The gunshot tore through the night like a scream.
Amara froze.
For one split second, everything stood still—the music, the laughter, the clinking of glasses—before chaos erupted.
A woman shrieked.
Glass shattered.
Bodies collided as guests scrambled for cover.
"What the—"
Amara didn't finish.
A strong arm wrapped around her waist and dragged her down just as another shot rang out.
"Down!" Luca's voice was sharp, commanding.
Her knees hit the marble floor, pain shooting up her legs, but she barely felt it. Her ears rang, her heart pounding so violently it felt like it would burst.
"Luca—what's happening?" she gasped, clutching his shirt.
But he wasn't looking at her.
His entire expression had changed.
Gone was the quiet, guarded man she had been slowly unraveling.
In his place stood someone else entirely.
Cold.
Focused.
Dangerous.
"They're here," he muttered.
Her stomach dropped. "Who is 'they'?"
Another gunshot answered her.
Closer.
Within seconds, the grand hall transformed into a nightmare.
People ran in every direction. Security shouted orders. Someone fell. Someone cried.
And through it all—
Luca stood.
He grabbed Amara's hand, pulling her up with him.
"We're leaving."
"What? No—I can't just—"
"If you stay, you die." His voice cut through her panic like a blade.
That was all it took.
Amara ran.
They moved through a side corridor, far from the chaos, their footsteps echoing against the walls.
Her breath came in short bursts. "Luca, slow down—!"
"I can't."
"You're hurting me—"
He stopped abruptly.
Amara collided into him, barely catching herself before falling.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Luca turned, gripping her shoulders—not harsh, but firm enough to steady her.
"Listen to me," he said, his voice low but intense. "From this moment on, you don't leave my side. Not for any reason. Do you understand?"
Something in his eyes made her nod instantly.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
"Luca… what is going on?" she whispered.
His jaw tightened.
"You're not supposed to be involved in this."
Her chest tightened. "Involved in what?"
Before he could answer—
A slow clap echoed behind them.
"Well… this is disappointing."
Amara's blood ran cold.
She knew that voice.
Too well.
Adrian stepped out of the shadows like he owned them.
Perfectly composed. Impeccably dressed.
Untouched by the chaos.
As always.
Her husband.
"You always did have a habit of ruining things, Luca," Adrian said, adjusting his cufflinks.
Luca moved instantly, placing himself in front of Amara.
A shield.
"Stay behind me," he murmured.
Amara barely heard him.
Her eyes were locked on Adrian.
"You…" her voice trembled. "You did this?"
Adrian's lips curved slightly. "I prefer to think of it as correcting a mistake."
Her heart skipped. "What mistake?"
His gaze shifted to Luca.
"This one," he said.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
"He didn't tell you, did he?" Adrian added, his tone almost amused.
Amara's pulse thundered in her ears.
"Tell me what?"
Luca said nothing.
And that silence—
It said everything.
"Luca?" she whispered, stepping slightly to the side, trying to see his face. "What is he talking about?"
"I was going to tell you," he said quietly.
"When?" Her voice cracked. "After I was already dragged into whatever this is?"
"Amara—"
"No." She shook her head, stepping back. "No more lies."
Something inside her was breaking.
Again.
Always again.
"You knew him?" she demanded.
Luca closed his eyes briefly.
"Yes."
The word hit harder than the gunshots.
Adrian chuckled softly.
"This is why emotions are such a liability," he said. "You start forgetting your place."
"Shut up," Luca snapped.
"Oh?" Adrian raised a brow. "Or what? You'll betray me again?"
Amara's breath hitched.
"Again?" she whispered.
Her gaze snapped to Luca.
"What does he mean, again?"
"I didn't have a choice," Luca said, his voice strained.
"You always have a choice," she shot back.
"Not in this world."
"Then what kind of world are you living in?" she demanded.
"The one you were never supposed to enter."
Adrian sighed, clearly bored.
"As fascinating as this emotional breakdown is," he said, pulling out a gun with unsettling calm, "we're running out of time."
Amara froze.
The weapon gleamed under the dim lights.
Final.
Deadly.
"Adrian…" she whispered. "Put that down."
He didn't even look at her.
"This doesn't concern you."
"It concerns me if you're pointing a gun at him!"
"He stopped being 'him' the moment he forgot who he belongs to."
Luca stepped forward.
"I don't belong to you anymore."
Adrian's expression darkened.
That was the first real crack.
"Move," Adrian said coldly.
"No."
"Don't test me."
"Then don't make me choose."
A beat of silence.
Then—
"I already did," Adrian said.
The gun fired.
Amara screamed.
But Luca had already moved.
He lunged forward, slamming into Adrian, forcing the shot off target.
The corridor exploded into motion.
Fists.
Grunts.
Impact.
Years of history crashing into each other with every blow.
"Stop!" Amara cried, her voice breaking. "Please, just stop!"
No one listened.
Then—
Another shot.
Louder.
Closer.
Final.
Everything stopped.
Amara's breath caught.
Her vision blurred as she stared at the body collapsing to the floor.
"No…" she whispered.
Her legs felt like they would give out.
"Luca…?"
No movement.
No response.
Nothing.
Her heart shattered.
"Amara."
The voice came from behind her.
She turned slowly.
And her world broke all over again.
Adrian stood there.
Alive.
Unharmed.
Watching her.
"Did you really believe," he said calmly, "that he could protect you from me?"
Tears streamed down her face as she looked back at the motionless figure on the ground.
"You killed him…"
Adrian tilted his head.
"Did I?"
The uncertainty in his voice was worse than confirmation.
Because Adrian never did anything without purpose.
He stepped closer, reaching out to touch her face.
Amara flinched.
"I would rather die than stay with you," she said, her voice trembling but firm.
His eyes darkened.
"That," he said softly, "can be arranged."
Behind him—
Unseen.
Unnoticed.
A hand twitched.
Just slightly.
Barely there.
But enough.
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