FORBIDDEN LOYALTY

xiety settled in her chest, tightening like a noose. She tried to move, but her hands were bound to the chair, the ropes biting into her skin. Panic coursed through her veins as she recalled the

Russo! You should have stayed away," sneered one of the men, his eyes glinting with malice. Elena recognized him as Dario, a rival gang leader known for his brutality. "Let her go, Dario," Luca demanded, stepping protectively in front of Elena. "You have no idea what you're getting into." Dario laughed, a low, menacing sound. "I think I know exactly what I'm getting into, Luca. The Russo family is on borrowed time, and you just handed me the perfect leverage." He gestured to Elena, his smile widening. "What a delightful surprise. The little sister of the man who thinks he can play in our territory." "Back off!" Luca warned, raising his gun. "This is your only chance to walk away from this." Elena felt a surge of fear but also a flicker of courage. "You think you can take us both on? You don't know what we're capable of," she added, surprising herself with the strength in her voice. Dario's expression soured. "You're just a pawn in this game. I suggest you run back to your brother before things get messy." Before Elena could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed behind her. Her heart dropped as she glanced back to see a group of armed men approaching, their intentions clear. "We're outnumbered!" she shouted, adrenaline surging through her. "We need to fight!" Luca cried, his eyes blazing. "Get ready!" As the rival gang members moved closer, Luca fired off several shots, the deafening sound echoing in the confined space. Elena's instincts kicked in, and she raised the gun, aiming at the nearest man. Her hands shook, and for a moment, she hesitated. "Pull the trigger, Elena!" Luca shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. In a burst of determination, she squeezed the trigger. The sound was jarring, and her heart raced as the man fell to the floor, his eyes wide with shock. "Good! Now we need to get out of here!" Luca urged, pulling her towards the exit. They fought their way through the chaos, ducking and dodging bullets as they moved. Just as they reached the door, Elena felt a searing pain in her shoulder. She gasped, stumbling back as warmth spread down her arm. Luca turned, his face contorting with fear. "Elena!" "No! Keep going!" she shouted, desperation lacing her voice. "We have to get to safety!" With a mix of adrenaline and panic, Luca grabbed her and dragged her out into the hallway. They raced down the corridor, but just when they thought they were in the clear, a door swung open ahead of them, and more gang members emerged, blocking their escape. "End of the line, Russo," one of them sneered,