Chapter 9 - The Siege
The final showdown took place at the Moretti mountain estate—a heavily fortified villa perched on the edge of a steep cliff.
Lorenzo led the assault himself, bringing eighty armored men. I stayed at a secure tactical command post two miles away, monitoring the operation through live audio feeds while holding Leo.
"Alpha team moving in," Dante’s voice crackled through the radio. "Perimeter breached."
Gunfire and explosions erupted through the radio speakers. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying fervently for Lorenzo’s safe return.
"Lorenzo, respond," I called into the comms headset.
"I'm here, Clara," Lorenzo’s calm voice came back amidst the distant sound of automatic fire. "We have cleared the lower level. Pushing toward the main office."
Suddenly, static disrupted the frequency, followed by Eduardo Moretti’s raspy voice cutting into the channel.
"Lorenzo Rossi!" Eduardo taunted through the comms. "You think you've won? Look around you! I've rigged the gas lines in this villa. If I flip this switch, we all go up in flames!"
"Don't do it, Eduardo," Lorenzo’s voice was lethal. "Your men have already surrendered. It's over."
"It's never over!" Eduardo screamed.
A loud gunshot echoed through the radio, followed by the sound of glass shattering and a heavy body hitting the floor.
"Lorenzo?!" I screamed into the mic, panic surging through my blood. "Lorenzo, answer me!"
Silence stretch for ten agonizing seconds.
"Clara," Lorenzo’s voice finally came through, breathless but steady. "Eduardo is dead. The doctor is secured. The Moretti family is no more."
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I let out a shaky breath, bursting into tears of sheer relief as I pressed Leo close to my chest. "Please come home."
"I'm coming home, my love," he whispered.
