The Escape
1115 Words
Serena had exactly four hours before the wedding.
Four hours before she would become Mrs. Dante Moretti.
Four hours before her life would no longer belong to her.
She stood in front of the bedroom mirror, staring at the white wedding dress hanging beside her.
It was beautiful.
Expensive.
Perfect.
She hated it.
A knock sounded.
“Miss Valenti?”
Serena didn't answer.
“The wedding preparations will begin soon.”
“I need some time alone.”
There was a pause.
“Yes, ma'am.”
The footsteps disappeared.
Serena waited.
Then she crossed the room and locked the door.
She had been watching the mansion since arriving that morning.
Two guards stood outside the main entrance.
Another pair guarded the driveway.
Security cameras covered almost every hallway.
There was no obvious way out.
But Serena had noticed something.
The bathroom window.
It overlooked the garden.
It was small, but she might be able to squeeze through.
She opened her wardrobe and pulled out a dark pair of trousers, a simple shirt, and flat shoes.
She changed quickly.
Then she grabbed a small handbag and slipped her phone inside.
She wasn't leaving her father behind because she wanted to.
She was leaving because if she stayed, she would become Dante Moretti's prisoner.
Serena opened the bathroom window.
Cold air rushed against her face.
She looked down.
The distance wasn't impossible.
A thick tree grew close to the wall, its branches stretching toward the window.
She could climb down.
Her heart pounded.
“This is insane,” she whispered.
Then she remembered Dante's words.
You're becoming my wife.
Serena climbed onto the windowsill.
Her fingers wrapped around the tree branch.
She lowered herself carefully.
The branch shook beneath her weight.
“Please…”
She reached for another branch.
Her foot slipped.
A gasp escaped her lips.
She grabbed the tree desperately.
For several seconds, she hung there.
Then she found her balance.
Slowly, she climbed down.
When her feet finally touched the ground, she exhaled in relief.
She ran.
The garden stretched behind the mansion, surrounded by a tall stone wall.
If she could reach the service gate, she might have a chance.
Serena ran through the flower beds, trying to stay out of sight of the cameras.
She reached the gate.
Locked.
Of course.
She pulled at the handle.
Nothing.
“Come on.”
She looked around.
No guards.
She pulled a hairpin from her hair and crouched beside the lock.
Her hands trembled as she tried to pick it.
Click.
Her eyes widened.
The lock opened.
“Yes.”
She pushed the gate.
It moved only a few inches before stopping.
Serena froze.
A chain had been wrapped around it from the other side.
She stepped back.
“No…”
A voice came from behind her.
“Leaving so soon?”
Serena's blood turned cold.
She slowly turned around.
Dante stood several yards away.
His black suit was perfectly fitted, his hands resting calmly in his pockets.
Two guards stood behind him.
Serena's heart sank.
“How did you—?”
“You weren't in your room.”
His gaze moved over her clothes.
“You changed.”
Serena said nothing.
Dante walked closer.
“You climbed out of a second-floor window.”
“How did you know?”
A faint smile appeared.
“I own this house.”
He stopped in front of her.
“I know everything that happens inside it.”
Serena stepped backward.
“I won't marry you.”
“You've already tried to run.”
“And I'll try again.”
Dante's eyes narrowed.
“Do you really think you can escape me?”
“I don't know.”
Her voice shook, but she forced herself to continue.
“But I'd rather die trying than spend my life trapped here.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
Anger.
Perhaps admiration.
He reached for her wrist.
Serena pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
Dante stopped.
For several seconds, they stared at each other.
Then he said quietly,
“You're afraid of me.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Serena's eyes hardened.
“That doesn't mean I'll obey you.”
A strange silence settled between them.
Dante looked toward the locked gate.
“You could have been hurt.”
“I don't care.”
“I do.”
The words slipped out so naturally that even Dante seemed surprised by them.
Serena stared at him.
He quickly masked whatever emotion had appeared on his face.
“Take her back.”
The guards stepped forward.
“No!”
Serena turned and ran.
She didn't get far.
Dante caught her around the waist.
She struggled violently.
“Let me go!”
“Stop.”
“I hate you!”
“I know.”
“You're a monster!”
His grip tightened.
“Perhaps.”
Serena stopped fighting for a moment.
Dante lowered his voice.
“But I'm not the person you should be running from.”
She looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
Before he could answer, a gunshot exploded across the garden.
Bang!
Serena screamed.
Dante immediately pulled her against him and turned her body away from the direction of the shot.
The guards drew their weapons.
Another bullet struck the stone wall beside them.
Dante's expression changed completely.
The cold billionaire disappeared.
The mafia king emerged.
“Get her inside!”
His men moved toward Serena.
She stared at Dante.
“What is happening?”
He looked toward the mansion.
Then toward the surrounding trees.
“Someone followed you.”
Her blood ran cold.
“What?”
Dante pulled out his phone.
“Lock down the estate.”
A voice answered immediately.
“Already done, boss.”
Serena's breathing became shallow.
Dante looked down at her.
His eyes were no longer filled with anger.
They were filled with something far more frightening.
Concern.
“You thought you were escaping from me,” he said.
He glanced toward the dark forest beyond the wall.
“But someone else was waiting for you to escape.”
Serena couldn't speak.
Dante took her hand.
This time, she didn't pull away.
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere I can keep you alive.”
As they hurried toward the mansion, Serena looked over her shoulder.
For one brief second, she saw a figure standing between the trees.
Watching her.
Then the figure disappeared into the darkness.
Serena's heart pounded.
She had thought Dante Moretti was her greatest danger.
She was beginning to realize she might have been wrong.
Because whoever had fired that gun hadn't been trying to scare her.
They had been trying to kill her.
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