Chapter 34

Mia

Desperation clawed at me, the walls of the room closing in like a vise. I glanced back at Elio, who was recovering quickly, his eyes now blazing with fury. The throbbing in my finger was relentless, but I couldn't let it distract me. I had to find another way out, and fast. My eyes darted around the room, searching for any means of escape. The only other option was the window on the far side of the room. It was a long shot, but it was my only chance.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the sprint across the room. Every step sent jolts of pain through me, but I couldn't let that stop me. Elio was starting to straighten up, his eyes locked on me.

"You're not getting away that easily," he snarled, but I didn't wait to hear more.

I took off, my feet pounding against the floor, each step a desperate attempt to put distance between us. The window seemed impossibly far, but I pushed myself harder.

Elio lunged for me, but I dodged, feeling his fingers graze my arm as I slipped past. The window was just a few steps away now. I reached it and fumbled with the latch, my hands trembling, the pain in my finger making the task nearly impossible.

"Hurry, Mia," I whispered to myself, glancing back to see Elio closing the distance. I finally managed to wrench the window open, the cool night air hitting my face like a splash of water.

I hoisted myself up, ignoring the searing pain in my hand, and started to climb through. Elio's hand clamped around my ankle, yanking me back.

"No!" I screamed, kicking out with my free leg, desperate to break free.

He yanked harder, dragging me to the floor with a force that sent us both crashing down. The impact knocked the wind out of me, but I couldn’t give up. Not now.

I thrashed and kicked, my nails clawing at his arms, anything to get him off me. His grip tightened, and I could see the unhinged fury in his eyes.

"Let me go!" I screamed, landing a solid kick to his side. He grunted in pain, his hold loosening just enough for me to twist away.

But then I saw it—the glint of metal in his hand. A gun. Panic surged through me as he raised it, his eyes wild with anger. I kicked out again, my foot connecting with his arm just as he pulled the trigger.

The gunshot was deafening, the flash blinding in the dim light. I felt the bullet whiz past me, so close I could almost feel its heat. It struck the door, splintering the wood with a loud crack.

The moment of distraction was all I needed. I threw myself at him with all my strength, aiming for his face. My fist connected with his jaw, sending him reeling. His grip on the gun faltered, and I turned to run. My heart pounding in my chest.

Elio staggered, dazed, but I knew I didn’t have much time. I darted towards the door, praying that the damage was enough to ram it open. Before I got there, Lorenzo yanked it open, the wood splintering around the bullet hole.

"What the---"

I threw myself through the doorway. I ran, not daring to look back.

"Get the fuck back here!" Lorenzo roared.

"Get her!" Elio yelled. "Fucking bitch--I'll fucking kill her!"

My heart was in my throat. I practically tumbled down the stairs, sliding just under the arm of one of Lorenzo's men. I fell into another, sending him tumbling down ahead of me. I ran over him and burst into the main area where the party was in full swing, the air thick with laughter and conversation.

Lorenzo’s voice boomed behind me. "Stop her!"

I didn't stop. I couldn't. I pushed through the throng of people, my eyes locked on the front door. I could hear Lorenzo's footsteps behind me. The crowd began to panic, sensing the danger. Screams echoed around me as people tried to get out of the way, adding to the chaos.

Another gunshot split the air. Glass crashed and fell. I felt a searing pain in my shoulder, and the impact spun me around. Lorenzo had fired, the bullet grazing my shoulder. The pain was sharp and immediate, but I didn't stop. I clutched my shoulder, the warm blood seeping through my fingers, and kept moving.

"Get down!" someone yelled, and the partygoers scrambled, ducking and diving to avoid the line of fire. The pandemonium made it harder for me to get through, bodies pressing in from all sides. But it also made it harder for Lorenzo to get a clear shot.

Another shot exploded a vase as I swung around the entryway toward the foyer. The front door loomed ahead, tantalizingly close yet seeming miles away amidst the chaos.

"Stop her, you idiot!"

I shoved a man out of my path. Another gunshot fired. Someone screamed. Each step felt like an eternity, my legs heavy with fatigue. But the front door was right there. I reached out, my hand grasping the handle, and pulled with all my remaining strength.

The door swung open, the cool night air rushing in. I threw myself through the opening, barely registering the fresh burst of pain from my shoulder. I was outside, but I couldn't stop. Not yet. I had to keep going, keep running, until I was far away from Lorenzo, Elio, and the nightmare I had barely escaped.

Just when I thought I was free, rough hands grabbed me from behind, yanking me back into the nightmare I had tried to escape.

"Let me go!" I shrieked, fighting them.

Whether it was Elio's man or Lorenzo's it didn't matter. I jammed my elbow back, aiming for his face. I kicked and scratched like a wild animal. My mind raced as nothing seemed to help and the front door was getting further and further away.

I had to get out.

I was so close.

The man yanked and turned. I could see Lorenzo and Elio. Elio was holding the gun, looking murderous and tugging at his tie.

He was going to kill me. I knew that much, and Lorenzo wouldn't stop him. I could see it. He'd probably beat me first, maybe rape me--maybe worse. Desperation clawed at my mind.

"Someone help me!" I yelled, struggled. "Let me go! Let me go!"

The man threw me to the ground. I choked on the pain and the click of the gun above me stopped my heart.

The men behind me laughed. "What a fucking--"

Another gunshot cut through the air, but it came from behind me.

Someone else screamed. A man to my left dropped to the ground, blood spilling across the ground. He wasn't even moving. People scrambled and screamed. Men turned to the door. They dropped to the ground in pain or silent and unmoving.

I turned back barely breathing as men in suits poured in.

Was I about to be caught in a mafia hit?

I wanted out.

I wanted to see Albert.

Then, like a blessing, a dark angel--a dream-- he strode through the door, his expression grim and determined. Around him, a small army of men all in suits fanned out The guests, already panicked, scattered even further, clearing a path for Albert and his men.

"Get away from her," Albert's voice rang out, cold and commanding.

The men near me hesitated, their bravado faltering in the face of this new threat. Albert's eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of reassurance there. Help had arrived just when I needed it most.

But how had he known where I was? Where did all these men come from?

Something warm seeped under my foot. I looked and found blood there, staining the dress and seeping into the carpet beneath my bare feet.

One of Elio's men, clearly the leader, stepped forward, trying to regain control.

"Whoever the hell you are, you have no business--"

He shut his mouth and went still as the man in the suit from earlier pressed his gun to the back of his head.

"You can shut up or die here."

He swallowed.

"Miss Warren, can you stand?"

I trembled, looking around. Elio and Lorenzo were frozen in place. There was at least three men with guns pointed at them.

Albert drew closer to me. His expression was completely alien to me.

"Can you stand, Mia?"

I wanted to. I did, but my legs wouldn't move. Shock. Surprise, maybe a mix of it all. He looked furious. He crouched down. The tension was palpable, a standoff that could erupt into violence at any moment. The men around Albert were ready, their hands on their weapons, eyes trained on Elio's men.

The two men beside me stepped back and away from me.

Albert met my gaze, but I didn't recognize the man looking at me.