Marco

As the morning sun filtered through the window, its warm light stirred me from the deepest sleep I'd had in days. The reason for this tranquility lay beside me, her presence a balm to the chaos that had become my life. Watching Bella sleep, I felt a sense of peace that had been foreign to me since my father's death.

When she opened her eyes, meeting my gaze, there was no need to look away. In that moment, we were just two people, unburdened by the weight of our families and the world outside. Her smile, gentle and genuine, was a reminder of the connection we shared.

Pulling her close, I kissed her, a silent expression of all the emotions that words couldn't capture. But her next words pierced the momentary bubble of happiness. "I'm going back to Italy tonight," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

Refusing to let the moment slip away, I lifted her chin, drawing her lips back to mine. This wasn't just a farewell; it was a reaffirmation of what we meant to each other. As she responded to my kiss, pulling me on top of her, I asked, "Are you sure?"

Her reply was as heartfelt as it was certain. "You are the only thing I am sure of." The sincerity in her words, the absence of fear or hesitation, was the salve my heart needed.

In her embrace, I found the strength and assurance that had eluded me for so long. "I will never let you go," she whispered, her voice a mix of promise and surrender.

As we gave in to the moment, it was more than physical intimacy; it was a mutual healing, a sharing of burdens and pains, fears and hopes. In each other's arms, we found a sanctuary, a brief escape from the responsibilities and dangers that awaited us beyond these walls.

Bella's imminent departure was a stark reminder of the complexities of our lives. Yet, in that morning's embrace, we found a strength and clarity that only true love could foster. It was a poignant realization that, regardless of the distance or challenges, our bond was unbreakable, a constant in a world of uncertainty. Bella may have been returning to Italy, but she was leaving a part of herself with me, just as I was with her. Our story was far from over; it was evolving, growing stronger with every obstacle we faced, together or apart.

The tranquility of the afternoon was abruptly shattered when I realized Bella had only a few hours left before her flight. Her soft kiss lingered as she headed to the shower, unaware of the storm that was about to break.

My phone rang just as she disappeared into the bathroom. Marc's name flashed on the screen, and his news hit me like a punch to the gut. "We found Keta, she's about an hour away."

The weight of the past 24 hours, the brief respite I had found in Bella's presence, suddenly felt like a distant memory. I wrestled with my thoughts for a moment before responding, "Drop the location. See you in an hour."

As I began to dress, Bella's voice drifted from the shower, filled with questions. I couldn't bring myself to answer. When she emerged, wrapped in a towel, the concern in her eyes was palpable. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"We found Keta," I replied, the words tasting bitter.

Her annoyance mirrored mine. "I'm coming too," she said firmly, without a hint of fear.

"No. This is something I need to handle alone. You need to stay out of this," I insisted, the old protective instinct flaring up.

But Bella was unyielding. "She took your father from you, and my grandfather from me. We should do this together. Show our unity."

Her words, though rational, couldn't penetrate the darkness that had settled over me. "There is no us," I said, meeting her gaze, hoping to convey the severity of the situation.

Her response was swift and sharp. "Go to hell." The words stung, a mix of anger and hurt as I walked out, leaving her behind.

As I drove towards the location Marc had sent, part of me wished I could turn back, to stay with Bella and forget this vendetta. But another part, the part consumed by the need for retribution, drove me forward. This was a path I had to walk alone, a dark road that I couldn't, in good conscience, drag Bella down. My decision to leave her behind was as much for her protection as it was for my own singular focus on what needed to be done.

In the rearview mirror, the image of Bella, standing alone in the penthouse, haunted me. This wasn't just about avenging my father anymore; it was about the kind of man I wanted to be, the kind of life I wanted to lead. And in that moment, the two seemed irreconcilably at odds.

The drive to the rendezvous point was a maelstrom of rage and plotting, my mind concocting various scenarios, each ending with Keta's demise. Her actions had caused irreparable harm, and the thought of avenging those losses consumed me.

When I arrived, I found Keta waiting nonchalantly in a park, Marc keeping a watchful eye from a distance. Her greeting, a mix of mockery and confidence, only fueled my anger. "It's about time you got here, lover," she taunted.

"This doesn't end well for you," I retorted, my voice low and threatening.

But Keta was unfazed, revealing her final ace. "Your precious princess at the penthouse, or maybe your mother in Arizona. Your move," she said, her threat clear and calculated.

