I squeezed Dante's hand as the Vino safe house came into view. Tension and anticipation filled the car as the hum of the engine pierced the air. I looked over at Natalia, who was attempting to steady her breathing as the car began to slow down. 

Before the Cadillac was at a complete stop, Natalia opened the door and jumped out of the vehicle, slightly stumbling as she sprinted towards the building. Stephan followed behind her as I looked at Dante, who was staring at the seat in front of us with furrowed eyebrows. He looked as if he was in a daze, lost within the confines of his own mind.

"Dante?" I asked in a quiet voice. I examined his face, and noticed the distress that lined his creased brows. His jaw was clenched, and his breathing was unsteady. "Are you okay?" I asked as I lifted my hand to his cheek. 

He tenderly leaned into my palm before placing his hand over it and closing his eyes for a moment. He slightly rubbed his cheek on my palm, rubbing his stubble against my skin before looking up at me.

"It's just... deja vu..." He said before he exhaled sharply. "I've been in this situation so many times before. Not being fast enough, not being there to do anything as my own family got murdered over and over again." He said as he closed his eyes, anguish clearly displayed across his face. 

"I'm so sick of losing the people I love. I... I don't know how I'm going to cope if I walk in there and..." Dante said before his lips pursed. He looked at me with the most pained expression I have ever seen, making my heart break for this man who has suffered a lifetime of loss. 

"Dante." I breathed as I cupped his face between my hands. "I can't promise that they'll be alright. I can't promise that you won't feel the pain of loss again. But what I can promise, is that I'll be here for you. I'll be right here by your side, and I'll make sure that you'll never have to go through that alone again, okay?" I said before I leaned my forehead against his. I know my words were simply an attempt to comfort him, but I knew that in my heart, I meant every word. We stayed there for a moment before he inhaled deeply. 

"You're my everything, Rebel." He whispered before he pressed his lips against my forehead, making a small smile creep onto my lips. 

"Now come on. We'll go in there... together." I said as I grabbed his hand. He gave me a small nod before squeezing my hand reassuringly and opening the door. 

We quickly walked up the stairs, stepping over debris until we faced the broken and tattered door. Bullet holes lined the sad excuse of a door while pieces of brick were missing from the entryway. We carefully stepped over the piece of wood remaining on the hinges, and I looked around the room before gasping quietly. 

The once beautiful house was now a barren war zone. Feathers from the furniture covered the floor, tainted red as they surrounded the bodies of fallen Vino guards. Blood painted the walls and torn fabric. Empty shells and bullets clinked together as we walked further and further into the house. I quickly recognized this as the place where Angelo was last seen, the place where he was shot. I surveyed the room, trying to find him within the sea of corpses on the floor. 

Dante looked down at the ground before bending over and grabbing the shoulder of a motionless man on the floor. My heart raced as he gently flipped him around, so he was laying on his back. I exhaled as I didn't recognize the man, and felt the sting of pain and relief simultaneously. 

"In here!" Natalia cried, agony apparent in her high pitched scream. 

Dante and I stood up and sprinted through the house. I couldn't help but look around at the destruction that surrounded me. We ran over bodies, trying to find the source of Natalia's whimpers. The cries grew closer as we neared the back office. I wasn't surprised to see that the door was blown completely off the hinges, leaving only an arch in place of the massive wooden entry. 

We ran inside, and I instantly felt a surge of relief as I saw the Vino's in the corner of the office. 

Angelo was leaning against the wall next to Florence, who was securely wrapping her sons shoulder with his own shirt. Angelo was sweating as he breathed unevenly, blood drenching through his top and dripping onto his stomach. 

"Nice of you to show up." Angelo said playfully with a small smile. Dante ran over and gently grabbed his good shoulder, grasping it firmly. 

"Nice to see you still breathing." Dante said with relief in his voice. Angelo gave him a wide smile before bending his arm and opening his hand. Dante firmly grabbed it, cupping his hand around his brothers strongly. 

"Where are the medics?" Dante inquired seriously as he examined his brothers shoulder. "And Damon, have you heard from him?" Dante asked seriously as he ran his hand through his hair. 

"Pavlovski's men came back around to clear the area. Our injuries were too severe, we had to hide or they would have killed us all." Angelo said before he tried to sit up straighter, causing him to groan loudly in discomfort. Dante quickly helped him get settled as I furrowed my eyebrows. 

