27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Daniella

The ride with Victor feels like an eternity.

My heart races as the car speeds down unfamiliar roads, the scenery blurring past. I try to make sense of what’s happening, but my mind is a jumbled mess of fear and confusion.

Victor remains silent, his expression unreadable. I know something is terribly wrong, and the knot of dread in my stomach tightens with every passing second.

We finally arrive at a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of town. Victor pulls the car to a stop and I feel a shiver run down my spine.

He gets out and opens my door, his grip on my arm firm as he drags me inside. The interior is dimly lit, the air thick with the smell of oil and rust. Men mill about, their eyes following me with unsettling interest.

“Move,” Victor snaps, pushing me forward.

I stumble, but manage to keep my balance. As we enter a large open space, I see Massimo standing there, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

“Well, well, little mouse,” he says, his voice dripping with mockery. “I guess you played my game and you played it well.”

I frown, trying to keep my voice steady. “What are you talking about?”

He laughs, the sound echoing off the walls. “You were just a pawn in my game. I sent you to Lorenzo on purpose. I knew he was a sucker for sob stories.”

I’m taken aback. “What?”

Massimo’s eyes gleam with malice. “He’s always been a sucker for sob stories. That’s one thing that’s never changed about him.”

My mind races with questions. What is the connection between Massimo and Lorenzo? Why does Massimo hate him so much?

“You’ll be fine as long as you do everything we tell you to do,” Massimo says, his tone turning menacing.

I shake my head, defiance bubbling up inside me. “I’m not going to be a pawn in your game anymore. I won’t do anything you tell me to do.”

Massimo’s eyes narrow, but before he can respond, Victor steps forward and backhands me across the face. The force of the blow sends me sprawling to the ground. Pain explodes in my cheek and I can taste blood in my mouth.

“Victor, stop!” Massimo barks in Italian. “You’re messing up. Wait for my lead next time. Do that again without my permission and it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”

Victor mumbles an apology and steps back, but the damage is done. I’m curled on the floor, cradling my stomach protectively. “No, no, please, God, please, not my baby,” I whisper to myself, the fear overwhelming.

Massimo crouches down beside me, his eyes cold. “Are you curious, little mouse, to know why there’s so much bad blood between Lorenzo and me? Didn’t your boyfriend tell you everything that happened between us all those years ago, between Renee and I, and between me and him?”

I’m too dazed to respond, my body trembling with pain and fear. Massimo’s words swirl around in my mind, but I can’t make sense of them. What is he talking about? What happened between them?

“I was supposed to become part of the family, you see,” Massimo hisses. “The beautiful Renee, my childhood friend, was supposed to become my wife. But your beloved Lorenzo decided I wasn’t good enough for her. They took away everything, and then they cut me out of their lives. It was a deep cut from old friends, but I recovered. And now I will get what is mine, no matter who I have to kill.”

As I lie there, different men come and go, talking business and ignoring my presence. I try to pay attention, to find a way out, but every movement sends a jolt of pain through my body. My mind is foggy, but I know I need to stay alert. I need to find a way to escape.

Victor calls Lorenzo, and I can hear his side of the conversation. “How does it feel? How does it feel to have everything slipping through your fingertips?”

I try to shout, to warn Lorenzo not to come, but my voice is too weak. “Lorenzo, don’t come! They’ll kill you if you come!”

Victor smirks and crouches beside me, whispering in my ear. “If you don’t shut up, I’ll tell Massimo about the secret you’re holding in your belly. You don’t want that, do you?”

I freeze, the threat sinking in. If Massimo finds out I’m pregnant with Lorenzo’s child, there’s no telling what he’ll do. Another heir to the Duretti family name and fortune is not a part of his plans. I have to keep quiet. I have to protect my baby.

The minutes drag on, each one filled with trepidation. I’m scared, my heart pounding with fear for Lorenzo. He was shot, he’s injured and now he’s coming here, alone. The thought of what might happen is almost too much to bear.

