Chapter 81
The echo of gunfire faded as the Venetti forces swept through Rafael’s estate, clearing the last remnants of resistance. Smoke curled from burning debris, and the sharp scent of gunpowder filled the air. Marco leaned heavily against a broken column, his breathing labored and a gash across his side bleeding through his shirt.
“Marco!” Carmen’s voice broke through the haze.
He looked up to see her rushing toward him, her gun slung across her back. She knelt beside him, her hands gentle but firm as she pressed against his wound.
“You’re hurt,” she said, her voice tight with concern.
“I’ll live,” Marco replied, though his grimace betrayed the pain.
Carmen’s sharp gaze didn’t leave his as she spoke. “You shouldn’t have pushed so hard. You were outnumbered, outgunned. This could’ve gone so much worse.”
Marco reached for her hand, his grip weak but insistent. “But it didn’t. Because of you.”
Carmen hesitated, her expression softening. “We’re not done yet. Rafael is still out there.”
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As Carmen rose, Marco stayed where he was, leaning back against the crumbling stone. For the first time, he truly watched her as she moved. She commanded their men with precision, her voice calm but firm as she gave orders to secure the estate and tend to the wounded.
“She’s something, isn’t she?” Luca’s voice broke Marco’s focus.
Marco turned to see his trusted advisor standing nearby, his weapon resting at his side.
“She always has been,” Marco said quietly.
Luca nodded toward the scene before them. “But this is different. You see it now, don’t you? She’s not just holding her own—she’s leading.”
Marco’s gaze returned to Carmen, watching as she reassured a group of nervous soldiers and directed reinforcements to cover the perimeter. In that moment, he saw not just his wife, but his equal—someone who matched his strength with her intelligence, his fire with her calm.
“I’ve always known she was strong,” Marco admitted. “But seeing her like this…” He trailed off, his voice tinged with awe. “She’s everything we need to survive this.”
Luca smirked. “Took you long enough to realize.”
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In the depths of the estate, Carmen made her way toward the secured private wing, where Rafael had last been seen. She moved cautiously, her weapon ready as she scanned the dimly lit corridors.
“Keep searching,” she instructed a pair of guards. “He couldn’t have gotten far.”
But as she entered Rafael’s study, a cold realization struck her. The room was empty, save for a desk pushed aside to reveal a narrow opening in the floor—a hidden tunnel leading underground.
“Carmen!” Luca’s voice came over her radio. “We found the tunnel entrance. He’s gone.”
Carmen clenched her jaw, frustration flaring. She looked at the scattered papers and maps left behind, evidence of Rafael’s careful planning.
“He planned this,” she murmured. “He always had an escape route.”
Marco appeared behind her, his steps slower than usual but determined. “Rafael?”
“He’s gone,” Carmen said, her voice tight. “But he left in a hurry. We might still have a chance to track him.”
Marco approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find him. This isn’t over.”
Carmen turned to face him, her resolve unwavering. “No, it’s not. But this was a victory, Marco. We took his estate, his men, his resources. He’s running now.”
Marco nodded, his admiration for her growing with every word. “You’re right. We’ll rebuild, regroup, and finish this. Together.”
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As the Venetti forces secured the estate, the couple stood on the scorched ground outside, watching the remnants of Rafael’s empire crumble before them.
Carmen turned to Marco, her voice softer now. “I know this isn’t the end, but it’s a step forward.”
Marco smiled faintly, his hand brushing hers. “Because of you. You saved us today, Carmen.”
“And you believed in me,” she replied, her eyes searching his.
Marco pulled her close, his forehead resting against hers. “I always will. You’re not just my wife—you’re my partner, my equal. And I’ll never forget that again.”
Carmen’s lips curved into a small smile. “Good. Because we’re going to need each other more than ever.”
As the first light of dawn broke over the ruins of Rafael’s estate, Marco and Carmen stood together, their love and determination stronger than the shadows that threatened to consume them. Rafael may have escaped, but the battle they’d won was a testament to the strength they drew from each other—a bond unshaken, unbreakable, and ready for whatever lay ahead.
