Chapter 4

Vincenzo's POV Ximena's unblinking eyes were locked on my gun, her body stiff with fear. Slowly, she took a step back, as if I were the fucking enemy. "Don't be ridiculous," I snapped, keeping my eyes on the hallway beyond her. "I'm not going to hurt you." "How am I supposed to know that?" "For one, you're carrying my baby." I reached for her, gripping her arm and yanking her toward me. She wasn't expecting it. Her balance faltered, and she crashed against my chest with a startled gasp. Immediately, she shoved at me. "If you don't let me go right now, I'm gonna scream." I smirked, tightening my hold. "I've got news for you. No one will notice." A gunshot split the air, close-too close. Then a body dropped just feet away, hitting the floor with a sickening thud. Blood pooled around the lifeless form, blocking our path. Ximena screamed. Her resistance vanished. Her hands, which had been pushing against my chest, clutched my jacket instead. I didn't waste time comforting her. "Oh, God-my mom is out there. And Dad. And Delphine!" Delphine. Fuck. I had almost forgotten about her. The Lucchesis had chosen today for a reason. And instead of being by a sister's side, I was here, protecting the wrong one. But this one was carrying my child. My priorities were justified. "Vincenzo-my family!" "I'll make sure they're okay." I adjusted my grip on her arm. "Stay behind me. Do exactly as I say." "Why the hell are there guns here?" Her voice cracked with panic. "Who are they? No, scratch that-who the hell are you?" Not questions I was willing to answer right now. My phone buzzed. Keeping my hold on her, I pulled it from my pocket. "Luciano, where are you? Yeah, got it... No, I'm in the east corridor... I've got a troublemaker. Come grab her so I can deal with this shit." The second I hung up, Ximena turned on me with a glare sharp enough to cut. "Troublemaker?" Before I could respond, movement at the end of the hall caught my attention-three Lucchesi bastards stepping into view. One spotted me, his eyes widening, but he wasn't fast enough. I lifted my gun and fired before he could even raise his weapon. The bullet tore through his skull. He collapsed, dead before he hit the floor. A strangled cry erupted behind me, but I didn't have time to deal with Ximena's reaction. The next bastard lunged for cover, but I was faster. Two more shots, two more bodies down. Ximena gasped behind me, her breathing ragged. "Y-you... killed them." "They deserved to die." Something moved in my peripheral vision-another Lucchesi thug charging straight at us. I spun, shoving Ximena behind me as I fired. The shots cracked through the hall. His momentum carried him forward a few more steps before his body finally crumpled to the floor. I stepped over him, scanning our options. West led to the gardens-too many people, too many witnesses. A death trap. South-through the kitchens. Cramped but quick. Less exposure. Fewer chances of getting pinned down. Decision made. I grabbed Ximena's wrist. "Move." She resisted. "I'm not leaving! My family's here!" Loyal. But stupid. "You'll get yourself killed," I snapped, but she wasn't listening. Her scream came a second too late. "Watch out!" I turned, but the Lucchesi bastard was already on me. He slammed into my side, and we both hit the ground hard. My gun skidded across the floor, out of reach. Gritting my teeth, I twisted, shoving him off. We rolled apart, both scrambling to our feet. He lunged, fist flying toward my face, but I dodged, countering with a brutal hook to his gut. He staggered back, gasping. I seized the opening-my right fist crushed his nose with a sickening crack. Blood splattered, and he crumpled, groaning weakly. Out cold. If my men didn't finish him off, he'd wake up wishing they had. A sharp gasp pulled my attention back to Ximena. She was frozen in place, eyes wide with horror. Then-three gunshots. Ximena flinched violently, her breath catching in her throat. Footsteps echoed through the hall. I turned just as Vittoria stepped out from the gardens, her cream dress torn high up one thigh, dirt smudged across her face. But the gun in her grip was steady. "Luciano said you have a troublemaker?" I jerked my chin toward Ximena. "Get her out." Vittoria's gaze flickered between us, hesitation creasing her brow. But before I could explain, Ximena bolted. "Ximena!" I lunged after her. She was fast-faster than I expected. She shoved past