Page 17 of Tormented Hearts

She could hear the sound of footsteps, heavy and fast, moving through the hallways outside the penthouse. Her breath caught again; her body frozen in place. They were coming.

"Miguel," she whispers, her voice trembling. "They’re inside."

Miguel’s jaw clenches, his eyes narrowing as he listens. "Stay here," he mutters, his voice low and dangerous. "No matter what happens, stay hidden."

Phoenix didn’t have time to respond before Miguel was gone, his body moving like a shadow as he creeps toward the door, gun raised and ready. She could hear the faint sound of voices, rough and indistinct, as the men outside move closer. Panic flares in her chest again, but she forces herself to stay still, her body pressed tightly to the floor.

Her mind races. How could this be happening? Luca had left, confident in his ability to protect her by leaving her with Miguel. But now, the enemy was inside their sanctuary, and Luca was nowhere to be found.

A loud crash from the hallway outside sends Phoenix’s heart into her throat. She can hear the Romero’s breaking down the door, their voices louder now, filled with violent intent. The sound of gunfire erupts again, this time closer—too close.

Phoenix’s entire body trembles with fear as she listens to the chaos unfolding around her. She can hear Miguel’s voice, shouting commands as he fires at the intruders, the sharp crack of his gun echoing through the penthouse. But the Romero’s keep coming. There are too many of them.

The hallway is filled with the sound of boots pounding against the floor, the clattering of furniture being knocked over, and the occasional grunt of pain as Miguel fights to hold them off. But Phoenix knows it won’t be enough. They are coming for her, and no matter how skilled Miguel is, he couldn’t protect her from all of them.

Phoenix’s heart races, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps as she presses herself further into the shadows of the room.She couldn’t just sit here, waiting to be found. She needs to do something—anything—to survive.

Her eyes dart around the room, searching for something she could use as a weapon, but there was nothing within reach that could help her. Her mind spins with fear and panic, but deep down, a small voice inside her screams for her to fight, to survive. She wasn’t going to let them take her. Not without a fight.

Crawling low to the floor, Phoenix moves toward the kitchen, where she knew there were knives. Her hands shake as she reaches up to open one of the drawers, pulling out a large kitchen knife. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.

She clutches the knife tightly, her palms sweating as she hears footsteps approaching. Her breath hitched as the door to the room bursts open, and one of the Romero men steps inside. He was tall, with a cruel sneer on his face, his gun raised as he scans the room.

Phoenix’s heart pounding so hard she thought it might give her away. She presses herself further into the shadows, praying he wouldn’t see her. But as his eyes sweep the room, they land on her trembling form.

"There you are," he growls, a twisted smile spreading across his face.

Phoenix’s breath is caught in her throat as the Romero man steps toward her, his gun trained on her, eyes gleaming with cruel intent. Every instinct in her screaming for her to run, but there was nowhere to go. She tightens her grip on the knife, her knuckles white, as she backs up against the wall. Fear clawing at her insides, but something deeper—a raw survival instinct—began to stir.

"Come on, girl," he sneers, advancing with slow, deliberate steps. "Let’s make this easy, huh?"

Phoenix’s mind races. She couldn’t let them take her. She wouldn’t be a pawn in their war with Luca. Her heart pounds, the sound of her own blood rushing in her ears as she forces herself to stay calm. The man came closer, his gun still pointed at her, his face twisted in amusement at her futile attempt to defend herself with a kitchen knife.

But Phoenix wasn’t going to wait for him to make the first move.

With a sudden burst of energy, she lunges forward, slashing wildly with the knife. The movement was fuelled by desperation, but it caught the man off guard. He stumbles back, surprised, his gun lowering slightly as he reacts to the unexpected attack.

"Shit!" he spits, but before he can recover, Phoenix moves again, this time aiming for his arm. The knife slices through his sleeve, drawing blood. The man curses, anger flashing in his eyes as he swings his gun toward her again.

But Miguel’s voice rings out from behind. "Phoenix, get down!"

Without thinking, Phoenix drops to the floor just as another shot rings out. The Romero man staggers, his body jerking as Miguel’s bullet struck him in the chest. He collapses, the gun falling from his hand as he hits the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

Phoenix gasps, her hands shaking as she stares at the lifeless body, the knife still clutched in her grip. Her heart racing, her mind spinning as the reality of what had just happened sinks in.

Miguel rushes into the room, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her to her feet. "We need to move. Now," he says urgently, his eyes scanning the hallway for any more intruders.

Phoenix nods, her body still trembling from the shock of what had just happened. She didn’t have time to process it. All she knew was that she had survived—for now.

Miguel leads Phoenix through the penthouse, his gun raised and ready as they make their way toward the hidden exit at the back of the building. Phoenix’s mind is a whirlwind of fear and adrenaline, but she forces herself to focus, to stay alert. The sound of more gunfire echoes from the hallways, followed by the shouts of the remaining Romero men as they continue their assault.

"They’re not going to stop," Phoenix whispers, her voice shaking.

Miguel’s jaw tightens, his face set in grim determination. "No, they won’t. But Luca’s on his way. We just have to hold out until then."

The mention of Luca sends a rush of conflicting emotions through her. She knew he would stop at nothing to protect her, but the thought of him walking into this warzone made her stomach churn with fear. If the Romero’s had been bold enough to attack here, in Luca’s own home, what else were they capable of?

Miguel stops suddenly, pushing Phoenix behind him as he scans the area. "Stay close to me," he whispers. "If anyone comes through that door, you run. Don’t look back. Understand?"

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