HELENA'S POV
Everything happened too fast, Gunshots. Shouting. Chaos.
My ears rang as I dropped to my knees, covering my head. I couldn't think, couldn't breathe, everything blurred into pure fear.
"Helena!"
Vincenzo's voice Sharp, Panicked.
I looked up Big mistake.
A hand grabbed me from behind Rough, Violent. I screamed as my body was yanked backward, a gun pressed hard against my temple.
"Don't move!" Nathan barked, his arm locking around me.
My entire body froze My breath hitched.
Oh God. Oh God.
"Oh, this just got interesting," Nathan chuckled darkly, tightening his grip. "Drop the gun, Esposito."
Everything stopped. Every single man in the room went still. Vincenzo didn't move But his eyes,I had never seen anything like it before.
Not anger.
Not rage.
Something worse.
Something deadly.
"Let her go," he said quietly.
Too quietly.
Nathan laughed.
"Or what? You'll shoot me?" he mocked, pressing the gun harder against my head. "Go on. Let's see how that works out for her."
My hands trembled as I gripped Nathan's arm.
"P-please…" I whispered, tears spilling. "Let me go…"
"Shut up," he snapped.
Vincenzo took a step forward Immediately
"Stop!" Nathan shouted. The gun pressed harder.
I whimpered. And that was it, That was the moment everything changed.
Vincenzo froze. Actually froze.
Like my pain mattered more than killing his enemy.
"Smart girl," Nathan smirked. "You see? You're powerful, sweetheart. More than you think."
I shook my head weakly.
"I don't want this…"
"Oh, but you're already in it," he whispered near my ear.
My stomach twisted in disgust.
"Now," Nathan continued, louder. "Drop the gun."
Silence.
Heavy.
Deadly.
Vincenzo's fingers tightened around his weapon. For a second, I thought he wouldn't do it. For a second, I thought he would choose pride.
Power. War. But then The gun slipped from his hand And hit the floor.
My breath caught.
He chose me.
Jason cursed under his breath. Matteo looked like he was ready to kill someone with his bare hands.
But no one moved.
No one dared.
"Good," Nathan grinned. "Now we're talking."
He started dragging me backward slowly.
"No" I gasped, struggling. "Vincenzo"
"Don't fight him," Vincenzo said quickly.
My eyes snapped to his. His voice softened slightly.
"Stay still, kitten."
That word.
That stupid word.
Why did it make me feel safer even now?
"I swear to God, Nathan," Vincenzo continued, his tone turning ice cold, "if you touch her"
"You'll what?" Nathan cut in, amused. "Cry?"
That was it. I saw it, The shift.
Vincenzo's jaw clenched. His eyes darkened even more And for the first time He looked unstable.
"You have no idea what you just did," he said quietly.
Nathan smirked. "I think I do. I found your weakness."
"No," Vincenzo replied slowly. His lips curved slightly. Dangerously.
"You just signed your death sentence."
Everything happened in a blink. A loud BANG echoed But it didn't come from Vincenzo. It came from behind Nathan. One of Vincenzo's men, The bullet hit Nathan's arm.
He cursed loudly, his grip loosening And that was all Vincenzo needed. In seconds He moved, Fast, Terrifying. He grabbed me, pulling me away so hard I crashed into his chest.
Another gunshot.
Then another.
I screamed, clinging to him as chaos exploded again.
"Get her out of here!" Vincenzo roared.
Jason rushed forward instantly, grabbing my arm.
"No!" I cried, holding onto Vincenzo's shirt. "I'm not leaving you!"
His eyes snapped to mine. For a split second Everything else disappeared.
"You don't get a choice," he said firmly.
Then softer "Go."
I shook my head, tears falling.
"I.."
"Go, Helena!"
His voice this time?
Terrifying.
Jason didn't wait. He dragged me away as I fought weakly, my eyes still locked on Vincenzo. The last thing I saw Was him turning back toward Nathan.
Gun raised.
Eyes empty.
Ready to kill.
VINCENZO'S POV
They touched her.
They touched her.
That was their mistake.
Their last mistake.
Nathan staggered back, clutching his bleeding arm, laughing like a man who had lost his mind.
"You're slipping, Esposito," he taunted. "All this… for a girl?"
I walked toward him slowly. Calm. Too calm.
"You came into my house," I said quietly.
A step closer.
"You killed my people."
Another step.
"You put your hands on what's mine."
My grip tightened on the gun.
"And you think you're walking out alive?"
Nathan smirked, blood staining his shirt.
"Try me."
I didn't hesitate.
HELENA'S POV
Jason dragged me into a locked room upstairs. I was shaking, Crying My whole body felt weak.
"Stay here," he said quickly. "Don't move."
