Page 177 of My Sweetest Temptation

“I don’t give a shit about what my son thinks,” she shot back. “When he finally pulls his head out of his ass, he’s going to be groveling for a long time.”

Even if he did, I could never forgive him for this. How could I lie next to him each night knowing he was capable of inflicting this kind of pain without a second thought?

“The house is under attack, and we need to get you out of here,” Serafina quickly explained.

BOOM!

I was jerked backward again, my body slamming against the cold concrete from another explosion. I watched in horror as Enzo and Serafina were flung against the wall like rag dolls, their bodies crumpling to the ground.

My vision blurred, voices swirling in a chaotic haze, and a figure soon loomed over me. A wicked grin stretched across his face, and a chill crept down my spine. “Hello, Gigi. It’s time to bring you home,” he taunted.

“Who—” I started to say, but then a sharp needle pierced my neck, and darkness swallowed me whole.

"Fucking hell!" Luca's voice pierced the air, and I snapped back to reality. Shaking off the daze, I leapt to my feet, my heart pounding with rage as my hand closed around the cold grip of my gun. I stormed toward the van. The men in the van were dead. Blood had splattered across the dashboard, and their limbs hung at unnatural angles, like they were dropped marionettes.

"Goddamnit!" I slammed the car door shut and took in the devastation around us. Footsteps approached, and Miguel’s voice rang in the air.

“Nico, they were heading toward the basement! This was just a diversion!” he shouted.

Another explosion rocked the ground, sending me stumbling back. "Mother fucking fuck!!" I roared, my anger boiling over. "Luca, tell the sniper to take out any motherfucker who moves!" I didn't wait for a response, already sprinting toward the basement.

Mya appeared at the top of the stairs, breathless. "Your mom, Nico! She went to check on Winter!"

“Get back into the safe room, Mya!” Matteo yelled.

"GET DOWN, MYA!" I lunged toward her. But it was too late. A red dot appeared on her chest, and her body jerked violently as the shot rang out.

"NO!" Matteo's scream tore through the air as he rushed past me, his gun blazing. The shooter crumpled to the floor. Matteo dropped to his knees, his hands frantically trying to stem the bleeding from Mya's wound.

"Aurelio..." she gasped, her eyes pleading.

“Shut up!" Matteo's voice broke as he pleaded with her. "You're not dying, do you hear me? You're not fucking dying!"

I turned away, my heart pounding against my chest. "Get the chopper here, now!" I barked at Miguel, who was already on the phone.

"I need to go and..." I started to tell Matteo, my voice thick with unshed tears. He nodded, his eyes never leaving Mya's face.

I sprinted down the hallway, the queasy feeling in my stomach intensifying with the fear of what I'd find in the basement.

Demon's frantic barks turned into whines. He scratched desperately at the basement door. "Move, damn it!" I yelled, throwing my shoulder against the door, my muscles straining as I pried at the warped frame. “UGH! Goddamnit!” Frustration boiled over, and I kicked the door repeatedly, but it didn’t budge.

“Fuck this,” I growled under my breath and aimed my gun at the lock.

One shot.

Nothing.

Two shots.

Still nothing.

“Come on!” I shouted and fired once more. The lock shattered, and I kicked the door. It splintered, flying open with a loud crack.

Demon rushed in, his barks echoing off the walls. I followed, my eyes taking in the scene. Enzo and my mother lay unconscious, their bodies limp against the wall. But where was my angel?

"WINTER!" My roar echoed through the basement as I spotted the blown-up wall. They'd taken her. The chair was empty and there was no sign of her.

Luca appeared, his eyes wide. "Holy shit, Nico. Are they alive?"

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