Page 22 of Bound to the Enforcer

Her words hang in the air, the sincerity clear in her tone, but I don't know how to respond. Part of me wants to turn, to tell her how much it hurts that she didn't trust me, that she went behind my back. But I don't.

She shifts in her seat, her hands twisting in her lap. "I... I was scared, Alessio. Scared of being controlled. But I was wrong."

I can feel the weight of her apology, the remorse in her words, but the anger still burns inside me, hot and steady. I open my mouth to say something—anything—but the words don't come. I force myself to stay silent, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

She looks down at her hands, the regret washing over her face.

The hollowness stretches, thick and heavy.

"I'm sorry," she finally says. "I know I screwed up. I was just... I didn't know who to trust anymore."

I grip the steering wheel harder. I want to say something, to tell her how much this hurts, but I can't seem to find the words. I keep my eyes on the road, the passing scenery a blur.

"I didn't mean to push you away," she adds meekly. "I thought I could handle things on my own, but I see now... I should have come to you. I should have trusted you."

Her words hit me, a soft blow that stings more than I'd like to admit. I can feel the sincerity behind them, the regret she's trying to hide, but I can't shake the anger, the feeling of betrayal.

"You don't have to say anything," she murmurs. "I get it. You're angry."

I don't answer right away. But eventually, I manage. "You don't get it. You thought you could go behind my back, play your own game, and I'd just... let it happen."

"I never meant to hurt you," she says, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I just... I thought you were trying to control me. But I see it now. You were trying to protect me. And I... I didn't trust you enough to see that."

I glance at her briefly, her face flushed with regret, and I feel it—the pang of hurt mixed with something else, something I can't quite name. I open my mouth, ready to say more, but the words get caught in my throat.

She doesn't push me to speak. Her eyes drift out the window, and for a moment, it feels like we're both just trying to figure out what comes next.

We're halfway down a winding road when the headlights appear in the rearview mirror. At first, I chalk it up to coincidence, another car on the same dark stretch of road. But they're gaining fast, too fast.

My gut tightens.

"Stay alert," I mutter, shifting slightly to check my gun at my side.

"What is it?" Sophia asks, her tone wary.

"Trouble," I reply.

The car behind us surges forward, slamming into our bumper with enough force to jolt us forward. Sophia lets out a sharp gasp, gripping the edge of her seat.

"What the hell?—"

"Get down!" I bark, pushing her head lower with one hand as I swerve to avoid a vehicle trying to cut us off.

The road is narrow, bordered by dense trees that seem to close in as the attack unfolds. The headlights behind us flare,blinding in the rearview mirror, and then the sound of gunfire shatters the night.

A bullet punches through the back windshield, spraying shards of glass over the interior. I curse under my breath, accelerating as I maneuver around the lead car.

"They're shooting at us?" Sophia's voice is high, the fear barely masked by her indignation.

"Welcome to my world."

The car veers sharply, trying to box us in. I slam the wheel to the right, narrowly avoiding a collision. The tires squeal against the pavement, the scent of burning rubber filling the car.

Sophia is crouched low, her breathing shallow but steady. "What do we do?"

I glance at her briefly. "We don't stop."

A second car comes up on our left, its side scraping against ours in a deafening screech of metal. I jerk the wheel hard, forcing them into the ditch. Their headlights disappear in a spray of dirt and leaves, but I don't have time to celebrate. The lead car is still in front, blocking the road.

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