Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

M assimo

T hey weren't messing with any shipments back here.

I tightened my grip on Sofia's arm, leading her forward all while watching to see what the men were doing by the loading docks. Her breath was quick and shallow, and I could feel the pulse in her wrist racing under my fingers. My own heartbeat thudded loudly in my chest as I watched the group of men. I squinted, my eyes trying to adjust to the faint light, and then I saw it—one of the men crouched down near a column, his hands busy with something small and metallic.

A detonator.

Shit.

I felt a surge of adrenaline shoot through me. They were planting explosives. This wasn't just a power play; it was a goddamn declaration of war.

"Stay behind me," I whispered to Sofia, pressing her back against the wall. Her eyes were wide, but she nodded. I edged forward, careful to keep in the shadows. The men were too absorbed in their task to notice us—for now.

I could make out the shapes more clearly now. There were three of them, all dressed in black, their faces obscured by hoods. One was attaching explosives to the base of a structural column, another was handling wires, and the third kept lookout.

The lookout's gaze swept in our direction, and I pulled Sofia back just in time, flattening us against the wall.

"We have to get everyone out," Sofia whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I know," I said through gritted teeth.

Sofia looked around, her eyes searching for something, and then her eyes narrowed as she found something. "There," she whispered, pointing to a red lever mounted on the wall a few feet away. "If we pull that, it will set off the alarm."

I nodded, impressed by her quick thinking. "Good idea. I'll cover you. Be quick and stay low."

She nodded, determination flaring in her eyes. She took a deep breath, then darted toward the alarm, moving swiftly and silently. I kept my eyes on the men, ready to move if they so much as turned in our direction.

I would have killed every single one of them if they even looked at her.

The seconds felt like hours, each one stretched out by the tension that seemed to thicken the air around us. Finally, I saw her hand reach for the lever. I braced myself, holding my breath.

She pulled it.

A blaring siren shattered the silence, piercing through the darkness. The men jumped, their heads snapping around in confusion. I saw them hesitate, their hands still on the detonators, but I didn't.

"Move!" I shouted to Sofia, grabbing her arm as she sprinted back toward me. Together, we ran, my hand gripping hers tightly as we raced down the hallway, the alarm echoing around us, warning everyone inside of the impending dangers.

We had to get everyone out before the explosives went off. I would not let anyone die tonight—not while I still had breath in my body.

As we neared the ballroom doors, I could hear the sound of frantic voices as people began to move. I glanced at Sofia, her face set with grim resolve.

"You did good," I said, my voice low, my gaze locked on hers.

The fire alarm blared through the ballroom, its shrill cry cutting through the panicked murmurs and shouts. Guests were moving toward the exits, but the atmosphere was quickly shifting from confusion to outright fear. I kept Sofia close to me, guiding her through the chaos.

I needed to avoid a stampede.

"Everyone, stay calm!" I called out, my voice authoritative and commanding. "Move to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion. There's no danger if we act quickly."

I could see the fear in people's eyes, their movements hurried and growing increasingly anxious. The lights flickered back on for a moment, but it only seemed to add to the confusion. I glanced back at Sofia, who was helping to guide an elderly couple toward the main exit.

"Keep going," I urged her. "We need to clear this place out fast."

I looked around.

Something wasn't right. This was going too smoothly.

Raffaele's men wouldn't just give up because we pulled the fire alarm. They had a plan, and I was certain that they were going to stick to it, whatever it was.

There had to be something I was missing.

I scanned the room, looking for any signs of trouble. That's when I noticed something—a group of men in security uniforms, standing by the side exits. There were four of them, spread out along the periphery of the ballroom, their postures too stiff, their eyes darting back and forth as if they were looking for something—or someone.

My blood ran cold. I knew those faces. They weren't part of the regular security detail. Raffaele's men had to have disguised themselves as security to blend in. I was familiar with the layout of this place. The closer I watched them, the more it became clear what they were doing. They were trying to redirect the guests, subtly blocking some of the exits and guiding people away from others.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath. "Sofia!" I called out, motioning for her to come back to me.

She hurried over, worry etched on her face. "What is it?"

"Raffaele's men," I said, keeping my voice low as I nodded toward the fake security guards. "They're trying to control the crowd, keep people from leaving."

Her eyes widened as she followed my gaze. "What do we do?"

"Stay close to me," I said, taking her hand. "We're going to have to force them out into the open."

