Page 117 of The Don's Soulmate

Sofia jerks the wheel hard, sending us careening off the road. My body slams against the door as we bounce over rough terrain. Sofia drives forward and then makes a sharp U-turn. The tires screech when we get back on the street, now facing the right direction.

"Fuck," I snarl, my heart pounding. "That was too close."

Sofia's knuckles are white on the steering wheel. "I saw it at the last second. I thought we were done for."

I glance in the side mirror, my jaw clenching as I spot the sleek black car swerve halfway through traffic and gain on us. Vittorio. That ruthless bastard won't give up easily.

"He's still on our tail," I growl. "Floor it."

The engine roars as Sofia accelerates. Wind whips through the open window, carrying the acrid scent of burning rubber. My mind races, calculating our odds of escape. For a brief moment, I think of all the lives I’ve lived, the lovers I’ve lost, the lives cut short. If history is anything to go by, the odds aren’t good.

Vittorio's headlights slice through the darkness behind us, illuminating the interior of our car in harsh flashes. I can almost feel his predatory gaze boring into the back of my skull.

"I can't shake him," Sofia says, her voice tight with fear.

A surge of protective rage courses through me. I need to do all I can, take what risk I can. My soulmate, baby, and Sofia’s life depend on it. I reach for the gun tucked in my waistband, the cool metal a comforting weight in my palm.

"Keep driving," I command. "I'll handle this."

As I roll down the window, preparing to lean out and take a shot, a strange sensation washes over me. A pull, like an invisible thread connecting me to something - or someone - in Vittorio's car. It’s a strange whisper of recognition, and I know that if I kill him now, the curse ends.

Never before have I killed all three assassins. One shot and the baby enters this world without a doubt.

"Ettore, what are you waiting for?" Sofia yells. "Shoot him!"

"Just drive," I snap, raising the gun. "And pray to whatever gods you believe in that my aim is true tonight. I’m low on bullets."

Sofia's hands grip the wheel, her knuckles white with tension as she weaves through traffic with preternatural skill, trying to stick to a straight path so the bullet hits the target.

But the car lurches violently as she swerves around a slow-moving sedan, tires screeching against the asphalt. My body slams against the door, but I barely notice, my focus entirely on the pursuit behind us.

"Left!" I bark, spotting a gap in the traffic. Sofia obeys instantly, cutting across three lanes and narrowly avoiding a collision with a honking SUV. The move buys us precious seconds, but Vittorio is relentless, matching our every maneuver.

I take a deep breath and aim for his tire. I press the trigger, but it misses the shot.

“Fuck,” I scream, attempting to shoot again. Perhaps this time, my best bet would be to crack the windshield. But as I’m about to shoot, a sharp scream from the backseat draws my attention. Carlotta's face is contorted in pain, sweat beading on her forehead, and she clutches her stomach.

She’s pale, staring between her legs, where a pool of water drenches the floor.

“Holy shit,” I scream, pulling my head in through the window, reaching for her hand.

“What the hell is happening back there?” Sofia asks, her eyes watching us from the rear-view mirror.

“I… I think the baby’s coming,” Carlotta cries.

I try to find words, but there are none.

“What?” Sofia screams. “Now?”

Carlotta howls in pain again, clenching her teeth.

“Yes, now!” I yell at Sofia. “Drive as safe as you can.”

Carlotta turns to me, her eyes wide with fear. “It… It’s too soon,” she whispers. “The baby is only eight months. It’s too soon. What if-?”

“No!” I roar, grabbing her face and kissing her cheeks over and over again. “This baby is a fighter, cara. Just like us. You can’t speak like that; you can’t think like that.”

She nods, but I know she’s petrified. How can she not be when the same terror runs through my mind? How could this be happening? Itistoo soon.

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