The drive to Clara's secluded cottage was a blur of adrenaline and anxiety. Alessandro gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white, his eyes scanning the road for any sign of danger. Isabella sat beside him, her sniper rifle resting across her lap, her gaze fixed on the surrounding woods.
The silence in the car was heavy, broken only by the hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of the radio. Alessandro knew Isabella was trying to give him space, to allow him to process the betrayal and prepare for the battle ahead. But he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at him, the fear that he was already too late.
He pushed the car faster, ignoring the speed limit, his mind focused solely on Clara. He imagined her in her cottage, unaware of the danger that was closing in, her smile as bright as the morning sun. He couldn't let Salvatore extinguish that light.
As they neared the cottage, Alessandro slowed the car, his senses on high alert. He scanned the surrounding area, looking for any sign of Salvatore's men. The woods were silent, eerily so, as if holding their breath in anticipation of the coming storm.
He pulled the car into a hidden clearing, out of sight from the road. "We go on foot from here," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Isabella, you take the high ground. I'll approach the cottage from the front."
Isabella nodded, grabbing her sniper rifle and disappearing into the trees. Alessandro took a deep breath, checking his weapons one last time, and then moved towards the cottage, his footsteps silent on the forest floor.
As he approached the cottage, he saw something that made his blood run cold. A black SUV was parked near the cottage, its windows tinted, its engine running. Salvatore's men had already arrived.
He cursed under his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He had to act fast. He couldn't let them get to Clara.
He moved silently through the trees, circling around the cottage, trying to get a better view of the situation. He saw two men standing guard outside the front door, their faces grim, their weapons drawn. He knew he couldn't take them both head-on. He needed a distraction.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a grenade. He pulled the pin and tossed it towards the back of the SUV. The explosion was deafening, sending shrapnel flying in all directions. The two guards outside the cottage turned towards the sound, their eyes wide with surprise.
Alessandro seized the opportunity. He burst from the trees, his Beretta blazing, taking down the two guards with a single shot each. He didn't hesitate, didn't give them a chance to react. He had to get to Clara.
He kicked down the door and stormed into the cottage, his gun raised, his eyes scanning the room. Clara was nowhere to be seen.
"Clara!" he shouted, his voice filled with panic. "Clara, where are you?"
He heard a noise from the bedroom and rushed towards it, his heart pounding in his chest. He kicked down the bedroom door and found Clara huddled in the corner, her eyes wide with terror.
"Alessandro!" she cried, her voice trembling. "They're here! They're looking for me!"
He rushed to her side, pulling her into his arms. "It's okay," he said, his voice soothing. "I'm here now. I'm not going to let them hurt you."
But even as he spoke, he knew that the battle was far from over. He could hear the sounds of more men approaching the cottage, their footsteps heavy on the forest floor. He had to get Clara out of here, to protect her from Salvatore's wrath.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the back door. "We have to go," he said. "Now!"