Vittoria, knocking her off balance, and sprinted toward the garden. Snarling, I took off. Five strides and I caught up, my arm hooking around her waist. She shrieked as I hauled her clean off the ground, her fists hammering against my back. "Foolish girl," I muttered, turning for cover. "Mom!" Then we emerged into the garden. Chaos ruled. Bodies sprawled across the lawn-some in tactical gear, others in bloodied gowns. Smoke curled through the night air, thick with the scent of gunpowder. Then I saw her. Juliana Campbell. She stood motionless amid the wreckage, blood smeared across her face, streaking down her collarbone. Her eyes-hollow and distant-were locked on a body at her feet. Motionless. Lifeless. Ximena's shriek ripped through the night. "Move!" Slowly, Juliana lifted her head. Even from here, I saw the raw trauma in her eyes. "Let me go!" Ximena screamed, thrashing in my grip. "I have to get to her-I have to save-" A gunshot rang out. Juliana jerked. Blood bloomed across her sky-blue dress, darkening to navy. Her lips parted in a silent gasp before her legs gave out. She crumpled to the grass. "NO!" Ximena's scream shattered the night. "Mom! Mom..." Her struggles weakened. When I tightened my grip, she collapsed completely, sobs wracking her frame. "Give her to me," Vittoria demanded, appearing at my side with two of my men. I scanned the battlefield. Luciano was alive, but Delphine... her father... Where were they? How many were dead? How the hell had I let this happen? Her struggles weakened, her body going slack in my arms. When I tightened my grip, she collapsed completely, sobs wracking her frame. "Give her to me," Vittoria demanded, appearing at my side with two of my men. I barely heard her. My gaze swept across the battlefield. Luciano was alive. But Delphine... her father... Where were they? How many were dead? How the hell had I let this happen? Then Vittoria's sharp intake of breath cut through my spiraling thoughts like a blade. "You're bleeding." The words sent a cold shock through me. Every head turned toward Ximena, eyes scanning for a wound. My grip tightened, bracing for the worst. Blood trickled down her legs in thin, dark streams, staining her jeans, pooling at the insides of her thighs before dripping onto the dirt beneath us. "W-what?" Her hands flew to her stomach, frantic, searching. Had she been shot? Had I missed it? Vittoria let out an exasperated breath. "I think you just got your period." Relief flickered across Ximena's face-for a split second. But then, as if struck by a realization far more terrifying than a bullet wound, her breath hitched. She looked up at me, and the second our eyes met, I knew. She shouldn't be bleeding. My blood turned to ice. "This can't be happening," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Vittoria narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?" Ximena's fingers dug into my arm, her grip trembling. Her next words came out broken, choked, filled with a fear I had never heard from her before. "I-I'm pregnant," she gasped. A sharp inhale, then a choked whimper as she doubled over slightly, her free hand pressing against her stomach. "And I think... I might be miscarrying." For a second, everything else ceased to exist. The chaos, the blood, the lingering echoes of gunfire. All I could hear was her ragged breathing, feel the way her body swayed against mine. Then she winced, her entire body tensing as another wave of pain hit her. "Vincenzo!" Vittoria's sharp voice cut through my daze. "Let go of her! We need to get her to a doctor first!" Ximena let out a shaky breath, but it hitched midway, a strangled sound escaping her throat as she clutched at me. "Vincenzo-" Her voice was laced with agony now, and it sent panic crashing through me. Only then did I realize my grip on her was too tight, fingers digging into her like she was the only thing anchoring me. Releasing her took more effort than it should have. One of my men stepped forward, hoisting her over his shoulder. She whimpered at the movement, her face contorting with pain, before he turned and followed Vittoria through the garden's back exit. I exhaled sharply, turning to Luciano. Blood smeared his face, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. He was alive. Beaten, but alive. "Where's Delphine?" I demanded. Luciano lifted his head, his expression grim. "I'm sorry, brother. They have her. The old man too. They're gone."