Adriana's POV
"Alessio!"
The scream tore itself from my throat before I even realized I had moved.
A deafening gunshot echoed through the hallway, sharp enough to make the marble walls tremble.
Time slowed to a crawl.
I saw the flash from the attacker's pistol, the trail of smoke curling into the air, and Alessio standing directly in its path.
My body reacted before my mind could.
I shoved him with every ounce of strength I had.
A burning pain exploded across my shoulder.
I stumbled backward, crashing hard against the wall. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs.
For a heartbeat, everything went silent.
Then warmth trickled down my arm.
I looked down.
Blood. My blood.
The bullet hadn't struck my chest, but it had torn through the top of my shoulder.
It burned like fire.
"Adriana!"
Alessio's voice was unlike anything I had ever heard.
Not calm.
Not commanding.
Terrified.
His pistol fired almost instinctively, forcing the attacker to retreat behind a pillar as the guards rushed forward.
The hallway erupted into chaos—boots pounding against marble, shouted orders, and more gunfire echoing through the mansion.
But I barely heard any of it.
The only thing I saw was Alessio.
He reached me in seconds, dropping to one knee in front of me.
His gloved hands cupped my face before they hurried to my injured shoulder.
His eyes widened at the sight of blood soaking through my sleeve.
"No..." he whispered.
His fingers trembled.
Actually trembled.
I stared at him in disbelief.
This was the same man who could face rival mafia families without blinking.
The same Don whose name alone made powerful men lower their eyes.
Yet now...
He looked utterly shaken.
"I'm okay," I managed, forcing a weak smile.
"It's just my shoulder."
"Don't."
His voice cracked.
"Don't tell me you're okay."
I reached for his hand.
"I'm still here."
His jaw tightened.
"You shouldn't have done that."
"If I hadn't..."
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"...that bullet would've hit you."
He closed his eyes for a brief moment.
When he opened them again, they glistened with emotions he rarely allowed anyone to see.
"You could've died."
"So could you."
For a second, neither of us spoke.
The battle around us continued, but it felt distant.
As though the world had faded away, leaving only the two of us.
Alessio brushed a loose curl away from my face.
"You never listen to me."
I couldn't help laughing softly despite the pain.
"You noticed?"
His lips curved into the faintest smile.
"It drives me insane."
"Good."
He shook his head, almost amused.
"You're impossible."
"And yet..."
I gently squeezed his hand.
"...you married me."
His smile disappeared almost instantly, replaced by something deeper.
"I didn't just marry you."
His thumb brushed against my cheek.
"I fell in love with you."
The words stole the air from my lungs.
He had never said them.
Not like this.
Not so openly.
For a long moment, I simply stared at him.
The ruthless Don...
The man feared across Italy.....was looking at me as though I was the only thing keeping him alive.
My eyes filled with tears.
"I love you too."
The confession slipped out before I could stop it.
His breath caught.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
He rested his forehead against mine.
"I've waited so long to hear those words."
"I was scared."
"So was I."
"You?"
He let out a quiet laugh.
"Every day."
The admission stunned me.
"I've faced bullets, betrayals, and wars," he murmured.
"But nothing has ever frightened me more than the thought of losing you."
My heart shattered and healed all at once.
I wrapped my uninjured arm around his neck.
"I'm not going anywhere."
He closed the distance between us, capturing my lips in a gentle kiss.
Unlike the desperate one we'd shared earlier, this kiss was slow.
Tender.
Filled with everything neither of us had ever known how to say.
It lasted only a few seconds.
Yet it felt like an eternity.
A shout from the staircase broke us apart.
"Boss!"
One of Alessio's men sprinted toward us.
"They're pushing through the west wing!"
Alessio immediately stood.
The softness vanished from his face, replaced by the composed authority of the Don.
He looked at two guards.
"Stay with her."
"I'm coming with you," I protested.
"No."
"I'm not helpless."
"I know."
"Then why—"
"Because if I have to choose between winning this fight..."
His eyes locked onto mine.
"...or making sure you're safe..."
He stepped closer.
"...I'll choose you every single time."
Heat rushed to my cheeks despite everything happening around us.
"That's unfair."
"I've never claimed to fight fair."
A tiny smile escaped me.
"You really are impossible."
"So I've been told."
Before either of us could say another word, another explosion rocked the mansion.
The chandelier above us swayed violently.
Dust drifted from the ceiling.
A guard cursed under his breath.
"They've breached the inner courtyard!"
Alessio's expression hardened.
"They're trying to split us."
One of the older guards nodded grimly.
"It looks coordinated, Boss."
Alessio glanced at me one last time.
His hand found mine.
He intertwined our fingers.
"If anything changes..."
He kissed my knuckles.
"...promise you'll listen this time."
I hated making promises I knew I couldn't keep.
But seeing the concern in his eyes...
I nodded.
"I promise."
He gave my hand one final squeeze before turning away.
Watching him walk toward the smoke-filled corridor made my chest tighten painfully.
He never looked back.
He didn't have to.
He trusted I'd be behind him.
Just as I trusted he'd return to me.
I leaned against the wall, pressing my hand over my injured shoulder while the guards formed a protective circle around me.
The mansion echoed with distant gunfire.
Minutes crawled by..
Every shot made my heart stop.
Then...
Silence.
An unnatural silence.
One of the guards frowned.
"Something's wrong."
Before anyone could react—
A hidden door at the end of the hallway creaked open.
A masked figure stepped out, unnoticed by everyone except me.
He wasn't aiming at the guards.
He wasn't aiming at Alessio.
His gun....was pointed directly at me..