Finally, the door to the warehouse bursts open, and Lorenzo steps inside. His presence fills the space, and for a moment, all my fear melts away. He’s here. He’s come for me.

“Lorenzo,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

He strides forward, his eyes blazing with fury. “Let her go,” he demands, his voice low and dangerous.

Massimo laughs, but there’s a flicker of fear in his eyes. “Not so fast, Duretti. We have some business to discuss first.”

Lorenzo’s gaze never wavers. “What do you want?”

“Your territory. Your businesses. Everything you own.”

“Fuck you,” Lorenzo spits. “You think I’ll just hand everything over to you?”

Massimo’s smile widens. “You will if you want her to live.”

Lorenzo takes a step forward, his eyes locked on Massimo. “You harm a single hair on her head, and I will tear you apart piece by piece.”

Before Massimo can respond, Victor steps forward, his face twisted with malice. “Let’s see how tough you are, Duretti.”

Lorenzo’s eyes flick to me and for a moment, all the fear and anger fade away. There’s only determination in his gaze. He’s here for me. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe.

Massimo’s mocking voice cuts through the haze. “Well, well, Duretti. You really came alone. How noble.”

Lorenzo’s voice is a low growl. “Let her go, Massimo.”

Massimo laughs, a sound filled with malice. “You think it’s that easy? You know better than anyone that our feud isn’t something that can be settled with a simple exchange.”

Lorenzo steps closer, his eyes locked on Massimo. “Bruno negotiated a treaty on your behalf. You should respect that.”

Massimo’s eyes flash with anger. “You, of all people, should know there is no way in hell I would leave you alone. The only way this feud ends is when one of us is dead.”

Lorenzo’s jaw tightens. “You’re right. I only agreed to the treaty to humor the old man.”

“This is all your fault,” Massimo spits. “If you hadn’t done what you did all those years ago, none of this would be happening.”

Lorenzo’s eyes blaze with fury. “You’re a sick, psychotic fuck who has somehow twisted events in your head to make it seem like you’re the victim here.”

The tension between them is palpable and I can sense that whatever happened between them involves Renee too. It’s the reason why there’s so much friction between Lorenzo and his sister.

I try to focus on their conversation, but my head is pounding and it’s hard to keep my eyes open. The pain in my head is a constant reminder of the danger to my baby. I curl up on the floor, trying to protect my unborn child.

The tension in the room remains high and I know it’s only a matter of time before things turn violent.

Victor steps forward, his eyes glinting with malice. “Enough of this.” He pulls out his gun and aims it at my head.

I close my eyes, bracing for the end. But then, another shot rings out, and I hear a thud. I open my eyes to see Victor lying on the ground, dead. Vincent stands behind him, his gun still smoking.

“Never liked him anyways,” Vincent mutters.

Chaos erupts. Gunfire fills the air, and men shout as they dive for cover. Lorenzo runs to me, scooping me up in his arms.

“ Tesoro , please, please be okay,” he murmurs, his voice filled with desperation.

I try to speak, but my voice is weak. “Lorenzo…”

He holds me tightly, his heart pounding against my chest. “Please, Daniella, stay with me.”

Everything starts to fade, and I feel myself slipping away. The pain is too much, and I can’t hold on any longer. My eyes flutter closed, and I hear Lorenzo scream, a sound filled with anguish and rage.

“Renee, help me!” Lorenzo shouts.

“I’ve got her,” Renee’s voice says, firm and steady.

I’m vaguely aware of being lifted and carried, but everything is a blur. I’m too weak to open my eyes, too exhausted to even think. I hear the sounds of gunfire and shouting, but it all feels distant, like it’s happening in another world.

Before I know it, I’m being placed in a car. The seat is soft and warm and I feel the gentle vibration as the engine starts. We’re driving, but I don’t know where we’re going. All I can do is hope that Lorenzo is okay and that our baby is safe.

The car ride feels endless, but I’m too weak to stay conscious. The darkness pulls me under, and I surrender to it, trusting that Lorenzo and Renee will keep me safe.