matters.”

“Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

He smiled weakly. “Can’t promise that.”

I pressed my forehead to his, tears mixing with rain. “You found me.”

“Always,” he whispered. “You’re my reason to keep breathing.”

Before I could answer, a shout came from behind. “Grenade!”

Luca’s eyes widened. He pushed me down, covering me with his body as the explosion tore through the hall.

The shockwave hit, blinding light and fire filling the air—

And everything went silent.