The world cracked open around them. The red glow from the broken floor surged upward in wild beams, filling the chamber with searing heat. Chains rattled from the abyss below, their clang like the heartbeat of some imprisoned beast.
Aria clutched Nino and Nico against her chest, shielding their faces as burning ash fell from the ceiling. She screamed over the roar, her voice hoarse and desperate. "Luca!"
But Luca could not answer.
Adrian lunged at him, blade raised, his grin split wide with madness. "Your blood will seal it, Moretti! Your line ends with me!"
Luca fired. The bullet tore across Adrian's shoulder, spinning him back with a spray of blood. But the man only laughed, his eyes shining brighter, almost unhuman in the scarlet light.
Luca moved fast, shoving Nico into Aria's arms through the broken bars. He bent low, his lips brushing Aria's ear, his words ragged and fierce. "Hold them. Don't let go. No matter what happens."
Her fingers clutched his face, her eyes wet with terror. "Don't you dare leave me, Luca."
He kissed her, hard and quick, then spun back just as Adrian charged again.
The clash was thunder. Luca blocked the downward stab with his gun, steel grinding against steel. The knife sparked as Adrian pushed, his strength wild, almost inhuman.
"You cannot fight destiny!" Adrian roared, spittle flying, his face twisted with rage. "Your blood is cursed! It ends tonight!"
Luca's teeth gritted. His arm shook as the knife pressed closer, scraping down the barrel of his gun. "I make my own destiny," he growled. With a savage kick, he knocked Adrian back, firing again.
The shot grazed Adrian's ribs. He staggered but did not fall. Instead, he laughed, blood staining his teeth. "Yes! Bleed with me, Moretti! The door hungers!"
The floor cracked wider, the molten glow blinding now. One of the stone slabs gave way with a deafening crash, falling into the abyss. Fire roared up, searing the walls.
Enzo shouted, dragging Matteo away from the collapsing edge. "We can't hold this chamber, boss! It's breaking apart!"
"Hold the line!" Luca barked, his eyes never leaving Adrian.
Aria sobbed, holding her sons tighter as the bars bent under the heat. Nico cried against her chest, Nino buried his face in her neck. "Mama, I'm scared."
She kissed their heads, whispering between tears. "Don't be afraid, babies. Your papa is here. He'll save us."
But her heart trembled. She had never seen Luca like this, desperate, burning, cornered by a man who looked more monster than human.
Adrian swung again, the blade slashing across Luca's arm. Blood sprayed, sizzling as it hit the glowing floor. The symbols pulsed brighter. The chamber seemed to sigh, hungry.
Aria screamed. "No!"
Luca gritted his teeth, ignoring the burn, and slammed his fist into Adrian's jaw. The man stumbled, but his grin only widened, red staining his lips.
"Yes… bleed more. Every drop feeds the door!"
Enzo fired, the bullet striking Adrian's side. He barely flinched. Instead, he caught one of his own men by the throat and threw him into the pit, the man's screams echoing as chains rose to drag him under.
The chamber trembled harder.
Aria gasped, horror twisting her insides. What is he summoning?
Luca knew this had to end now. He charged, slamming Adrian into the wall, gun pressed against his head. "This is over."
Adrian laughed, his voice echoing. "Yes. It is."
Before Luca could pull the trigger, Adrian stabbed upward. The blade sliced deep into Luca's side, the steel twisting under his ribs.
Luca's eyes widened. His gun slipped. Blood poured hot and fast down his torso.
Aria's scream ripped through the chamber. "LUCA!"
He staggered, falling to one knee, the knife still buried in his flesh. His vision blurred, the red glow blinding him.
Adrian stood above him, dripping with blood and triumph. "The king bleeds. The door opens. And the Moretti line dies with him."
He yanked the blade free, raising it for the killing blow.
Aria moved before she thought. She shoved Nico into Enzo's arms through the broken bars. "Take them! Protect them!"
"Aria, no!" Enzo shouted, but she was already gone.
She hurled herself through the bent iron, tearing her dress on jagged metal, her skin slicing open. She hit the ground running, the heat burning her lungs.
"Get away from him!" she screamed.
Adrian turned, just in time for Aria to smash into him. They both crashed to the floor, the knife skittering away. Aria clawed at his face, her nails digging into his skin, her fury wild.
"You will not take him from me! You will not take my family!"
Adrian roared, throwing her off, but the delay was enough.
Luca, bleeding and shaking, pushed himself to his feet. His hand clutched his side, his face pale, but his eyes burned with fury.
He picked up his gun.
Adrian grabbed Aria by the throat, dragging her up with one hand. She kicked and fought, gasping as his grip tightened.
"Stupid woman," he hissed. "You'll die first. He'll watch you bleed before his last breath."
Luca fired. The bullet tore through Adrian's arm, forcing him to drop her.
Aria stumbled back, coughing, tears streaming down her face.
Luca's voice was low, lethal. "You don't touch her. Ever."
Adrian snarled, holding his bleeding arm, but his grin never faded. He backed toward the glowing circle, raising his hands as if to embrace the fire.
"You think you've won? Fool. The ritual is already alive. Your blood has fed it. Even if you kill me, the door will open, and what waits below will rise."
The floor split wider. A massive chain, thick as a tree trunk, shot up from the abyss, smashing into the ceiling. Dust rained down, stones cracked, and the sound of something pulling, something dragging, filled the chamber.
Nino screamed. "Mama!"
Aria caught him, pulling him into her arms as the ground shook.
Luca staggered, his gun still raised, his body weak from blood loss. His vision blurred, but his will did not break.
He would not fall. Not here. Not with his sons watching. Not with Aria's eyes on him.
Adrian raised his arms higher, laughing like a prophet in flames. "Do you hear it, Moretti? The chains fall. The beast wakes. And when it rises, your name will burn from history!"
The stone beneath him cracked wide, fire and smoke swallowing his feet. His grin was the last thing visible before the abyss pulled him under.
The roar that followed shook the earth.
The chain ripped free from the floor, snapping upward. A massive clawed hand, black as night and glowing with fire veins, gripped the edge of the chamber.
The fortress shook as if the world itself was breaking.
Aria clutched the twins, her screams lost in the roar. "Luca!"
Luca's eyes widened, horror twisting his chest. He raised his gun, but the monster was already climbing.
The beast was coming.
And Luca was bleeding out.