Chương 49: The Price of Power
The air in the hidden passageway was stifling, the narrow walls pressing against me as I crouched in the darkness. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out the muffled sounds of chaos outside. Every second felt like an eternity as I waited for Dante to come, his promise repeating in my mind like a mantra.
The sound of boots pounding against the wooden floors grew louder, drawing closer. I held my breath, clutching the dagger Marissa had shoved into my hand moments before the attack. The weight of it felt foreign, and yet it was the only thing grounding me.
Suddenly, the hidden door creaked open, spilling light into the narrow passage. My heart leaped into my throat, but the figure that appeared wasn't Dante—it was one of Maria's men.
"Found you," he sneered, his gun gleaming in the dim light.
A Fight for Survival
Instinct took over as I lunged forward, the dagger slicing through the air. The man barely had time to react before the blade found its mark, plunging into his shoulder. He roared in pain, his gun clattering to the ground.
I scrambled to pick it up, my hands shaking as I aimed it at him.
"Stay back!" I shouted, my voice wavering.
The man glared at me, blood seeping through his shirt. "You think you can stop us? You're nothing but a pawn in this game."
I pulled the trigger.
The sound was deafening in the confined space, and the recoil sent a jolt through my arm. The man slumped to the ground, his words dying on his lips.
I stared at him, my breath coming in shallow gasps. The realization of what I'd done hit me like a tidal wave, but there was no time to dwell on it.
I forced myself to move, clutching the gun as I navigated the passageway. The sound of fighting grew louder as I neared another exit, and I hesitated, unsure if I was walking into safety or danger.
A Familiar Face
The door burst open before I could decide, and a figure stepped inside. For a brief moment, I raised the gun, but then I saw him.
"Dante!" I gasped, relief flooding through me.
He crossed the distance between us in two long strides, his hands gripping my shoulders. His dark eyes scanned me for injuries, his jaw tight with barely contained fury.
"Are you hurt?" he demanded.
I shook my head, the adrenaline still coursing through me. "I—no. I'm fine."
His gaze dropped to the blood-smeared dagger still clutched in my other hand, and his expression softened for just a moment.
"You did what you had to do," he said quietly, his voice steady.
Before I could respond, a burst of gunfire echoed from the corridor behind him. He grabbed my arm, pulling me close as he led me back toward the mansion.
The Mansion in Ruins
The scene that greeted us was one of devastation. Furniture lay overturned, glass littered the floor, and the bodies of Dante's men and Maria's intruders were scattered throughout the mansion.
Marissa stood near the staircase, reloading her gun with practiced ease. She glanced up as we approached, relief flashing across her face.
"Took you long enough," she said to Dante, her tone laced with her usual sarcasm.
Dante ignored her, his focus entirely on me. "Take Elizabeth to the safe house," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Marissa frowned. "What about you?"
"I'll handle the rest here," he said.
"No," I interjected, my voice firm. "I'm not leaving you."
His eyes softened as he turned to me. "Elizabeth, please. I need to know you're safe."
"I'm safer with you," I argued, refusing to back down.
A muscle in his jaw twitched, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he turned to Marissa. "Stay with her. Protect her with your life."
Marissa nodded, her expression serious for once.
Confronting Maria
As the night wore on, Dante's men regained control of the mansion, driving out the last of Maria's intruders. But the damage had been done—both to the estate and to Dante's trust in the delicate balance of power he'd maintained for so long.
Back in the study, Dante paced like a caged lion, his frustration palpable. The documents that had once been spread across the desk were now scattered on the floor, a testament to his fury.
"She's playing us," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. "She wanted me to leave the mansion. She knew I'd take the bait."
I approached him cautiously, my hand brushing against his arm. "You couldn't have known," I said softly.
He stopped, turning to face me. "That's the problem, Elizabeth. I should have known. I should have seen this coming."
"You're not infallible," I said, meeting his gaze. "But you're still the man who's going to stop her."
His eyes searched mine for a long moment before he nodded, his resolve hardening.
"You're right," he said. "This ends now."
The Plan
Over the next few hours, Dante and his inner circle worked tirelessly to devise a plan to draw Maria out. It was clear that she wasn't just after Dante's empire—she wanted to dismantle everything he held dear, piece by piece.
"We need to hit her where it hurts," Dante said, his tone cold and calculated.
Victor, his trusted enforcer, nodded. "Her operations are spread thin. If we target her supply lines, we can cripple her resources."
"She'll retaliate," Marissa warned, leaning against the desk.
"Let her," Dante replied. "The sooner she shows her hand, the sooner I can end this."
Despite the tension in the room, I couldn't help but feel a spark of admiration for Dante. His strength, his determination—it was intoxicating.
But as I watched him prepare for the battle ahead, I couldn't shake the feeling that the cost of victory might be too high.
A Moment of Quiet
Later that night, as the mansion finally fell silent, Dante found me in the library. He looked exhausted, the weight of the day etched into his features.
Without a word, he sank into the chair beside me, his hand reaching for mine.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"For what?" I asked, surprised.
"For putting you through this," he said, his voice heavy with guilt. "You deserve more than a life of danger and chaos."
I squeezed his hand, my heart aching for him. "I chose this life, Dante. I chose you."
His eyes met mine, and for a moment, the walls he so carefully maintained seemed to crumble.
"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You won't," I said firmly. "We'll get through this. Together."
He nodded, pulling me into his arms. As I rested my head against his chest, I felt a flicker of hope amidst the darkness.
Whatever came next, we would face it side by side.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực