Bounded by Shadows

SETTING THE NET

The safehouse was buzzing with movement — weapons reloaded, maps spread out, Conti guards rotated through entrances.

Amelia sat on the couch, knees pulled to her chest, contemplating everything that had happened in the hotel.

Valerio paced in front of her like a caged panther.

Raffaele and Angelo Conti were arguing near the dining table.
Luca cleaned a rifle.
Marco wrote notes.
Matteo stress-ate chips.

The atmosphere was thick.

Almost suffocating.

AMELIA (POV)
I'm in the middle of a war.
And I am not running from it.

Valerio suddenly stopped pacing in front of her.

"You scared the hell out of me today."

She looked up.

"I shot someone today."

Valerio kneeled in front of her.

"You defended yourself."
"You survived."

She swallowed.

"Your life is my life now. I need to learn."

He closed his eyes for a moment — as if fighting something inside him.

Then he touched her cheek.

"I don't want to lose you.
Not in this world."
"Not in any world."

Her fingers slid around his wrist.

"You won't."

****

Raffaele slapped a new map onto the table.

"Cesare didn't come personally. That means next attack, he will."

Angelo Conti nodded.

"We can force him out."

Marco leaned over the map.

"We take an abandoned wine estate outside the city. Only one entrance. Easy to trap."

Luca added:

"Plenty of cover. And no civilians."

Valerio crossed his arms.

"It's good."

Amelia stepped closer.

Everyone turned to look.

She pointed at the side entrance marked on the map.

"What about here?"
"If Cesare is smart — and he is — he'll send men through this corridor."

Raffaele raised an eyebrow.

Impressed.

"She's right."

Conti tapped the map.

"We'll block it with a false wall. Force him into the funnel."

Marco looked at Amelia.

"You're getting good at this."

Matteo whispered loudly to Luca:

"She's becoming terrifying."
"In a hot way."

Luca:

"Focus."

Valerio stepped behind Amelia, resting both hands on her waist — grounding her, claiming her, and maybe reminding the room she wasn't just "becoming terrifying."

She was his.

And he was dangerously proud.

Marco handed Amelia a sleek, matte-black handgun.

"This one suits you."

Matteo rolled his eyes.

"She needs something lighter."

"She needs something lethal."

Amelia giggled.

"I'll take it."

Valerio stepped forward.

"Stand like this—"

He positioned her hips.
Her hands.
Her shoulders.

His chest pressed against her back.

His breath ghosted her neck.

"Perfect."

Amelia's stomach flipped.
Heat rose in her cheeks.

Matteo groaned.

"For the love of God, can you two be less horny during war training?"

Valerio shot him a death glare.

"Leave."

"This is my house too—okay okay, I'm going."

****

Later, after hours of training and planning, Amelia sat on the balcony.
The air was cool.
The sky deep blue.

Valerio stepped out beside her, leaning on the railing.

"You did good today."

She smiled softly.

"Because of you."

He shook his head.

"No.
Because you're stronger than you think."

She stared at him.

He stared back.

The air thickened.

His voice lowered.

"I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"When we face Cesare...
stay behind me.
Even if you're angry.
Even if you want to end this yourself."

Her breath caught.

"You can't ask me that."

His jaw tightened.

"I'm asking."

She looked away.

"I'll protect myself. That's all I can promise."

He stepped closer.

Chest brushing hers.

"I can't lose you, amore."

She whispered:

"You won't."

He pressed a slow kiss to her forehead.

****

Inside, Matteo threw a burner phone onto the table.

"This came for us."

Valerio frowned.

"Us" never meant anything good.

He picked up the phone.

Played the voice message.

Cesare's voice oozed through the speakers like poison.

"Valerio...
You failed today."
"But I'll give you another chance."
"Bring the girl to the vineyards tomorrow night."
"Or I burn your entire world down."
"Oh — and bring the list."
"I know you have it."

The phone clicked dead.

Everyone stared at Valerio.

His breathing changed.
Slow.
Dangerous.
Even Matteo stepped back.

"He knows."

Valerio closed his eyes.

Then opened them — black, cold, murderous.

"Good."
"Let him come."

He looked at Amelia.

Took her face in his hands.

"He thinks he's hunting us."
"He has no idea he's walking into his grave."