The shot rang out, and the first man fell, his body crumpling to the cave floor. Alessandro fired again, taking down a second attacker before they could even aim. Isabella's sniper rifle cracked from her position deeper in the cave, picking off men trying to flank them from the rocks above.
Clara huddled against the cave wall, her hands covering her ears, but her eyes were wide with determination—not fear. She'd watched Alessandro and Isabella fight, and something in her shifted. She wasn't going to be a helpless pawn anymore.
"Give me a weapon," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos.
Alessandro glanced at her, surprised, then tossed her the tactical knife from his belt. "Stay behind us. Only use it if you have to."
The gunfire intensified as more of Salvatore's men swarmed the cave entrance. Alessandro felt his injured shoulder throb with each recoil, his vision blurring at the edges. He'd already used half his ammunition, and Isabella's sniper rounds were running low too.
"They're trying to push us back," Isabella shouted over the din. "We can't hold them much longer!"
Just as a group of men charged the entrance, a figure emerged from the trees above—tall, broad-shouldered, with a face that made Alessandro's blood boil. Enzo.
He stood at the top of the rocks, his own gun aimed at the cave. "Alessandro," he called out, his voice cold and unfamiliar. "Surrender Clara, and I'll let you live. That's more than you deserve after what you did."
Alessandro froze. What I did? "I never did anything to you," he yelled back, his rage reigniting. "I trusted you. I called you brother."
Enzo laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Brother? You left me to die in that warehouse in Milan. Do you remember? You ran for safety while I took three bullets for you. I survived—but I realized then that loyalty means nothing to you. Only power. Only Clara."
The words hit Alessandro like a punch to the gut. He did remember that day—he'd run to get help, to bring back reinforcements. But Enzo had been gone when he returned, and he'd thought… he'd thought Enzo had escaped on his own.
"I went for help," he said, his voice raw. "I never left you to die."
"Lies!" Enzo roared, firing a shot that whizzed past Alessandro's head. "Salvatore told me the truth. You wanted me out of the way so you could take over the family. You used me."
Before Alessandro could respond, Salvatore himself appeared beside Enzo, a smug grin on his face. "Enough talk," he said, his voice like gravel. "Bring me Clara, or I'll have Enzo shoot every last one of you."
Alessandro looked at Enzo—at the pain and anger in his eyes—and realized the truth: Salvatore had manipulated him. He'd twisted the past to turn brother against brother.
"Enzo, listen to me," he said, lowering his gun slightly. "Salvatore is lying to you. He's using you just like he's using everyone else. Ask him what he really wants with Clara."
Salvatore's grin faded. "Shoot him, Enzo," he commanded.
But Enzo hesitated. His hand trembled on the trigger as he looked between Alessandro and Salvatore. He'd spent years believing Alessandro had betrayed him—but something in his old friend's eyes made him question everything.
In that split second of doubt, Isabella took her shot. The bullet grazed Salvatore's arm, and he stumbled back, cursing. Chaos erupted—Salvatore's men turned on each other as Enzo's hesitation sowed confusion.
"Now!" Alessandro shouted, grabbing Clara's hand. "We move now!"
They charged out of the cave, using the confusion to their advantage. Enzo fired a shot over their heads, taking down a man who was about to shoot Isabella. It was a small gesture—but it was enough.
They ran through the woods, Salvatore's men still fighting among themselves, and reached the hidden clearing where they'd left the car. Alessandro's shoulder was bleeding heavily now, but he pushed through the pain, starting the engine and slamming his foot on the gas.
As they drove away, Alessandro looked in the rearview mirror and saw Enzo standing alone in the woods, watching them go. There was no anger in his eyes now—only doubt.
"He'll come looking for the truth," Isabella said, noticing his gaze.
Alessandro nodded, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "And when he does, we'll be ready. But first, we have to keep Clara safe."
Clara reached over and took his uninjured hand, giving it a squeeze. "We'll get through this," she said. "All of us."
In the distance, the sound of sirens wailed—reinforcements had finally arrived. But Alessandro knew this wasn't over. Salvatore would recover, and Enzo would have to choose a side. The hunt for Clara was far from finished—but now, there was a glimmer of hope that the shadows of betrayal could be lifted.