Page 15 of Until It Ends

"What the hell is happening now?" I grumble.

I leap out of bed and hurry to the fog-covered window. My heart sinks as I glide back the heavy curtains. The street is ablaze, with thundering chaos on all sides. A dozen frantic people run about in a frantic frenzy, guns drawn and blazing. An ominous figure looms through the bushes, all dressed in black. He seems to lead or chase them; I can't tell which. Panic courses through my veins.

"Intruder. Intruder!" Someone shouts from downstairs.

I run to the door and through myself against it, turning the lock. My heart is pounding. Part of me wants to sprint out the door and take a chance while they're all distracted, but I know it would be foolish to charge into a warzone. I can't do anything on my own.

The sound of smashing and glass shattering downstairs fills the air with dread. The men with guns have broken into the building. I hear a loud thud at my bedroom door as they attempt to break it open. I frantically grab a robe to cover myself and take a deep breath, trying to think of what to do. Should I risk an escape? But where can I run? My mind is cluttered with fear.

The door flies open, and two men in suits burst into the room. I jolt back into the corner, as my robe clings tightly to me. It's obvious they are from Polo's security team—but now, I'm not sure who to trust.

“We have to get you out of here now!” one of them yells, yanking me towards the window. I shake my head stubbornly as he tries to pull me away—there is no way I am being dragged outside into their line of fire!

Suddenly, amidst all the clamor, an unexpected voice pierces through from outside; Dante's!

"Where is she?!"

I can't believe it! As the securities keep trying to coerce me into going with them, outside there is a deafening screech followed by multiple gunshots that make my blood turn ice cold, but sound of Dante's voice makes me run towards the sound of chaos.

I take a deep breath and make a run for it, darting past the men as they try to grab me. I race down the hall and clamber up the stairs, not daring to look back or stop. Finally reaching the landing on the second floor, I peep out of the window cautiously.

What greets my eyes is a chaotic scene; Dante, Vito and three other men I don't recognize have Polo's guys with objects pointed at them. Polo is in the center of it all.

"Come down here, Valeria," Dante yells up to me without taking his eyes off his targets.

"No, Valeria," Polo grunts out which makes me pause in my steps.

"Come on, Valeria, or I'll kill everyone goddamn one of them," Dante blurts out. I can see the rage in his face; I know he'll do it. Everyone on Polo's team is held at gunpoint by Dante's men. And Dante has a gun pointed at the head of Enzo's lookalike. Probably Rocco. The other brother. My other brother.

Dante's put his life on the line barging into the enemy's home, but what did I expect?

Swallowing hard, I take a step forward. "Okay. I'm coming." I want to. I want nothing more than to go back with Dante.

"Keep coming until you're behind me," Dante instructs, carefully walking backward. Rocco stumbles back with him, cursing.

Items lay strewn across the cold marble floor. Only one man lays dead inside and I suspect the remainder of the carnage happened outside.

Polo sneered, "You're nothing but a coward, Dante. I'd never expect anything more from someone like you." His words were pointed and heavy in the air, as the seething hatred between the two men was palpable.

"Is that so? Well, if you think that's true then why don't we put it to the test." Dante shot back, his voice was low but with an edge of challenge.

"Stop all of this!" I scream.

My outburst surprises them all. I know I should have no say in anything since it's likely all of feuds began before me, but all of this has to stop somewhere.

"My daughter is right!"

"Your daughter?"Dante looks back in forth between me and Polo and then at Vito, who throws him a pointed but confused stare.

"Well, isn't that quite obvious? Leonardo knew Marco was a crook all along and yet he made deals with him. Valeria was never Marco's to give. She'smydaughter. The proof is solid," Polo yells.

Dante seems stupefied, but the look is quickly replaced with anger. "I don't give a shit! You had eighteen years to come into your daughter's life, and you didn't. She's going with me tonight. I don't give a fuck if I have to kill all of you to take her with me." He presses the barrel hard into Rocco's neck.

"Now wait a minute. You don't have to kill my sons." Polo holds up both hands, palm out. "Let's be honest. You're here for more than just Valeria, aren't you? Your father sent you about Veritas Mercantile, didn't he?"

"This wasn't my father's doing. It was all mine. I came here of my own accord," Dante replies. "But while we're at it, while I'm here, we can discuss how we can settle this...if at all."

"Men." Polo extended his hand. "I do business formally. The conference room is this way."

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