I pushed through the crowd, moving toward the closest exit where one of Raffaele's men was positioned. As we approached, he turned to us, his expression wary.

"Sir, this exit is closed," he said firmly. "Please use one of the other?—"

Before he could finish, I grabbed him by the collar, slamming him against the wall with a force that made him grunt in surprise. "Closed, my ass," I growled. "Who are you working for?"

The man's eyes widened in panic, but he didn't have time to respond before one of his companions noticed and shouted, "Hey!"

Sofia and I turned to see the other security imposters converging on us, their hands moving toward their concealed weapons. The ballroom was too crowded for a shootout—we needed to get everyone out of here, now.

"Get to the main exit!" I shouted to the crowd. "Now! Go!"

The fake security guards moved in, trying to regain control of the crowd. I pushed the man I'd grabbed to the floor, turning just in time to block a punch from one of the others. I slammed my elbow into his jaw, sending him staggering back.

All around me, the guests were beginning to panic in earnest now, shoving past each other in their rush to escape. I saw a couple of Raffaele's men shouting to each other, trying to regroup, but they were getting lost in the fray.

A loud bang echoed through the room, followed by a flash of light and the acrid smell of smoke. I recognized what was happening. Someone had set off a smoke bomb. I cursed under my breath.

The smoke began to thicken, curling up toward the chandeliers, and the harsh stench of chemicals filled the air. Guests continued to push toward the exits, their panic barely contained, but at least they were moving in the right direction.

I kept one eye on Raffaele's men, watching their every move. They were regrouping, huddling near the far wall, their faces hidden behind makeshift masks to protect them from the smoke. I knew they were waiting for something—for the smoke to cover whatever they had planned next. I could feel it in my gut; this was only the beginning.

But as I scanned the room, I saw something else—another man, standing off to the side, near a small utility door. He was dressed like a waiter, but his movements were too precise, too deliberate. He was trying to blend in, but I recognized the way he held himself, the tension in his shoulders. And he wasn't focused on the chaos; he was focused on something else entirely.

Chances were he worked for Raffaele.

"Sofia," I whispered, nodding in his direction. "See him? Near the door?"

She followed my gaze, narrowing her eyes. "Yeah, I see him. What's he doing?"

I watched him carefully, noticing the way his eyes darted around the room, then back to the utility door, as if waiting for a moment when no one was looking. Then it clicked. He was guarding something—or someone.

"He's not trying to help anyone out of here," I murmured. "He's protecting that door. There's something behind it."

Sofia nodded, her expression sharpening with understanding. "You think it's connected to Raffaele's plan?"

"Has to be," I replied. "That door leads to the building's main server room. If they're using this blackout as a distraction, they could be after sensitive data—financial records, political leverage… anything they could use against us or others in this room."

"Or worse," she whispered, eyes widening. "What if they're hacking into the security systems? They could gain access to any number of things—bank accounts, private communications of everyone here… even control of the security cameras and alarm systems."

I felt a surge of anger. Raffaele was always two steps ahead, but not this time. "We can't let them get to that data," I said firmly.

Sofia glanced at the fire extinguisher in her hands, then back at me. "Then we need to move. Fast."

I nodded, making a quick decision. "Follow my lead. Stay close."

I moved swiftly, guiding Sofia toward the utility door. The man guarding it hadn't noticed us yet, his focus still on the crowd. As we approached, I slowed my steps, positioning us just outside his line of sight.

Then I made my move.

In a single, fluid motion, I lunged forward, grabbing the man by the collar and slamming him against the wall. He gasped in shock, but before he could react, I pinned him in place, my forearm pressed against his throat.

"What's behind the door?" I growled, my voice low and dangerous.

The man struggled, his eyes wide with fear, but he didn't answer. He tried to reach for something—a weapon, maybe—but Sofia was faster. She grabbed his wrist and twisted it, forcing him to drop whatever he was holding.

My little badass…

"I'm not going to ask again," I said, tightening my grip. "What are you hiding?"

He gasped for breath, his face turning red. "Alright, alright," he croaked. "There's a team in there. They're accessing the servers… copying data. Financials, communications… everything they can get their hands on."

Sofia's eyes flashed with alarm. "How much time do they have?"

The man swallowed hard. "Minutes… maybe less. They're almost done."

I swore under my breath, then knocked him out with a quick blow to the side of the head. "We don't have much time," I said, turning to Sofia. "We need to get in there, now."

