Chapter 7 Through the fire

The corridor was narrow, suffocating, lit only by flickering sconces and the intermittent flashes of gunfire from the ballroom behind. Sophia's chest heaved, her breath ragged. Her heels had been abandoned somewhere along the marble chaos; her dress was ripped at the hem, smeared with dust, sweat, and blood.

Adrian's grip on her wrist was iron. He moved like a shadow, silent yet commanding, leading her through the smoke and panic. Behind them, the sounds of destruction-the screams, the gunfire, the crashing of chandeliers-echoed like a relentless drumbeat.

"Keep low!" Adrian snapped, pulling her down as bullets ripped through the corridor wall, sending splinters of wood and stone flying past them.

Sophia's heart hammered. "I-I can't-"

"You can," he said, his voice a cold rumble. "You will."

They rounded a corner into a small service hall. It was dark, empty, except for the flicker of firelight from the ballroom smoke seeping in. Adrian crouched, scanning every shadow with precision that made Sophia's stomach twist.

Three men appeared at the other end, blocking the only exit. Guns raised. Their movements were sloppy-overconfidence-but lethal.

Adrian didn't flinch. He leveled his pistol, and in the next heartbeat, two were down, clean shots to the chest. The third raised a knife. Adrian pivoted with terrifying grace, twisting the man's arm, snapping it audibly, then kicked him to the floor.

Sophia shivered, pressing herself against the wall. Her mind screamed, Run. Hide. Don't breathe. Yet she couldn't look away. Adrian was like a storm contained in black silk, his movements lethal poetry.

"Follow me. No hesitation," he ordered, grabbing her hand.

They ran, the corridor opening into a service staircase leading upward. Dust fell from the ceiling, tiny rocks dislodged by stray bullets. Sophia stumbled but Adrian caught her, dragging her up each step, ignoring the burning in his arms and the calculated danger behind every turn.

Halfway up, a shout echoed from below. Sophia froze.

"Adrian-"

He glanced back briefly, dark eyes scanning the shadows. "Go. Now."

They burst onto a small landing, only to be confronted by two more armed men.

Adrian's jaw tightened. He didn't hesitate. One shot, one incapacitated, and a swift punch sent the other sprawling down the stairs, crashing with a grunt. Sophia covered her eyes instinctively.

"Keep moving!" he hissed, grabbing her again.

They ran into a service corridor that led to the mansion's rear gardens. The night air hit Sophia's face, crisp and shocking after the suffocating smoke. But danger was still close-the attackers were following, unwilling to let them escape.

Bullets tore through the air around them. Sophia's chest tightened. She wanted to scream, to run blindly, but Adrian kept her close, his hand firm on her wrist, dragging her behind the low hedges.

"Stay down!" he growled.

The attackers slowed, wary. They had underestimated him. Adrian's men were finally regrouping behind them, gunfire covering their flanks.

Sophia's heart raced. She wanted to collapse, to cry, to beg for this nightmare to end-but there was no choice. Not here. Not with him.

Adrian glanced at her, dark eyes softening for a moment, only to harden again. "Almost there. Just a little further."

Then, a sharp explosion rocked the garden gates, sending debris flying in every direction. Sophia screamed, shielding her face.

Adrian grabbed her, yanking her down into the shadows of the hedge. "Move! Now!"

Sophia's mind whirled. The exit-their escape-was suddenly blocked. The attackers weren't just following-they were prepared for this.

Her chest tightened as she realized the impossible truth: They weren't out of danger yet. Not by far.

And through the smoke and chaos, Sophia saw him-Adrian Romano-turning to face the threat, unflinching, every muscle coiled, ready to fight for their survival...

She swallowed, trembling. And I'm with him. There's no turning back.