Page 106 of Luciano

Followed by another.BOOM.

My head snapped toward the windows. “What was that?”

My father stood slowly, placing the glass down. “I don’t know.”

I turned toward the door. “We’re not waiting to find out.”

I grabbed his shoulder and met his gaze.

“Take Ava. Go to La Stanza. Lock the door from the inside.”

His eyes narrowed. “Luciano—”

“If anything happens to me,” I said, voice low, even, “you protect her. You watch her. You owe me that.”

He gave one short nod.

We didn’t speak again.

We sprinted through the halls.

At the top of the stairs, we made for my bedroom. I flung the door open.

Ava was crouched low beside the bed, wide-eyed, clutching a pillow to her chest like it would protect her.

She looked up when I entered, breath ragged. “Luciano?”

I was across the room in seconds. I lifted her up, scanned her for injuries, then kissed her—hard, quick.

“You’re going with him,” I said, already pushing her toward the door.

“What? No—”

“No arguments.”

I started dragging her toward the door where my father stood.

His guards stood behind him.

Weapons drawn.

I locked eyes with my father. “Lock the door from the inside.”

The guards flanked them, weapons raised, and they disappeared down the hall.

Ava looked back once.

I nodded to her. Then turned.

BOOM.

Another explosion rattled the windows.

I ran.

Downstairs. Out into the courtyard.

Forty guards. Guns drawn. Eyes wild met me.

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