My brother appears instantly. I nod towards Liliana and Mila.
"Get them out of here and somewhere safe."
Elio's expression softens when he looks at Mila.
"On it."
Liliana doesn't move immediately. Just stands there staring at me. She looks like she’s holding something back. Words she isn't ready to say.
Eventually, she swallows.
"Be safe, Rafaelle."
I give her a short nod. Then watch as she turns away, Mila tucked securely against her chest.
Elio guides them through the woods, toward the waiting vehicles. I don't move until they're out of sight and safely out of the line of fire.
Only then do I turn back toward the battle. Just in time to see one of Navarro's men emerging from the trees behind Matteo.
Gun raised. Aimed directly at my brother's back.
The bastard doesn't even see me coming. He’s dead in a millisecond.
Minutes pass and I’m so enthralled by the battle in front of me that I don’t notice what’s happening until it’s too late
My knife buries itself in someone’s throat. I barely spare him another glance. I keep moving, trying to eliminate all threats.
Smoke curls through the trees. The sharp scent of gunpowder clings to the air.
My pulse pounds steadily as I move forward and scanning and searching.
A scream suddenly tears through the chaos.
"Rafaelle!"
I freeze. The voice doesn't belong here. It should be far away. Safe.
My head snaps up and shock shoots through me. She's supposed to be gone. Miles away from here with our daughter and yet somehow she's running toward me. Alone.
Her dark hair streams behind her. Panic filling her amber eyes. For one stupid second, I think she's lost her mind.
Then I realize she isn't looking at me. She's looking behind me.
My stomach drops as the realization hits hard and fast. But it’s too late.
I turn slightly and a few feet away, partially concealed by the corner of the cabin, Ignacio Navarro stands with a gun raised.
Aimed directly at my back. Or at least my front now.
Time slows and I start to lift my gun but I already know I won’t make it. I see the moment his fingers tighten around the trigger, the triumph in his eyes.
Everything seems to happens at once. Liliana reaches me and two hands slam into my chest.
The force sends me stumbling sideways. The gun fires.
The crack splits the world in half.
For a second, I don't understand what happened. Then Liliana falls.
