Love Beneath the Gunfire

he true sound of fea

iped them on her jeans before reaching for the door. Fear, she would later understand, sounded like s

again. Slow. Pr

r knocked

ve. 11:47 p.m. Too late for mistakes. To

e. The place was modest-secondhand furniture, peeling paint near the windows, a single photo frame t

came a t

door and pressed he

sive. One was tall and broad-shouldered, his hair shaved close to his scalp. The other leaned la

art st

teppe

through the door, smooth and

wasn't there. Considered calling the police. Considered ru

t whispered choices wh

ened t

ing the men fully. Up close, they looked even more dang

aid, forcing h

a leather folder. "We're

eath c

s dead," she

iled. Not kindly.

landed l

bout," Elena said. "If this is abou

ts stamped and signed with names she did not recognize. N

million euros," th

father had been a quiet man. A dockworker. A widower who drank too much and

possible," s

the man

she said, lifting her c

d man's s

here you'

ly aware of how small her apartment was. How

the taller man said.

t?" Elen

man you bel

crawled dow

belong to

ice dropped to a whisper. "Everyone belongs to so

se it was. Long and sleek, windows tinted

ed in her lap. The city lights blurred past as they drove farthe

breathe. Tr

she stepped outside. Her questions were i

taking me?" she

lanced at her. "

swal

ehind iron gates and armed guards. The air changed the moment they passed through t

arble floors gleamed beneath chandeliers. Pain

hoed as she was led

" she muttered.

before a pair

hem knoc

nswered f

g her

p. Calm. C

oors

ed into the

ind a large desk. A man sat there, his silhouette sharp

ly watc

eath c

brushed back neatly. A suit that fit him like it was sewn into his

him-not loud, not c

us,"

tantly, closing th

wallowed

spot, her heart hammerin

lightly in his chair,

said. "E

ame-slow, deliberate-

s Alessand

it before. She wou

tinued, "because your

said, surprising herself wi

interest cros

t," Alessandro repli

ross the desk. The

d. "For years. Until he decided to disappea

der but didn't touch it

rose from

d. His presence filled the room as h

s from me," he said quietl

itself arou

ve anything

stopped i

fe," he said. "An

ead. "I won't b

lmly. "You'll be

r burning into something el

she said. "I won't

t time, Ales

s not

ady are,"

ver his shoulder. "Prepare

ong?" Elen

paused at

epends on how valua

closed be

ce, Elena Hart understo

as no long