The drive to the new safehouse was long and silent. Rain streaked across the windshield, blurring the world outside into shades of gray. Damian's hands gripped the steering wheel, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Alessia sat beside him, her thoughts a storm of their own.
They had left the villa before dawn, escorted by two black SUVs. The convoy moved like shadows through the countryside, avoiding main roads, avoiding attention. Damian hadn't said where they were going—only that it was safer than anywhere else.
When they finally arrived, the place looked nothing like the cold luxury of the villa. It was an old estate tucked deep in the hills, surrounded by vineyards and silence. The kind of place where time seemed to stop.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of cedar and rain. Damian gave quick orders to his men, then turned to her. "You'll stay here until I say otherwise."
Alessia crossed her arms. "You keep saying that, but you never tell me what's really happening."
He looked at her for a long moment, then said quietly, "Because the truth will hurt you."
She met his gaze, unflinching. "Then let it."
Before he could answer, Luca entered, his expression grim. "We have a problem."
Damian's attention snapped to him. "What kind of problem?"
Luca hesitated, glancing at Alessia. "It's about the hit on the mansion. We traced the payment."
Damian's voice dropped. "Who?"
Luca's eyes flicked to Alessia again. "Her father."
The words hit like a gunshot. Alessia froze, her breath catching in her throat. "That's not possible."
Damian's expression didn't change, but something dark flickered behind his eyes. "Show me."
Luca handed him a folder. Inside were bank transfers, coded messages, and a photograph—her father meeting with a man Damian had once called an enemy.
Alessia shook her head, her voice breaking. "No. He wouldn't do that. He made peace with you."
Damian's tone was cold. "Peace built on lies."
She stepped closer, desperate. "You don't know that. This could be a setup."
He looked at her, his voice low and dangerous. "You think I don't want to believe that? But the evidence doesn't lie."
Tears burned her eyes. "So what now? You kill him?"
"If he's behind this," Damian said, "he's already dead."
She flinched. "You can't—"
"I can," he cut in sharply. "He tried to have you killed, Alessia. You were standing beside me when the bullet hit the wall. That wasn't a warning—it was a message."
Her voice trembled. "Then let me talk to him. Please. If you go there angry, you'll do something you can't undo."
Damian's jaw tightened. "You think I haven't already?"
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Finally, he turned to Luca. "Get the car ready."
Alessia's heart dropped. "Damian, please—"
He looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Stay here. Don't follow me."
But she knew she would.
Because no matter how much she wanted to hate him, she couldn't let him walk into her father's house with murder in his eyes.
And deep down, she feared what would be left of either man when the night was over.