WHEN THE BULLETS FOUND HER
1736 Words
The first shot shattered the glass beside her head.
Elara didn’t scream.
She dropped.
Instinct took over before fear could.
The window behind her exploded inward, shards of glass slicing through the air like knives. She hit the floor hard, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs as another shot cracked through the room—louder this time, closer.
Not random.
Not a warning.
Someone was aiming to kill.
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs as she rolled behind the heavy bed frame, pressing her body flat against the cold marble. Her ears rang, but she forced herself to listen.
Footsteps.
Fast. Controlled.
Coming from the hallway.
Then—
The door burst open.
Elara’s breath caught as armed men flooded the room, weapons raised, eyes sharp.
But they weren’t shooting.
They were securing.
“Clear!”
“Window breach—east wing!”
“Where is she?!”
Before she could move, a familiar presence cut through the chaos like a blade.
“Move.”
The single word silenced the room.
Alessio.
He stepped inside, calm in a storm of violence, his expression carved from ice. His gaze swept across the destruction—the shattered glass, the bullet marks embedded in the wall—then landed on her.
On the floor.
Alive.
For a fraction of a second, something flickered in his eyes.
Then it was gone.
“Out,” he ordered his men.
No one hesitated.
Within seconds, the room emptied, leaving only the two of them and the echo of gunfire still hanging in the air.
Elara pushed herself up slowly, ignoring the sting in her palms where glass had cut her skin. “That was fast,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt.
Alessio didn’t respond immediately.
He walked toward the broken window, glancing out into the darkness beyond, calculating angles, distance, and intent.
“A sniper,” he said finally. “Professional.”
Elara swallowed. “Coming for you?”
Endpause.
Then he turned to her.
“No,” he said.
A beat.
“You.”
The word landed harder than the bullets.
Her stomach tightened. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“It does,” he replied, stepping closer. “You just don’t know why yet.”
Elara shook her head. “I’m not important enough for this.”
His gaze sharpened. “Everyone is important to someone.”
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
“Who would want me dead?” she asked.
Alessio studied her for a long moment, like he was weighing how much to reveal.
“Someone who knows exactly what you are,” he said quietly.
Her pulse spiked. “And what is that?”
His answer came without hesitation.
“Leverage.”
The word hit like a slap.
Before she could respond, another voice cut in through the open doorway.
“Boss.”
Alessio didn’t look away from her. “Speak.”
“A message just came in.”
Now he turned.
The man stepped forward, holding out a small black device. Alessio took it, his expression unreadable as he glanced at the screen.
Then—
Something shifted.
Not fear.
No surprise.
Something darker.
Recognition.
“Eliminate all external access points,” he said coldly. “Double the guards. No one moves without my permission.”
The man nodded quickly. “Yes, boss.”
“And find the shooter,” Alessio added. “Alive.”
The man hesitated. “Alive?”
Alessio’s voice dropped.
“I want to know who sent him.”
A beat.
“Yes, boss.”
The man left.
Silence returned.
Elara’s eyes narrowed. “You know who did this.”
Alessio slipped the device into his pocket. “I have an idea.”
“Then tell me.”
“No.”
Her jaw tightened. “You don’t get to keep me in the dark if someone’s trying to kill me.”
He stepped closer again, stopping just inches away.
“I decide what you need to know,” he said quietly.
“And what if I decide I’m done playing your game?” she shot back.
Something dangerous flashed across his face.
“This isn’t a game,” he said. “It’s survival.”
“Then maybe you should start treating me like I’m part of it.”
A long pause.
Then—
“Fine.”
The word was sharp, unexpected.
Elara blinked.
Alessio’s gaze didn’t waver. “The man behind this is Ronan Kade.”
The name sent a chill down her spine.
Even she had heard it before.
“He’s your rival,” she said slowly.
“He’s a problem,” Alessio corrected.
“And I’m what? A target he picked at random?”
Alessio’s expression darkened.
“No one in this world does anything at random.”
Her chest tightened. “Then why me?”
For the first time—
He hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then he said, “That’s what I intend to find out.”
Elara studied him carefully.
He wasn’t lying.
But he wasn’t telling her everything either.
And that terrified her more than the bullets.
---
Hours later, the tower felt different.
Tighter.
Watching.
Guards lined every corridor now, their presence heavier, more alert. The air itself seemed charged, like something was about to snap.
