The penthouse had never felt so quiet.
After the attack, Dante's security team flooded the building. Men in dark suits moved through the halls, speaking into radios, checking every corner.
But inside the living room, the air between Elena and Dante felt heavier than the gunfight that had just ended.
Elena stood near the window, staring out at the glittering Chicago skyline.
Her fingers still tingled from the kiss.
She didn't know what it meant.
She didn't know what it changed.
But she knew one thing—it had shaken Dante.
And Dante Moretti didn't look like a man who got shaken easily.
Behind her, he spoke to one of his guards.
"Lock the building down. No one in or out without my approval."
"Yes, sir."
The guard left.
Dante turned toward her.
"You should rest," he said.
She looked over her shoulder.
"Rest?"
"You've had a long night."
"You killed someone in my living room ten minutes ago."
"That happens sometimes."
She blinked at him.
"You really need to stop saying things like that."
A faint shadow of a smile crossed his lips.
Suddenly his phone rang.
Dante glanced at the screen.
His expression immediately hardened.
"Speak," he said.
Silence.
Then a voice came through the speaker, distorted and cold.
"Well done tonight, Moretti."
Elena felt a chill run down her spine.
Dante's eyes turned to ice.
"Who is this?"
"Oh, come on," the man said mockingly. "You should recognize the voice of someone planning to destroy you."
Dante didn't respond.
The voice continued.
"You killed Silvio. That was a mistake."
"He betrayed me."
"He served the future."
Dante's tone dropped.
"If this is about revenge, you're wasting your time."
"Oh no," the man said softly.
"This isn't revenge."
A pause.
"It's strategy."
Then the line went dead.
Elena looked at Dante.
"Who was that?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead he walked toward the window beside her.
"Someone dangerous," he said finally.
"That's not comforting."
"It wasn't meant to be."
Her stomach twisted.
"What do they want?"
"You."
Her breath caught.
"Why?"
"Because you matter to me."
The words hit her harder than she expected.
Suddenly the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then the entire penthouse went dark.
Elena froze.
"Dante…"
"I know."
Emergency lights flickered on dimly.
Somewhere in the building, alarms started blaring again.
Dante pulled his gun instantly.
"They cut the power."
"That means—"
"They're inside."
Her heart dropped.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Fast.
Too fast.
Dante grabbed her wrist.
"We're leaving."
He pulled her toward the hidden hallway behind the security panel.
But suddenly—
CRASH
The front door exploded inward.
Armed men stormed into the penthouse.
Dante fired instantly.
Two men dropped.
But more rushed in.
"Go!" he shouted to Elena.
She ran down the hallway.
Her heart pounding wildly.
Behind her she heard gunfire.
Shouting.
Chaos.
Then strong arms grabbed her from behind.
She screamed.
A rough hand covered her mouth.
"Got her!" a voice shouted.
Elena kicked and fought.
But there were too many of them.
The last thing she saw before everything went dark…
Was Dante turning toward her.
His face filled with pure fury.