Then he left And just like that I was alone again. But this time I knew something, Something terrifying, Something I couldn't ignore anymore. Vincenzo didn't just want me He would destroy anyone, everyone for me.
I couldn't sit still. I tried. God knows I tried.
But my legs kept moving, my hands wouldn't stop shaking, and my heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest.
Gunshots had stopped. That was the scariest part.
Silence.
Dead silence.
"Vincenzo…" I whispered, my voice barely there.
I walked toward the door.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like something on the other side was waiting to swallow me whole. My hand touched the handle. I hesitated Then I opened it. The hallway was empty, Too empty. The kind of empty that made your skin crawl. I stepped out, my bare feet cold against the marble floor, my breathing uneven as I moved toward the stairs.
Each step felt heavier.
Slower.
Like my body already knew what my eyes were about to see.
When I reached the bottom I froze. Blood and bodies Everywhere. Men I had seen walking around just hours ago now lifeless on the ground.
My stomach twisted violently. I covered my mouth, trying not to throw up.
"Helena."
My head snapped up.
Vincenzo.
He stood in the middle of it all.
Untouched.
Unbothered.
Like the chaos around him belonged to him. His shirt was stained with blood, some his, most not. His gun still hung loosely in his hand.
His eyes found mine and for a second they softened.
"You weren't supposed to come down," he said.
I didn't answer. I couldn't. My eyes moved past him.
Searching.
"Where's Nathan?" I asked quietly.
Silence.
That was my answer.
My chest tightened.
"You killed him…"
It wasn't a question.
Vincenzo didn't deny it. Didn't confirm it, He just watched me. Like he was waiting, Waiting to see if I would break And I did.
"What is wrong with you?" I whispered, my voice shaking. "You just kill people like it's nothing."
His expression darkened slightly.
"They came into my house," he replied calmly.
"That doesn't make it okay!" I snapped, my voice rising. "You don't get to decide who lives and who dies!"
"I do."
The words hit me like a slap.
Cold.
Certain.
Terrifying.
I shook my head, stepping back.
"No… no, you don't understand, this isn't normal, Vincenzo! This isn't"
"Normal?" he cut in, his tone sharpening. "You think your world is normal, Helena?"
I flinched.
"You think men like Nathan exist in your world? You think the law protects you from people like him?"
I didn't answer.
Because deep down I knew he was right.
"That man," he continued, stepping closer, "was going to take you from me. Torture you. Break you."
My breath caught.
"And you're standing here," he added, his voice lowering, "questioning why I stopped him?"
Tears filled my eyes.
"That doesn't make this right," I whispered.
His jaw clenched.
"Right?" he repeated.
A bitter smile touched his lips.
"There is no right or wrong in my world, kitten."
Another step closer.
"Only survival."
I shook my head, backing away until I hit the wall.
"I don't belong here," I said, my voice breaking. "I don't belong in this… this life."
For a moment He said nothing. Just stared at me. Then slowly he walked closer, Too close His hand reached up and wiped a tear from my cheek, Gentle, Too gentle for someone like him.
"You belong wherever I am," he said quietly.
My heart twisted painfully.
"No," I whispered. "That's not how this works."
His eyes darkened again.
"It is now."
I pushed his hand away.
"I'm not something you can just own!" I snapped, anger finally breaking through the fear. "I'm not your property, Vincenzo!"
Something flashed in his eyes.
Dangerous.
Hurt.
Possessive.
"You keep saying that," he muttered.
Before I could react he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. My breath hitched as I collided with his chest.
"You think I don't see the way you look at me?" he said, his voice low. "The way your body reacts to me?"
My heart pounded wildly.
"That doesn't mean anything," I shot back, even though my voice betrayed me.
"It means everything," he replied.
His hand moved to my chin, tilting my face up.
"Because no matter how much you fight it…" he whispered,
"You're already mine."
I stared at him.
Conflicted.
Angry.
Scared.
And worst of all not completely denying it, That terrified me more than anything.
"Say it," he murmured.
My brows furrowed.
"Say what?"
"That you don't feel anything for me."
Silence.
My throat went dry because for the first time I couldn't.
His lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
Something deeper.
More dangerous.
"I thought so," he said softly.
Suddenly Jason's voice cut through the moment.
"Boss."
We both turned. Jason stood a few steps away, his expression serious.
"We didn't find Nathan's body."
Everything went still. My stomach dropped.
"What?" I whispered.
Vincenzo's entire demeanor changed instantly.
Cold.
Deadly.
Focused.
"He escaped," Jason continued.
Silence.
Heavy.
Explosive.
Vincenzo slowly turned his head toward me and the look in his eyes this time?
Pure danger.
"For the next few days," he said quietly,
"You don't leave my sight."
My heart started racing again because something told me this wasn't over, Not even close.