The revelation that she had people ready to harm Bella or my mother forced me to restrain my immediate desire for retribution. "Speak," I commanded, seething yet powerless.

Keta's demand was simple yet audacious. "Stop hunting me. Understand that your women are my leverage." She rose, confident and unchallenged, leaving me with a chilling ultimatum.

I called my mother first, relief flooding through me as she answered cheerfully, safe on her vacation in Hollywood. But Bella – she was in the penthouse, alone and unprotected. Keta's words echoed ominously in my mind.

Without hesitation, I raced back to the penthouse, pushing the car to its limits. Every second felt like an eternity, the distance seemingly insurmountable as I sped through the streets. The thought of Bella, in danger because of me, because of our entangled lives, was unbearable.

As the penthouse loomed into view, my heart pounded with a mix of fear and urgency. Bella's safety was my only priority now. Every feud, every vendetta, paled in comparison to the need to protect her.

I burst into the penthouse, my eyes frantically searching for her, dreading what I might find yet clinging to the hope that I wasn't too late. The thought of losing Bella, the one person who had brought light into my darkened world, was a fate I couldn't bear. The race against time to reach her was not just a physical journey; it was a testament to the depth of my feelings, a realization of what truly mattered amidst the chaos of our lives.

Bella

Sitting on the bed, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions swirled within me. My thoughts were a tangle of love and revenge, two paths that had defined our lives but now seemed irreconcilable. I chose love every time, but Marco, driven by his need for vengeance, seemed to be on a different trajectory. Just as I was trying to make sense of it all, the sound of the door opening caught my attention.

I sprang to my feet and dashed towards the hallway, hope briefly flickering that perhaps Marco had returned. But that hope was shattered as bullets whizzed past. In a frantic dive, I made it back to the bedroom, realizing I was unarmed and vulnerable. The closet was my only refuge.

Inside, my eyes fell on the code box. I remembered Marco entering a code back in Arizona. Under the stress of gunfire and the fear gripping me, I tried to replicate what I'd seen. The first attempt was met with the dreaded beep of denial. Footsteps crunching on broken glass grew louder, heightening the urgency.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I tried again. This time, the box clicked open, revealing Marco's arsenal. I quickly grabbed a gun, its weight familiar and oddly comforting in my hand.

In that closet, with adrenaline coursing through my veins, a clarity washed over me. The hurt of Marco's choice to pursue revenge over our relationship, the pain of feeling abandoned, transformed into a fierce resolve. My immediate concern shifted to survival and confronting whoever was on the other side of that door. In that moment, I wasn't concerned with my well-being. I was concerned for whoever was on the other side of the gun.

Marco

Stepping into the penthouse, the scene that greeted me was one of utter carnage. Shattered glass littered the floor, mingling with bloodstains, a visceral testament to the violence that had transpired. My heart pounded with dread as I moved through the space, past the bodies of those who had fallen in the ambush – each a grim reminder of the world I was entrenched in.

But it was the note on my bed that stopped me cold. Bella's handwriting was unmistakable, and her words cut deeper than any blade.

"Dear Marco,

I can only assume this was a trap set by Keta, and you rushed here to protect me. But I don't need protecting. I never have and never will. All I ever wanted was your love. We could have protected each other, built an empire to be feared for generations. I'm not perfect, nor am I better than you. I just wanted you. I won't contact you again. I hope you find what you're looking for.

Love always,

Bella"

Her words resonated with a painful truth. In my pursuit of vengeance, I had overlooked what truly mattered. Bella had always been a force in her own right, her strength and independence defining her just as much as her love for me.

I sat on the bed, her letter in hand, a profound sense of loss washing over me. The realization of what I had sacrificed hit me with full force – not just a partner in love but a partner in life, someone who understood the complexities of our world and still chose to stand by my side.

In my quest to avenge my father's death, to uphold the family legacy, I had let the most important part of my life slip away. Bella's departure wasn't just the loss of a relationship; it was the loss of a shared future, of what could have been a powerful union in both love and leadership.

As I sat amidst the wreckage of my penthouse, surrounded by the consequences of my choices, I understood the true cost of my decisions. In seeking vengeance, I had lost a part of myself, and the one person who had brought light into my world of shadows. The realization was a bitter pill to swallow, a lesson learned too late. Bella's absence left an irreplaceable void, a reminder of the love I had forsaken in the pursuit of retribution.