The Don’s Soulmate

56. Carlotta

Chapter 56

Carlotta

My heart pounds as we reach the bottom of the fire escape, our feet hitting the pavement with a dull thud. Ettore's hand grips mine tightly, his fingers intertwined with my own so hard I’m afraid he'd never be able to let go. Sofia stands beside us, her blonde hair disheveled from our frantic descent.

"This way," Sofia hisses, jerking her head towards her sleek black car parked nearby.

We sprint towards it, the cool night air stinging my face. Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoes behind us, growing louder with each passing second. My blood runs cold, but I don’t dare turn back.

I’m petrified. "He's coming," I gasp, fear clawing at my throat as I feel my baby kick.

Ettore's jaw clenches, his blue eyes flashing dangerously. "Get to the car, now," he growls, his voice low and commanding.

We reach Sofia's vehicle, our hands fumbling for the door handles. The footsteps are getting closer, the threat of our pursuer looming large.

"Hurry!" Sofia urges, her usual wit replaced by raw panic.

My heart races, threatening to burst from my chest. I can't help but wonder if this is how it ends—our curse to never be together again, to be relived in the next lifetime.

The night explodes with the loud crack of a gunshot. I cringe, a scream caught in my throat, but I bend down. I look up, to see a bullet on the car side, just where my head was. Before I can react, Ettore's strong hands are on me, shoving me roughly into the backseat of the car.

"Get down!" he roars, his body covering mine protectively.

I feel the heat of his skin and smell the mix of cologne and sweat. My heart pounds wildly, not just from fear but from his proximity. Even in this chaos, my body betrays me, responding to his touch.

"Ettore," I gasp, clutching at his shirt.

He dives in behind me. Then another shot rings out, shattering the window above us.

"Sofia, drive!" Ettore bellows, his voice laced with a fury I've rarely heard.

I hear Sofia curse, the engine roaring to life beneath us. She slams her foot on the accelerator, and we lurch forward. Ettore’s door is still open. The tires screech against the pavement as we peel away from the curb.

"Hold on," Ettore murmurs, his grip on me tightening. But he leans away to close the door behind him.

I cling to him, my face buried in his chest. His heartbeat thunders against my ear, matching the frantic rhythm of my own. I can't stop shaking, my body wracked with fear and adrenaline.

"Shh, tesoro," Ettore murmurs, his large hand cradling the back of my head. "I've got you."

His words, meant to soothe, only heightens my awareness of our precarious situation. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the nightmare to end.

Suddenly, Sofia's panicked voice cuts through the chaos. "Where do I go? Guys, I need directions!"

I lift my head, meeting Ettore's intense gaze. For a split second, I'm lost in those ice-blue depths, seeing a flash of concern beneath his usual stoic exterior.

"Ettore!" Sofia shouts again, more urgently this time.

He snaps back to reality. "Just drive!" he cries out, my voice loud and firm. "Get us out of here, Sofia. Fast!"

The car swerves sharply, and I'm thrown against Ettore's solid chest. His arms tighten around me instinctively, and I cling to him like a lifeline.

Ettore suddenly shifts, his body tensing against mine. I feel his muscles coil as he twists in his seat, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits.

"Merda," he hisses through clenched teeth.

"What is it?" I whisper, my voice barely audible over the roar of the engine.

Ettore's jaw tightens, a muscle twitching beneath his skin. "The third brother," he growls. "He's found us."

I crane my neck, following Ettore's gaze through the rear window. My blood runs cold as I catch sight of our pursuer. Even from this distance, I can see the family resemblance through the windshield - the same chiseled features, the same predatory grace as the two assassins Ettore had killed off earlier.

"How..." I start to ask, but the words die in my throat as I lock eyes with our hunter.

His gaze is a void, devoid of mercy or humanity. It's as if death itself is staring back at me, relentless and unyielding. I shudder, pressing closer to Ettore.

"He won't stop," Ettore mutters, more to himself than to me. "Not until he finishes what his brothers started."

“Y…You’re saying Viktor is an assassin?” Sofia asks in a deathly whisper.

“His name isn’t Viktor,” Ettore informs her. “It’s Vittorio.”

I swallow hard, my mind racing. "Can we lose him?"

Ettore's laugh is harsh and humorless. "We can try, tesoro. But men like him... they don't give up easily."

As if to emphasize Ettore's point, the assassin's car surges forward, closing the gap between us. I can't tear my eyes away from his face, twisted with a determination that chills me to my core.

Suddenly, Sofia's voice cuts through the tension. "Shit! Truck!"

My head whips around just in time to see a massive semi barreling towards us, its horn blaring. The world seems to slow down, my heart pounding in my ears as I watch Sofia's hands grip the wheel tighter.