Elara stood in the same room, now cleaned—but not restored.
The glass was gone.
The damage remained.
A reminder.
She wrapped a cloth around her palm, ignoring the sting as she tied it tight. Her mind wouldn’t slow down.
Ronan Kade.
The name echoed in her thoughts.
Why her?
What did he want?
And more importantly—
What did Alessio know that he wasn’t saying?
A soft knock broke through her thoughts.
Before she could answer, the door opened.
Luca.
He stepped inside carefully, his expression softer than the others she had seen.
“I heard what happened,” he said.
Elara watched him. “You’re his brother.”
He nodded. “Unfortunately.”
A faint, humourless smile touched her lips. “You don’t sound proud.”
“I’m realistic,” Luca replied.
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Then he glanced at her hand. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing.”
He stepped closer anyway, pulling a small medical kit from his jacket. “Sit.”
She hesitated.
Then—
She did.
Because for the first time since arriving here, someone didn’t look at her like she was a tool.
Luca knelt in front of her, carefully unwrapping the cloth. His touch was gentle, precise.
“You handled yourself well,” he said.
Elara raised an eyebrow. “Is that a compliment?”
“It’s a warning,” he replied. “Most people don’t survive their first night here.”
Her chest tightened. “Comforting.”
He glanced up at her. “You’re still here. That means something.”
“Or it means I haven’t been killed yet.”
A faint smirk. “Same thing.”
She studied him. “Do you know why Ronan would come after me?”
Luca’s hands stilled for just a second.
Then he continued cleaning the cut. “If Alessio hasn’t told you, there’s a reason.”
“So you do know.”
“I know enough to stay out of it.”
Frustration flared. “That’s not good enough.”
“It has to be.”
She leaned forward slightly. “People don’t try to assassinate someone for no reason.”
Luca met her gaze now.
“No,” he said quietly. “They don’t.”
A beat.
“Which means,” he added, “you’re more important than you think.”
The words sent a cold weight settling in her chest.
Before she could respond, a sharp noise echoed through the corridor.
Shouting.
Running footsteps.
Luca stood instantly, his expression changing. “Stay here.”
“What’s happening?”
But he was already moving toward the door.
“Elara—lock it.”
Then he was gone.
The door shut behind him.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
Elara stood slowly, her pulse beginning to race again.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
She moved toward the door—but stopped.
Alessio’s words echoed in her mind.
You don’t go anywhere without permission.
Her jaw tightened.
“Damn you,” she muttered.
Then she opened the door anyway.
---
The corridor was chaotic.
Men rushing.
Weapons drawn.
Voices are sharp and urgent.
“Elara!”
She turned.
Alessio was coming toward her fast, his expression darker than before.
“Get back inside,” he ordered.
“What happened?”
“Now.”
She didn’t move.
“Tell me.”
A split second.
Then—
“A breach,” he said. “Internal.”
Her blood ran cold. “Inside the tower?”
“Yes.”
“How—”
A gunshot cut her off.
Close.
Too close.
Instinctively, Alessio grabbed her, pulling her back against him as another shot rang out from down the hall.
A body dropped.
One of his men.
Dead.
Elara’s breath caught.
“This wasn’t just an attack,” she whispered.
Alessio’s grip tightened around her.
“No,” he said.
His voice was colder than she had ever heard it.
“This is war.”
Another shot echoed.
Closer this time.
And then—
A voice rang out from the shadows ahead.
Calm.
Mocking.
Familiar.
“Congratulations on the wedding, Alessio.”
Everything froze.
Elara’s heart slammed violently as a figure stepped into view at the far end of the corridor.
Tall.
Relaxed.
Smiling.
Ronan Kade.
Her breath hitched.
He looked directly at her.
Not at Alessio.
At her.
Terror crawled up her spine.
“You,” he said softly, almost amused.
“There you are.”
Alessio stepped in front of her instantly, shielding her from view.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Alessio said coldly.
Ronan smiled wider. “And miss the chance to meet the bride?”
A pause.
Then—
“I’ve been looking forward to this.”
Elara’s pulse roared in her ears.
Something about the way he said it—
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
“Stay behind me,” Alessio murmured.
But Elara couldn’t look away.
Because in that moment—
She realised something that made her blood run cold.
Ronan wasn’t seeing her for the first time.
He already knew her.
And whatever he knew—
Was about to destroy everything.
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