30
The deafening blast from Stefania’s gun shattered the air. The world seemed to slow as the bullet tore through the space between us, its trajectory clear. But in that suspended moment, a sharp crack rang out from the opposite side of the garden–a gunshot, precise and calculated.
Stefania froze
The sound of fier weapon faltering, followed by a guttural scream of pain, reverberated through the chaos. She staggered, her gun slipping from her hand as she crumpled to the ground. Her breath was ragged, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
I turned my head, heart hammering in my chest, as Lorenzo stepped from the shadows, his expression cold and rete The gun in his hand smoked slightly, the force of the shot still lingering in the air.
“Stefania…” Lorenzo’s voice was laced with regret, but there was no hesitation in his eyes. He lowered the gun, his gaze never leaving the fallen figure of his former lover.
Matteo shifted in front of me, his body a shield, his eyes scanning for any remaining threats. But there was only silence now, save for the heavy breathing and the distant echo of sirens.
Stefania’s eyes flickered toward Lorenzo, her lips curling into a twisted sneer as she struggled to speak, b pooling beneath her. “You… you think you’ve won, Lorenzo?” Her voice hoarse with hatred “You’re just as weak.d her… both of you, nothing more than my puppets…”
Lorenzo’s jaw clenched, but he did not respond. Instead, he took a slow step forward, his gaze unwavering Stefania’s breath became shallow, the venom in her voice intensifying. “You always were weak, Lorenzo. You’ll never be more than a shadow of the man you used to be. And you-” she turned her furious gaze on me, her eyes burning with undying hatred, “-you think you’ve escaped? You think you’ve won?”
I stood tall, feeling the weight of her words like a distant echo. But instead of fear, all I felt was a deep,
resounding sense of finality. “It’s over, Stefania,” I said quietly, my voice steady.
A strained hitter laugh escaned Stefania followed her a violent enunh that shook her hodu With a final lahnrad
2004
The Second Made
resounding sense of finality. “It’s over, Stefania,” I said quietly, my voice steady.
A strained, bitter laugh escaped Stefania, followed by a violent cough that shook her body. With a final, labored breath, her eyes glazed over, the terror that had once defined her life now gone. What remained was the empty shell of a woman consumed by bitterness and envy.
Lorenzo didn’t look away as Stefania’s body went still, life drained from her eyes. There was no victory in his gaze, no satisfaction in her death–only the weight of everything he had lost, and the price of his redemption. He turned to me then, his eyes full of something unspoken.
I felt a heavy pause settle between us. The past, with its scars and betrayals, threatened to spill over. But I had moved beyond that. I had found peace, and now, I was free. Free from those who sought to destroy us, and free to move forward with the one who truly mattered.
Matteo stepped forward, his hand resting firmly on my back, pulling me close to him. The moment felt almost sacred, a promise sealed between us, forged in fire and pain,
The aftermath of the wedding chaos still clung to the villa’s garden like a lingering storm cloud, and the faint smell of gunpowder dissipates with each passing hour.
Matteo stood beside me, his presence reassuring yet tense, a reflection of the unease that lingered since the attack. He had been meticulously overseeing every security measure, speaking with Lorenzo and his men in hushed tones, but now his attention was entirely on me. The estate hummed with activity, but there was a quiet tension in the air, as if everyone was waiting for something inevitable.
By midday, Matteo and Lorenzo returned. Their grim expressions spoke volumes. Matteo found me in the library, the soft light of the afternoon sun casting a warm glow as I stood to greet him. My heart raced as our eyes met, and the weight of the moment settled over us
“It’s done,” Matteo said, his voice heavy “Ricci Costa won’t be a threat anymore.”
The words hung in the air, their weight settling over us. I stepped closer, my voice barely above a whisper.
“How?”
Matteo’s eyes met mine. “He didn’t give me a choice. When we tracked him to his safe house, he was already planning his next move. He was armed, desperate. It came down to him or us.
I exhaled, the tension in my chest slowly unwinding, but I noticed Matteo’s hand moving subtly to his side. My gaze followed the movement, and it was then that I saw the faint red stain on the fabric of his jacket. My heart. skipped a beat.
“Matteo “I reached out instinctively, my fingers brushing over the bloodstained area “You’re hurt”
He immediately waved it off, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, though his expression remained serious. “It’s nothing,” he said, his voice tight. “Just a graze. I’m fine, Damsel.”
I frowned, not entirely convinced, but before I could press further, Lorenzo spoke up, his voice steady but filled. with a quiet urgency. “It wasn’t serious, Aletta. We made sure he wasn’t left in the crossfire. We got him out before it
got worse.”
Matteo nodded at Lorenzo, a silent gesture of gratitude, before his gaze returned to me, softening with a warmth
that calmed the unease gnawing at my chest.
“I’m fine, Aletta,” he repeated, though this time, it sounded more for my reassurance than his own. “Lorenzo made
sure of it.”
I turned my attention to Lorenzo, “Thank you…”
Lorenzo nodded, a hint of relief crossing his features. “I owe you that, Aletta. Both of you, You’ve given me a second chance, and I won’t waste it.”
Matteo crossed the room, his hand clasping Lorenzo’s shoulder in a gesture of gratitude. “You’ve done more
Matteo crossed the room, his hand clasping Lorenzo’s shoulder in a gesture of gratitude. “You’ve done more
than I could have asked. We owe you.
Lorenzo shook his head.“You owe me nothing. Just take care of each other. That’s all I ask.”
+
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Matteo’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me close as we watched the first stars appear in the sky.
“Is it really over?” I murmured, my head resting against his chest.
“It might be.” Matteo’s voice a low rumble.
I tilted my head to look up at him. “We’re still not safe then?”
*From Stefania and Ricci, we are. From those future attempts, we’re not.” Matteo honestly said.
*Do you think we can truly live with all like this? The danger? The chaos?”
Matteo’s gaze was steady, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “We’ll never escape the shadows completely. But as long as we face them together, we’ll be unstoppable. You’re my strength, Aletta. My reason for everything.
*And you’re mine,” I promised. “Always, Matteo.”
Under the starlit sky, Matteo leaned down, capturing my lips in a kiss that spoke of promises and forever. It was a kiss that sealed not just our love, but the life we had fought so hard to build.
And as I melted into his embrace, I knew with unwavering certainty that we were ready for whatever came next- together.