(Elena POV)
Something was wrong.
I felt it before anyone said anything.
Before the voices.
Before the tension.
Before the knock.
It was in the air.
Heavy. Uneasy.
Wrong.
I sat up quickly, my heart already racing. The room was darker now, quieter than before—but not calm. Never calm.
Then I heard it.
A sound outside.
Not loud.
But close.
Too close.
My chest tightened instantly.
I stood up without thinking and moved toward the door, opening it slightly.
The moment I stepped out, I saw them.
All three of them.
And I knew.
Something had changed.
"What's going on?" I asked, my voice smaller than I wanted it to be.
No one answered immediately.
Alessandro was near the window again, tense, focused. Matteo was pacing slightly, restless in a way I hadn't seen before. And Luca…
Luca looked the calmest.
But his eyes gave him away.
"They're here," Matteo said finally.
My stomach dropped. "Who?"
"The people who saw you," Luca replied.
That was enough.
Fear hit me instantly, sharp and real.
"What do you mean they're here?" I asked, my voice rising slightly. "Here like… outside?"
"Yes," Alessandro said.
Simple. Direct.
Terrifying.
I took a step back without realizing it. "No… no, that's not possible."
"It is," Matteo said. "And they're not here to say hello."
My breathing got faster.
"This is because of me," I whispered.
No one denied it.
That made it worse.
"I need to leave," I said suddenly. "If I leave, they won't—"
"No."
All three of them said it.
At the same time.
I froze.
"You're not going anywhere," Alessandro added, his voice firm.
"They're here because of me!" I snapped. "So I should be the one to—"
"You're not thinking clearly," Matteo cut in.
"I am!" I insisted. "I can't stay here and put all of you in danger—"
"You're already in danger," Alessandro said.
Silence.
That hit harder than anything else.
I swallowed, my hands shaking slightly now.
Then—
Another sound.
Closer this time.
Like something moved outside the door.
I gasped softly.
And before I could stop myself—
I moved.
Not toward Alessandro.
Not toward Matteo.
Toward Luca.
I didn't think about it My body just reacted.
I grabbed onto him instinctively, my hand clutching his arm He stiffened for a second.
Then immediately relaxed.
"I've got you," he said quietly.
That voice.
Calm ,Steady, Grounding.
My breathing slowed just slightly.
"They're too close," I whispered.
"I know," he replied His hand moved gently to my back.
Not pulling Not forcing Just… there ,And somehow… That felt different Not intense like Alessandro Not teasing like Matteo.
Safe.
Matteo noticed immediately.
"Wow," he muttered. "Didn't expect that."
Alessandro didn't say anything But I could feel his eyes on us That tension again.
"Focus," Luca said calmly.
"What do we do?" I asked, my voice quieter now.
"We wait," Matteo said
"For what?" I asked.
"For them to make a mistake." That didn't make me feel better.
Another sound.
This time— A knock. My whole body froze , It wasn't loud But it didn't need to be It was real.
"They know we're here," I whispered.
"Of course they do," Matteo said .
I tightened my grip on Luca without realizing it.
He didn't tell me to let go Instead, his hand pressed slightly firmer against my back.
"Stay behind me," he said softly.
I nodded For the first time… I wasn't arguing.
I was scared.
The knock came again.
Slower.
More deliberate.
Alessandro moved toward the door.
"Don't," I said quickly He paused.
Then looked back at me.
For a second… Something passed between us.
Then—
He stepped back.
Luca exhaled slowly.
"Good."
Matteo moved closer too now, his expression sharper than before.
"We don't open that," he said.
"Obviously," I whispered.
"Stay close," Alessandro added.
This time…
I didn't move to him. I stayed where I was.
With Luca And I felt it again That shift.
Alessandro noticed.
Of course he did.
His jaw tightened slightly.
But he didn't say anything.
The knock stopped.
Silence filled the room again Too quiet.
"What if they come in?" I whispered.
"They won't," Matteo said.
"How do you know?"
"Because if they wanted to break in…" he paused, glancing at the door.
"…they already would have."
That didn't help. At all
Minutes passed Or maybe seconds.I couldn't tell.
My grip on Luca hadn't loosened ,And his hand hadn't moved either.
"You're okay," he said quietly.
I shook my head slightly.
"I'm really not."
"You will be," he replied.
"How are you so calm?" I asked.
He looked down at me slightly.
"Because panicking won't help you," he said. That sounded familiar.
But softer. Kinder.
I exhaled slowly.
"Don't let go," I whispered.
His hand pressed slightly firmer against my back.
"I won't."
Across the room…
I saw Alessandro watching us.
And Matteo too.
Different expressions , Same tension , And in that moment…
I realized something.
I wasn't just scared anymore.
I was choosing where I felt safest.
And that choice…
Was starting to change everything.
Did Elena just choose Luca… and how will Alessandro react to that? 👀