(Luca)
The first gunshot hit the mansion like a declaration of war. I felt it before I even heard it, a vibration in the walls that only years of running an empire could make register.
My hand went to the small of my back, resting on the familiar weight of my firearm. But I didn’t think about pulling it yet. My mind didn’t linger on myself—not tonight. My focus was only one person.
Aria.
Her name was an instinct, not a thought. Every muscle in my body tensed, primed for action. I didn’t need a second to analyze the situation. I didn’t pause to give orders. I moved.
“Aria!” My voice rolled through the halls, low, lethal, and commanding. No fear. No hesitation. Just authority. Every second counted. Every second could mean she didn’t make it.
I reached the main hall, and chaos hit me li
