The sterile smell of antiseptic mixed with the low murmur of voices. Nurses passed by with brisk efficiency, their faces masks of practiced calm. But inside the hospital room, the air was thick with something else. Something darker. Luciano stood by Nia's side, his eyes fixed on her as if she might disappear with the slightest blink.
The rhythmic beep of the heart monitor was the only sound that kept him tethered to the present. Everything else seemed distant, out of reach. Nia's face was pale, her breathing shallow and uneven. She'd been stable for now—thanks to the rapid response of the medics—but it was clear that her life hung by a thread, woven tightly into the chaos of that night.
He hadn't left her side. Not once.
His hands, once so steady and in control of everything around him, trembled as he reached out to brush a lock of hair away from her face. His fingertips lingered on her skin, tracing the outline of her jaw as if willing her to wake up. He had known power. He had known control. But standing here, helpless, watching her fight for every breath, he felt... lost.
He had never felt more vulnerable.
The door opened with a soft creak, pulling him from his thoughts. A doctor entered, followed by a nurse, both wearing expressions that offered no comfort.
Luciano didn't look up. His gaze stayed locked on Nia's, his jaw tight, his teeth clenched.
"How is she?" he asked, his voice low, almost hoarse.
The doctor cleared his throat, glancing between the machines and the pale woman in the bed. "She's stable, but it's too early to say how much damage has been done. The bullet grazed her abdomen, causing severe blood loss. We've managed to stop the bleeding for now, but..."
Luciano's hand curled into a fist. "But?"
The doctor hesitated. "But there's still a chance of complications. Internal damage is hard to gauge, and we'll need to keep her under observation for the next 48 hours at the very least. You should prepare yourself for the possibility of further surgery if anything changes."
"Not an option," Luciano muttered under his breath, his eyes flashing with something dangerous. He would not lose her—not like this. Not after everything.
The doctor offered a sympathetic nod but didn't press further. He turned to the nurse, giving a silent instruction to check the vitals before stepping out of the room.
Luciano's eyes lingered on Nia, his mind racing with a thousand possibilities. How had this happened? Who had done this to her? And why?
His phone buzzed in his pocket, the sharp vibration pulling him away from his thoughts. Luciano glanced down at the screen—a message from his security team.
"No suspects yet. But there's a lead."
A lead. It wasn't enough.
His mind immediately returned to the hospital room, to the woman lying in the bed, her life hanging in the balance. His chest tightened, his hand gripping the edge of the bed as if it could hold everything together. But nothing felt certain anymore. Everything he had worked so hard to build was crumbling in front of him. He was powerless.
Luciano's hand slid down to Nia's, his fingers intertwining with hers, his thumb brushing across her knuckles in a soft, rhythmic motion. He needed her to wake up. Needed her to fight like she had before—because the truth was, without her, everything felt empty.
The door opened again, and this time, it was one of his men—Tobias. The man stood in the doorway, his gaze flickering to Luciano before moving to Nia.
"Boss," Tobias said, his voice quiet but firm. "We've got some news on the investigation. It's not good."
Luciano's eyes shot up. "What do you mean, not good?"
Tobias hesitated. "The shot came from inside the ballroom. Someone close. We're narrowing down suspects, but we don't know who made the call yet. You've got enemies, Luciano. People you've crossed."
Luciano's jaw clenched. He didn't need to hear that. Not now. But there was something about Tobias' tone—something that suggested it wasn't just business anymore. It was personal.
Tobias lingered for a moment longer before speaking again. "There's something else... we found a note. It's addressed to you."
Luciano's eyes narrowed. "A note? What did it say?"
Tobias stepped forward, handing him a folded piece of paper. Luciano unfolded it, his gaze hardening as he read.
"This is just the beginning, Luciano. You took what wasn't yours. Now I'm taking what you love."
His heart stopped for a second. A wave of cold fury swept over him, replacing the vulnerability that had been gnawing at him. His grip tightened around the note.
"Get the men ready," he ordered, his voice low and deadly. "And find out who sent this. I want them found. NOW."
Tobias nodded, disappearing through the door as quickly as he had come. Luciano stood still, the paper crumpled in his hand. He could feel the weight of it—an enemy who wasn't just targeting him. They were targeting her.
Nia.
She had no idea what kind of world she had been pulled into, but she was about to find out. And Luciano would make sure the person responsible for this paid dearly.
But first—he had to make sure she survived.
He leaned down, brushing a kiss to Nia's forehead, his breath shaky. "I won't let them take you from me," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The machines continued to beep, their sound as constant as the darkness gathering around them. And in that moment, Luciano knew there was no going back.
This wasn't just about power anymore. It was a
bout keeping her alive. And anyone who stood in his way would regret it.