Chapter 3: The Midnight Escape
847 Words
Aurora's pulse thundered in her ears.
The bedroom door slowly creaked open.
She gripped the heavy crystal vase she had taken from the bedside table, her trembling hands tightening around it.
"If you're here to force me into this marriage," she whispered, "I won't go down without a fight."
A tall figure stepped into the room.
It wasn't Alessandro.
It was Isabella.
The older woman quickly closed the door behind her.
"Lower the vase," she said quietly. "I'm not here to hurt you."
Aurora didn't move.
"You lied to my mother."
"I had to."
"You imprisoned me."
"I protected you."
Aurora laughed bitterly.
"Is this what you call protection?"
Isabella sighed before walking to the window.
"You think you're a prisoner."
"You are."
"But not because of Alessandro."
Aurora frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"The men who attacked tonight belong to the Black Serpents."
"They've already placed a price on your head."
Aurora's face turned pale.
"How do you know that?"
"Because we've intercepted their communications."
She pulled a small tablet from her handbag and handed it to Aurora.
On the screen was a photograph.
Aurora gasped.
It was her.
The picture had been taken just hours earlier as she entered the Grand Bellagio Hotel.
Across the image, written in bold red letters, were the words:
ELIMINATE THE WITNESS.
Below it was a reward large enough to change anyone's life forever.
Aurora's hands began to shake.
"They... they know who I am."
"They know where your mother lives."
"They know where you study."
"They know everything."
Tears welled in Aurora's eyes.
"So even if I escape..."
"...they'll find me."
Isabella nodded sadly.
"Yes."
Silence filled the room.
For the first time since arriving at the penthouse, Aurora realized Alessandro hadn't been threatening her.
He had been warning her.
Elsewhere in Rome...
A black SUV stopped outside Aurora's apartment building.
Three armed men stepped out.
One carried a photograph.
"Third floor."
"The witness's mother lives alone."
"No mistakes."
They quietly entered the building.
Back at the penthouse...
Alessandro stood in his office, studying the city skyline.
Marco entered hurriedly.
"Boss."
"They've moved."
Alessandro didn't turn.
"Where?"
"Her mother's apartment."
The room became deadly silent.
Alessandro slowly picked up his phone.
"Team Alpha."
A calm voice answered immediately.
"Yes, Boss."
"Protect Mrs. Bennett."
"Alive."
"No mistakes."
The call ended.
Marco looked surprised.
"You've already stationed guards there?"
Alessandro finally looked at him.
"I expected Riccardo's next move."
Aurora sat alone, unable to stop crying.
Everything had happened so quickly.
Yesterday, she had been worrying about graduation.
Today...
Someone wanted her dead.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
This time, Alessandro entered.
He dismissed the guards with a glance.
The door closed.
Neither of them spoke for several moments.
Aurora finally broke the silence.
"Why me?"
His expression remained unreadable.
"Because you were in the wrong place."
"At the wrong time."
She looked down.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For bringing trouble into your life."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"You didn't."
"They brought it."
She looked up, surprised.
It was the first hint of warmth she'd seen from him.
Then it disappeared.
"I have a question."
"What is it?"
"If I agree to this marriage..."
"My mother will be safe?"
Alessandro answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
"And if I refuse?"
He looked directly into her eyes.
"I'll still protect you."
"But I can't promise the world will stop hunting you."
Aurora's heart ached.
She had always believed every problem had a legal solution.
This one didn't.
Meanwhile...
Riccardo Moretti watched security footage from the failed attack.
He replayed the moment Alessandro shot his assassin.
Again.
And again.
Then he smiled.
"So..."
"You've finally found someone worth protecting."
He lit a cigar.
"Excellent."
The man beside him frowned.
"Boss?"
Riccardo's smile widened.
"A ruthless king..."
"...always has one weakness."
"If we can't destroy the king..."
"We destroy his queen."
Back at the penthouse...
Unable to sleep, Aurora quietly opened her bedroom door.
The hallway was empty.
She knew it was reckless.
But she couldn't stay.
She slipped off her shoes and hurried toward the private elevator.
The doors opened.
She stepped inside.
The elevator descended.
Fortieth floor.
Thirty-fifth.
Thirty.
Twenty.
Her breathing grew faster.
"I'm almost free."
The doors opened into the hotel lobby.
She ran.
Straight through the revolving doors.
Rain poured from the sky.
She didn't stop.
She crossed the street.
A taxi pulled over.
"Please!"
"The train station!"
The driver nodded.
She climbed inside.
The taxi drove away.
Hidden in the shadows across the street...
A man lifted a phone.
"The bird has left the cage."
A cold voice answered.
"Follow her."
"Don't kill her."
"Not yet."
At that exact moment...
An alarm echoed through Alessandro's penthouse.
Marco looked at the security screen.
"Boss..."
"She's gone."
Alessandro stared at the live camera feed showing Aurora's empty bedroom.
Without saying a word...
He grabbed his coat.
Within seconds, black SUVs roared out of the underground garage, disappearing into the rain-soaked streets of Rome.
Aurora believed she had escaped.
She had no idea...
She was driving straight into a trap.
- Writer
