Page 53 of The Underboss's Secret Twins
I take the shot.
The bullet rips into the front tire.
The SUV veers hard to the left, skidding violently before the driver overcorrects—too fast, too aggressively.
The vehicle flips.
It slams into the guardrail, rolling over twice before landing in a mangled heap of metal and shattered glass. Smoke billows from the wreckage, the flicker of flames licking at the crumpled hood.
I don’t wait to see if anyone crawls out.
"Drive," I order.
The SUV surges forward, accelerating toward the only place that’s safe right now.
The gates of the Salvatore Estate swing open before we even reach them, our security team already on high alert. Armed guards line the perimeter, their weapons drawn, scanning the surrounding area for any remaining threats.
The moment we cross into the courtyard, I exhale sharply, tension coiling tight in my chest. We made it, at least for now, and I’ve had just about enough. The SUV rolls to a stop. I throw the door open and step out, turning to help Sofia.
She hesitates for half a second, her fingers still curled into the seat, before she lets me pull her into my arms.
Her body is still trembling.
I feel the weight of what she’s just been through pressing into her bones, into every slow, deliberate movement she makes as she steps onto solid ground again.
I tuck her against my chest, just for a moment. Just long enough to feel her heartbeat. To make sure it’s still there.
She grips my arm. "I—I’m okay."
Dante and Adriano climb out of the other SUVs, scanning the horizon one last time before exchanging a nod.
"No sign of pursuit," Adriano says. "We bought ourselves some breathing room."
"Not for long," I mutter, looking down at Sofia.
The moment the SUV jerks to a stop inside the courtyard, I throw the door open and step out, reaching for Sofia before she can move on her own. She barely hesitates, her fingers weakly gripping my sleeve as I pull her to me, one arm tightening around her waist, the other steadying her as she sways against me.
She’s exhausted. Beaten down. But she’s here. She’s alive.
The others spill out of the vehicles behind me, weapons still in hand, eyes scanning the perimeter for any lingering threats. Always prepared. Always ready for another fight.
I know better than to believe we’re safe just because we’re back inside Salvatore territory.
This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.
I shift my grip on Sofia, tucking her into my side, shielding her as I guide her toward the entrance. Her steps are unsteady, but she doesn’t protest.
She’s too drained, too raw from what she’s been through.
But she trusts me to get her inside.
That trust? I won’t fail her.
The main doors loom ahead, flanked by guards, their expressions unreadable as they take in the wreckage of what just unfolded. The gunfire. The chase. The bodies left in our wake.
We reach the steps, but before I can take another step forward?—
Luca appears.