She nodded, her eyes glittering with determination. I pushed the utility door open, revealing a narrow corridor that led to a reinforced door marked ‘Server Room—Authorized Personnel Only.' I could hear the faint hum of machinery inside, mixed with the sound of hushed voices.

I moved forward, pressing my ear to the door, listening. "There are at least three of them," I whispered to Sofia. "Maybe more. They're working fast."

She nodded, understanding the urgency. "We need to disrupt whatever they're doing. If we cut the power to the servers, they'll lose everything they've managed to access."

I grinned, impressed by her quick thinking. For a second, I just stared at her, my cock hardening by the second.

"Smart. You think you can find the power switch?" I said, gathering myself as quickly as I could.

There would be time for fucking later.

"I think so," she replied, already scanning the wall for any indication of the controls. "If I can get to the main breaker, I can shut it all down."

"Good," I said. "I'll handle the men inside. You find the switch."

She nodded again. I felt a surge of pride. This little thing was turning out to be far more than I expected.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself. "On three," I whispered. "One… two… three."

I kicked the door open, rushing inside. The room was filled with racks of servers and computer equipment, and three men turned in surprise at my sudden entrance. I didn't give them a chance to react. I lunged at the nearest one, immediately tackling him to the floor.

Sofia moved swiftly, slipping past us and heading toward the back of the room where the main electrical panel was located. I could see her hands working quickly, searching for the breaker that would kill the power.

One of the men grabbed a crowbar and swung it toward me, but I dodged, slamming my elbow into his jaw and sending him crashing into the server racks. Another came at me with a knife, but I caught his wrist, twisting it until I heard a satisfying crack. He screamed, dropping the blade.

"Sofia, now!" I shouted, struggling to keep the remaining man from reaching her.

She found the breaker and pulled it hard. The room was immediately plunged into darkness, the hum of the servers dying down in an instant. I grabbed Sofia's hand and pulled her out of the server room, knowing that time was of the essence.

I needed to get her out of the building before it went up in flames.

My mind was racing, trying to piece together what I'd just seen. Raffaele's men had been trying to steal sensitive data, but for what purpose? And why now, in the middle of a crowded fundraiser with so many powerful eyes watching?

As we rounded the corner back into the main hallway, I heard a commotion near the front of the ballroom. Guests were still streaming out, but a cluster of them had stopped, their attention focused on something—or someone—near the entrance.

My instincts flared, and I tightened my grip on Sofia's hand, pulling her along with me as we pushed through the crowd until we reached the front.

I stopped cold.

Raffaele, flanked by two of his men, was guiding a tall woman through the double doors at the front of the ballroom.

Fuck. This was bad.

It was Senator Claudia Bianchi. She was the kind of high-profile target that if she went missing, it would make headlines. She and I had come together in a useful alliance a few years back and were still going strong now. What could Raffaele want with her? From the explosives to the data breach to this, my mind was reeling.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath.

Sofia's eyes widened as she followed my gaze. "We can't let him get away."

"Agreed," I said, already moving toward the door.

We pushed through the remaining guests, ignoring their confused looks as we burst out of the venue's main entrance and out into the night. The air was cooler out here. I scanned the parking area in front of the venue, searching for Raffaele. I caught sight of him hustling the senator toward a sleek black car parked near the exit.

"There!" Sofia pointed, and I nodded, pulling her along as we sprinted across the courtyard.

Raffaele was almost at the car, one of his men opening the rear door as they approached. I could hear him speaking in low, urgent tones, but I was too far away to make out the words. I picked up the pace, my heart pounding, my senses on high alert. The senator struggled in their grip, but Raffaele's men tightened their hold, forcing her into the back seat.

We were going to be too late.

Raffaele turned his head and caught my eye, smiling like the joker who had just gotten away with murder. I narrowed my eyes, watching as he slipped into the car.

The vehicle surged forward, and I sprinted after it, but I knew it was too late. Raffaele's face flashed in the rear window, a taunting grin on his lips. The senator, eyes wide with fear, was beside him.

There would be no catching them. Not on foot.

"Damn it!" I roared, frustration boiling over as I watched the car disappear down the narrow street. The darkness swallowed them up, and I knew we had lost our chance to stop him.

Fuck.

Immediately, I turned, racing back to where Sofia stood with wide-eyed guests milling around, panic setting in again. "We have to move—now!" I shouted. "Get everyone as far from the building as possible!"

