Chapter 5 Dangerous Alliances

Sophia's heart pounded as she stared at the door, her fingers were still frozen on the handle. The sounds outside were growing louder, the rhythmic thudding of footsteps drawing closer with every passing second. A wave of panic washed over her, but she quickly forced it down. She couldn't let fear take control now, not when her life was hanging in the balance.

Luca moved swiftly and grabbed her wrist while pulling her away from the door. "You're not opening that," he growled with his eyes burning with intensity. "Not until we know who's on the other side."

Sophia shook her head, her breath coming in short and frantic bursts. "Who are they, Luca? What do they want with me?"

Luca's jaw tightened as he pulled her further into the room, his back to the door. His hand hovered near his gun, his entire body tense, ready for a fight. "It's not safe here anymore." he muttered. "We need to move, now."

"But why?" Sophia's voice cracked with emotion. "Why are they after me? Why are they threatening to burn this place down?"

Luca's gaze softened, but there was no time for answers. He turned sharply toward the only window in the room, glancing out cautiously before closing the blinds. The dim light that had filtered through the cracks now disappeared, plunging them into darkness.

"I'll tell you everything later," he said, his voice was firm, but it was edged with desperation. "Just trust me. You have to."

Sophia felt the pull of his words, even though the unease in her chest was growing. She couldn't just ignore the questions, not when everything seemed so wrong. But she knew she couldn't face whatever was outside alone. Not without Luca.

Before she could respond, another deafening crash shook the building, this time from behind them. The door splintered, there was a loud crack resonating through the room as someone slammed into it with force. Luca was already moving before she could blink, his body became a blur as he pushed her against the far wall, shielding her with his own.

The door gave way with a loud bang, revealing a figure that was anything but welcome.

Giovanni.

Sophia's breath caught in her throat. "Dad?" she whispered, the word slipping out in a breathless, stunned gasp.

Giovanni's eyes locked onto hers, but there was no warmth in them, only cold calculation. His features were sharp, his jaw clenched tight. He was dressed in black, his face partially covered by a mask, though his eyes remained visible. His presence was commanding, dangerous. A part of Sophia had always feared seeing him like this-uncaring, ruthless, consumed by the very world that had stolen her innocence.

"Get her out of here, Luca," Giovanni ordered, with his voice gruff and low, like the growl of a predator. "Now."

Luca stood his ground, never once turning his gaze from Giovanni. "She's not going anywhere with you, Giovanni."

Sophia could see the tension between them, there was a flickering distrust that passed like a silent battle across their faces. There was no love between these two men, only animosity. She knew her father well enough to recognize that his words were not an invitation, but an ultimatum.

"I'm not asking," Giovanni said with a deadly whisper. "I'm telling you."

The air in the room thickened, the energy crackling with tension. But before the standoff could escalate any further, the sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention. This time, the steps were lighter, almost cautious, but they still carried the weight of authority.

A woman appeared in the doorway. She carried a presence that was magnetic, her sharp features and intense gaze immediately drew Sophia's attention. She was tall, with dark hair cascading around her shoulders, her face was partially obscured by a hood. Her piercing eyes were fixed on Sophia with an almost unsettling intensity.

"Let her go," the woman said with a low soothing voice, but it was unmistakable in its command. "We don't have time for this."

Sophia's breath hitched, and a chill ran down her spine. She didn't recognize this woman, but there was something about her, it was something that felt familiar, almost like a shadow from her past.

"Who are you?" Sophia asked. She could feel her voice trembling.

The woman ignored her, and her gaze never left Giovanni. "You don't know what you're dealing with, Giovanni. Let her go. We all have our part to play in this."

Giovanni's face darkened and his eyes started narrowing. "Stay out of this, Maria."

Maria didn't flinch. Instead, she moved toward Sophia, she scanned her with her eyes as if she were sizing her up, analyzing every aspect of her. The intensity of the look in her eyes sent a shiver of unease down Sophia's spine.

"You have no idea what's at stake," Maria continued, her voice was quieter now. "Not yet."

Sophia took a step back, her hand instinctively reaching for Luca, and her heart racing in her chest. The room seemed to shrink around them, the tension in the air made it hard to breathe. Luca's arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close as if he was trying to shield her from whatever storm was about to break.

Giovanni's voice cut through the thick silence like a blade. "You think you can just walk in here and take her from me? I won't let that happen."

Maria's lips curled into a small, yet almost imperceptible smile. "It's not about what you want, Giovanni," she said with a chilling tone. "It's about what she is. And what you'll never have."

Sophia's head spun even further. The words were like an electric shock, each one sent a tremor through her. What was this woman saying? What did she mean by "what she is"? She barely understood the weight of the statement, but she could feel its truth reverberating in her bones.

Luca's grip on her tightened, and for the first time, he looked directly at Giovanni. "She's not going with you. She's not your pawn anymore."

Giovanni's eyes flashed, it had fury igniting in them as he stepped forward, his hand reached for the gun at his side. "Then you'll have to make me, Luca."

Just as Giovanni's fingers brushed the grip of his gun, the lights in the room flickered and went out. The sudden plunge into darkness left them all frozen, and for a split second, everything stopped, no one moved, no one spoke.

Then, a soft sound which was barely audible filled the room. The unmistakable clicking of a safety being released.

Sophia's blood ran cold after that. Another figure had appeared from the shadows, it had a tall and menacing figure, and the unmistakable gleam of a gun aimed at Giovanni's head confirmed the new threat in the room.

"Don't move," the newcomer commanded, his voice had a deep and commanding tone.

Sophia's heart stuttered in her chest as she turned to see the person standing in the doorway, it was a figure she never thought she would see again.

The man stepped into the dim light; with a face obscured by a shadow as well. But his voice was unmistakable. "I think it's time we end this, Giovanni."