Maya's POV
Just as abruptly as the gunfire began, it ceased. My heart was pounding so hard that I felt like it might burst as I pressed myself against the wall. I could hear men running around the house and shouting in the darkness. Somewhere upstairs, glass shattered. There was a scream.
"Maya!" The commotion was broken by Dante's voice. "Where are you?"
"Here!" I returned the call, but my voice was barely audible.
In the dark, a hand seized my arm. Before I heard Marco's voice, I was on the verge of screaming.
"It's me," he declared. "We must leave. Now."
"How about my dad?" I inquired.
Marco said, "Forget your father," and drew me to what appeared to be a doorway. "It's not worth dying for him."
As we got to the hallway, the lights flickered back on. I could see blood on the floor and bullet holes in the walls. I felt nauseous.
Marco pushed me in the direction of the back of the house and said, "This way."
I had never seen the rooms we ran through before. The house had hallways that seemed to go on forever, and it was larger than I had anticipated. I heard more gunshots and men shouting behind us.
"Are we going to die?" As we ascended a small staircase, I inquired.
"Not if I can help it," Marco stated.
When we got to the top of the stairs, Marco pushed open a heavy door. My face was hit by cold air. I could see the lake extending like a black mirror from where we were on the house's roof.
I inquired, "Where are the others?"
"Fighting," Marco uttered. "Dante told me to get you out."
"I'm not leaving without them," I declared.
Marco grabbed my shoulders and said, "Maya, listen to me. Moretti had twenty men with him. Perhaps more. We are outnumbered."
"Then we ought to assist in the battle!"
Marco said, "You should stay alive. Because my brothers will never be able to forgive themselves if something were to happen to you."
I gazed at him. "What do you mean?"
The door behind us flew open before Marco could respond. Three black-clad men entered, brandishing their weapons at us.
"Well, well," one of them grinned sourly. "Observe what we discovered."
Marco moved ahead of me. "Maya, run."
"I'm not leaving you," I declared.
"Run!" Marco shouted.
However, there was nowhere to go. There were men with guns all around us on a roof. Like a mouse in a cage, I felt imprisoned.
The first man said, "Vincent wants to see the girl. Alive."
"Too bad," Marco said, drawing his own firearm.
The next few seconds seemed to go on forever. Marco fired at the men. They fired back. I covered my head with my hands and threw myself onto the roof.
I looked up when the gunfire ceased. Marco's shirt was covered in blood as he lay on the ground. The three men were approaching me.
"No!" I scrambled to Marco and screamed. His eyes were closed, but he was still breathing. His leg and shoulder were gushing blood.
One of the men said, "He'll live. If he gets help soon."
"Help him," I pleaded. "Please."
"That depends on you," the man stated. "Come with us in silence, and we'll see to it that he receives medical care."
Marco's pale face caught my attention. I caused him pain. Since he was attempting to keep me safe.
"Okay," I replied. "I'll be there."
After tying my hands behind my back, they led me through the house. I could see the fight's damage. There were bullet holes everywhere, windows were broken, and furniture was flipped over.
I noticed my father seated in a chair in the main room. He appeared frightened but unharmed.
When he saw me, he exclaimed, "Maya!"
I said, "Don't talk to me," without even glancing at him.
Vincent Moretti stood by the large windows, gazing out at the lake. He turned around and grinned when he heard us enter.
"Miss Chen," he said. "We get together once more."
I inquired, "Where are the Romano brothers?"
Moretti stated, "Dante and Luca are... indisposed. Enzo got away, but he won't make it far."
"What does that mean?"
"It means they're hurt," Moretti stated. "However, alive. For the time being."
I said, "What do you want?"
Moretti declared, "I want what I've always wanted. Mastery. This city has been dominated by the Romano family for far too long. New leadership is needed."
"And you believe that taking me hostage will benefit you?"
Moretti stated, "I believe that using you as leverage will make the other Romanos reconsider retaliating. They appear to be concerned about you."
"They hardly know me," I remarked.
"Really?" Moretti approached me. "So why did they put themselves in danger to keep you safe tonight?"
For that, I had no response.
Moretti ordered his men to "take her to the car. We're heading to my house."
"How about my dad?" I inquired.
Moretti added, "Your father is coming too. I still need the information he has."
I turned to face the house as they pushed me to the door. It was both frightening and lovely. Even though I had only been there for a little over an hour, it felt familiar.
I questioned, "Will I ever see them again?"
"The Romano brothers?" Moretti chuckled. "Probably not. They now have more pressing issues to deal with."
I was placed in the rear of a black vehicle. I turned away from my father as he entered beside me. What he had done to my mother still infuriated me. I may never be able to forgive him.
I saw the house shrink in the distance as we drove away. Marco was bleeding somewhere inside. Luca and Dante were wounded. Enzo was in hiding. And I was solely to blame.
None of this would have occurred if I hadn't been present. It would be safe for the Romano brothers. They wouldn't shoot Marco. At least our family's issues would not harm anyone else, even though my father would still be a murderer and a liar.
I couldn't see the house at all as the car turned onto a dark road.
I said, "Where are we going?"
From the front seat, Moretti said, "To my estate. You're going to be there for a long time."
"How long?"
"Until the Romano family is destroyed," Moretti declared. "However long that takes."
I tried not to cry and closed my eyes. I reflected on my mother, who perished as a result of my father's avarice. The Romano brothers, who suffered because they attempted to keep me safe, came to mind. I reflected on all the kids who lost their lives as a result of my father embezzling their charity funds.
My family caused harm to everyone I cared about. Perhaps, however, that was about to change. Perhaps it was time for me to take action and stop being a victim.
The vehicle arrived at a massive gate manned by guards. I noticed a house that was even larger than the Romano mansion as we were driving through. It appeared to be a stronghold.
"Welcome to your new home," Moretti said.
However, as we exited the vehicle, I heard a sound that chilled me to the bone. The distant sound of helicopters. And they were drawing nearer.