"Damon was at the main house. Hopefully they just sent all their men here, so he should be fine." Angelo said before he grimaced slightly from the pain in his arm.

I looked around as Dante briskly pulled out his phone and saw Giana, who was holding Harry. His eyes were swollen, and his blood stained sweater vest was almost completely crimson. His arms were swollen from the assault, and I could tell he had a few cracked ribs from his labored breathing. He was almost unrecognizable, completely beaten to a pulp. Giana was stroking Harry's face with a piece of fabric, attempting to clean the blood soaking his features as streams of tears flowed down her face. 

I turned around once more to see Natalia sitting on the floor with her shoulders hunched over, sniffling loudly. She was crying profusely as Isa laid on her lap. She large piece of a ripped shirt covering her left eye, creating a bloody patch on the fabric. I quickly walked over to see Isa look up at me. She smiled weakly as she held onto her abdomen, which was also wrapped tightly with a jacket from a fallen guard. 

"How are you feeling?" I asked as I stroked Isa's hair gently. 

"Been better, but... I'm breathing so that's good." Isa said before she chuckled, causing her to wince in pain. Her breathing was labored, causing her to wheeze between breaths. 

Relief flooded me as I saw that everyone was alive. But as I glanced around the room, guilt struck me as I watched the Vino's care for their wounded family. They were alive, but barely. 

"Medics are here." Dante said as he looked down at his phone, effectively pulling me out of my thoughts. Moments after his words, dozens of members walked through the door, helping to escort Isa, Harry, and Angelo out of the room. I watched as Dante quickly put his phone back up to his ear while he clenched his jaw. 

"Damon, fuck its good to hear your voice." Dante said before sighing loudly. 

I walked around the house, looking up at the ceilings towards the cameras that Pavlovski somehow managed to hack. I built the entire security system myself, and for the Russian Mafia to be able to flaunt their access at the Ball was more than just a slap in the face: it was a message. They were showing me that they could infiltrate any code, firewall, or system I create. No matter how prepared I think I am, Pavlovski is always one step ahead. 

Come to think of it, he's probably watching the feed right now. Most likely relishing in the chaos and anguish he's created. I scoffed at the camera before walking over towards the now destroyed bookcase that once enclosed the panic room. 

I cautiously walked into the room, remembering the film of my mother, Florence, and Giana huddled up in the corner as they were getting attacked. Drops of blood were on the floor, most likely from their head injuries and being knocked unconscious. 

I looked down at the floor to see a cell phone. It was a black iPhone in perfect condition, and placed neatly against the wall in the corner. I bent down to examine it as the screen lit up. It didn't vibrate nor did it ring, but the screen lit up with a new notification. I picked it up, surprised to see that it unlocked with my facial recognition almost immediately. 

I quickly looked over my shoulder to make sure that the Vino's were still distracted before I swiftly read the message:

I left them alive for a reason. This is your last chance to come willingly. Tomorrow. 2am. Port of Venice. I'll know if you don't come alone.

I clenched my hand around the phone until my knuckles turned white. My eyes scanned over the words once more as I read Pavlovski's ultimatum. This was all apart of his plan, his sick game that he's been playing for far too long. Every step of the way we've done exactly what he's predicted us to, we've walked into every trap. 

Pavlovski was after me, and me alone. 

Isa, Angelo, Harry, Florence, Giana... they didn't have to be here. They didn't have to put their lives on the line for this. They shouldn't have gotten hurt because of me. 

My mother, she was taken because I dragged her into this mess. She was healing, and finally in remission after all this time. She had just beaten one of the worst battles she'd ever face in her lifetime, and now she's at the mercy of a deranged Mafia Don. 

Pavlovski wants me to join my "real family" by destroying the people I hold dear... the only people who I've ever considered to be my family. Pavlovski may be related to me by blood, but the Vino's have treated me like one of their own since day one. Even after I stole millions from them, they still welcomed me with open arms, and always saved a seat for me at their table. 

They didn't deserve this. I can't let this go on. I can't let the Vino's die for me. 

"Rebel?" Dante's voice said from the office. 

"I'm coming." I said softly as I discretely slipped the phone up my sleeve, hiding it from him before walking back into the office.