Sofia nodded once, instantly understanding. She grabbed the man next to her, pulling him along with her, and I began shouting at the remaining guests. "Out of here! Move! Everyone, get out—now!"

But even as we pushed them toward the gates, I heard a low rumble—an ominous sound that made my heart drop.

The explosives.

"Massimo!" Sofia's voice cut through the noise, panic tinging the edges of her words. "We're not far enough!"

Before I could answer, a blinding flash lit up the night and a deafening boom reverberated through the air. The force of the explosion tore through the front of the building, sending debris and shattered glass flying in every direction. A shockwave knocked me off my feet, and I hit the ground hard, the impact rattling through my bones.

Sofia screamed, but I couldn't see her through the dust and smoke. My ears rang, the sound of the explosion still echoing in my skull. I struggled to my feet, my vision blurred, every instinct telling me to find her immediately and make sure she was okay.

"Sofia!" I shouted, coughing against the thick, acrid smoke that filled my lungs. "Sofia!"

"I'm here!" Her voice came from somewhere to my left. I stumbled toward it, my heart pounding in my chest, my vision hazy. Finally, I saw her through the smoke—she was on her knees, her arms shielding her face. There was debris scattered all around her.

I rushed to her side, pulling her to her feet. "Are you okay?" I asked, my hands gripping her shoulders tightly. She nodded, but it wasn't enough for me. Carefully, I ran my hands up and down her body, needing to see for myself. When I was certain she was alright, I led her away from the wreckage as more explosions went off inside the building, smaller but just as deadly. The ground shook beneath our feet.

We managed to reach the courtyard, where emergency vehicles were already arriving—police cars, firetrucks, and ambulances, their sirens all wailing in the night.

Sofia and I staggered back, catching our breath as we watched the chaos unfold. My heart was still racing, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

I started to pull Sofia away from the frenzied scene, but I paused, glancing back at the burning building. The flames were raging higher, smoke billowing into the night sky, and people were still stumbling around in a daze, some clutching their wounds, others calling out for missing loved ones. The sound of sirens blared in the distance as more emergency vehicles approached.

Sofia squeezed my hand, sensing my hesitation. "Massimo, we can't just leave them," she said, her voice steady despite the tremor in it. "There are still people who need help."

She was right. Damn it, she was right. I looked at her, seeing the resolve in her eyes. She was covered in soot, her hair tangled, her dress torn, but there was no fear—only a fierce tenacity that matched my own.

I nodded, my grip tightening around her hand for a moment before letting go. "Alright. We'll help get them out. But we stay close, understand? I don't want to lose sight of you in this mess."

"I promise," she said, and with that, we turned back toward the wreckage.

We moved quickly through the chaos, helping people to their feet and guiding them away from the burning structure. The heat was intense, the roar of the fire like a living thing, hungry and angry. I saw a woman struggling to carry her young daughter, her face streaked with tears and smoke. I rushed over, taking the child into my arms, nodding to Sofia to help the mother.

"Follow us," I urged, my voice calm but firm. "We're getting everyone to safety."

The woman nodded, clutching Sofia's arm as we led them toward the ambulances. I could hear the little girl coughing in my arms, her small body trembling against mine, and I felt a surge of anger. There was no doubt in my mind that Raffaele was at fault for this, but for all that I'd seen tonight, I couldn't figure out why.

We reached the paramedics, handing over the woman and her child. "There are more people inside," I told them. "Get as many as you can. This building is coming down."

The paramedic nodded, moving quickly to help others, and I turned back to the scene. Sofia was already moving to another group of guests, helping an elderly man who seemed disoriented. I followed her, lifting a piece of debris that had fallen in his path, clearing the way for them.

"Thank you," the man muttered, his voice weak. "I… I didn't see this coming…"

"None of us did," Sofia replied gently, guiding him toward the emergency personnel. "Just keep moving, sir. You're safe now."

A young woman appeared in front of me, her face streaked with soot, panic in her eyes. "My husband!" she cried, grabbing my arm. "He was right behind me, but I lost him in the smoke!"

"Where?" I asked urgently.

She pointed back toward the far side of the building, where the flames were starting to consume one of the entrances. "There! I saw him near the door!"

I nodded, squeezing her shoulder. "Stay here. We'll find him."

Sofia was already at my side, ready to go. "I'm with you," she said.

"No," I replied, shaking my head. "It's too dangerous. Stay with her and make sure she's safe."

"Massimo, you can't go alone," Sofia insisted, her eyes blazing. "I'm not leaving you."

I hesitated for a moment, but I knew there was no time to argue. I'd deal with her properly later. "Fine. Stay close, and don't take any unnecessary risks."

Together, we moved back toward the building, where the smoke was thickest. I could barely see, my eyes watering from the fumes, but I heard a faint cry for help—a man's voice, weak and desperate.

"Over here!" I shouted, moving toward the sound. Sofia was right behind me, her hand gripping the back of my jacket to stay close.

We found him pinned under a fallen beam, his leg trapped. His face was pale, his breaths shallow. "Help me," he whispered, his eyes wide with fear.

"Hold on," I said, crouching down to assess the situation. The beam was heavy, and the flames were getting closer. We didn't have much time.

"Sofia, grab that end," I instructed, pointing to a clear part of the beam. "On three, we lift. Ready?"

She nodded, determination in her eyes. "Ready."

"One… two… three!"

We heaved together, lifting the beam just enough for the man to pull his leg free. He cried out in pain, but Sofia quickly moved to support him, helping him stand.

"You're going to be okay," she reassured him, guiding him away from the flames. "Just lean on me."

I took his other side, and we hurried back toward the paramedics, the heat intensifying with every step. I could hear the crackling of the flames, the groaning of the building as it struggled to stay upright.

We had to get away from it—now.

We made it back to the courtyard, where firefighters were working to control the blaze. I saw Sofia's eyes darting around, searching for anyone else who might need help. She was unstoppable, and I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at her courage.

When we got home tonight, I was going to reward her. First with my belt. Then with my cock.

We reached the paramedics, handing the man over. "Get him checked out," I told them. "He's hurt, but he'll make it."

It was pure chaos now.

The authorities were swarming the scene, and I knew it wouldn't be long before they started asking questions—questions we didn't have time to answer.

"This way," I murmured to Sofia, nodding toward a side street that ran behind the venue building. "We need to get out of here before they start looking for witnesses."

She glanced up at me, her eyes clear and determined. "You think they'll suspect us?"

"They'll want to talk to everyone who was inside," I replied. "And I'm not in the mood to explain why we were the ones pulling the alarm. Besides, Raffaele is up to something much bigger than I can guess at, and I need all the time I can have to figure out what."

She bit her lip, her brow furrowed in thought. "Then what do we do?"

I paused for a moment, considering our options. "We don't play by his rules," I replied. "Raffaele knows I saw him. He'll expect us to come charging after him, guns blazing. But we need to be smarter than that. We'll find out who's involved in his plan, who's helping him. And when we have enough information, we'll take him down."

Sofia nodded, a faint smile forming on her lips. "I like the sound of that."

I chuckled softly, feeling a strange warmth in my chest despite the tension still thrumming through my veins. "Good. Because we're in this together now."

We turned another corner, putting more distance between us and the burning venue. I could still hear the crackle of the flames, the shouts of firefighters working to contain the blaze. I knew that the pure chaos would buy us some time, but not much.

I needed to take advantage of every single second I got.

Quickly, I pulled out my phone and dialed my driver, Francesco. I needed to get us out of here before the authorities locked down the area entirely. The line rang twice before he answered, his voice calm and efficient as always. " Signore? "

"Francesco, we need a pickup," I said, glancing around to get my bearings. "A few blocks west of the venue, near Via della Spada. Can you be here in five minutes?"

"Yes, signore ," he replied. "I'm on my way."

"Good," I said, ending the call and turning back to Sofia. "Francesco will be here soon. We'll lay low for a bit and in that time, we figure out our next move." I pulled her in close to me and wound my arm around her waist.

We waited in silence for a few moments, the sounds of the city around us slowly returning to normal. I kept my eyes on the street, watching for Francesco's car, feeling Sofia's presence beside me, warm and temptingly inviting.

When the sleek black sedan pulled up to the curb, I opened the door, gesturing for Sofia to get in. She slid inside, and I followed, closing the door behind me. Francesco glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his expression neutral.

"Where to, signore ?" he asked.

"Take us home," I demanded.

My Sofia had seen too much danger and tonight, I needed to put my hands all over her and make sure she was alright.

Tomorrow, I'd focus on Raffaele. From the shipments to the kidnapping, to the security breach, to the bombing, I'd figure it all out.

For now, my focus was Sofia.

Her and only her.