Needing someone is dangerous.
It gives them power.
Control.
The ability to hurt you without even trying.
And Valentina Moretti?
She had spent her entire life making sure she never needed anyone.
---
"Dante… stay with me."
No response.
Her voice came out sharper this time.
"Dante."
Still nothing.
---
Panic wasn't something she allowed herself.
Not ever.
But right now—
It clawed at her chest.
---
"Don't do this," she muttered, tightening her grip on him as his weight slumped further against her.
Too heavy.
Too still.
Too quiet.
---
Blood soaked through her hands.
Warm.
Too warm.
---
"Of course," she whispered bitterly. "You just had to be dramatic."
No reaction.
---
She swallowed hard.
Forcing control.
Forcing focus.
Because breaking down?
Wasn't an option.
Not now.
Not when he—
---
No.
She wasn't finishing that thought.
---
"You're not dying," she said firmly, shifting his arm over her shoulder. "Not after all that attitude."
Her voice steadied slightly.
Good.
Better.
---
"Get up," she ordered.
He didn't.
---
She exhaled sharply.
"Fine. I'll do it myself."
---
It wasn't easy.
He was taller.
Stronger.
Built to carry people—not be carried.
---
And yet—
She lifted him.
---
Step by step.
Through the wreckage.
Through the fading echoes of gunfire.
Through the chaos that refused to end.
---
Every movement sent pain shooting through her own side.
Her wound wasn't healed.
Not even close.
But she ignored it.
Pushed through it.
Because stopping—
Wasn't an option.
---
"Just so you know," she muttered under her breath, adjusting her grip, "I hate this."
No answer.
---
"I hate needing you to wake up," she continued.
Silence.
---
"I hate that you're the one who keeps showing up."
Nothing.
---
"And I really hate that you're the one who keeps saving me."
Her voice faltered slightly.
Just for a second.
---
"Because now," she whispered, her grip tightening around him, "I have to return the favor."
---
The night stretched around them.
Dark.
Unforgiving.
---
She spotted a vehicle ahead.
Black.
Unmarked.
Abandoned.
Or waiting.
---
"Please be empty," she muttered.
---
She reached it.
Checked quickly.
Clear.
---
"Good."
---
Getting him inside was harder.
Awkward.
Painful.
Messy.
---
But she managed.
Barely.
---
She slid into the driver's seat.
Hands shaking slightly as she started the engine.
---
"Okay," she said under her breath. "Okay, think."
---
Where?
Safe house? Compromised.
Hospital? Too exposed.
Anywhere else?
---
Her mind raced.
Too many options.
None good.
---
Then—
A memory.
A location.
Hidden.
Off-grid.
---
"Guess we're going there," she muttered.
---
The car sped into the night.
---
Minutes passed.
Too slow.
Too quiet.
---
She glanced at him.
Still unconscious.
Still breathing.
Barely.
---
"Don't you dare," she muttered.
---
No response.
---
Her grip tightened on the wheel.
---
"You don't get to leave me with this," she said. "Not after everything."
Silence.
---
"You're annoying. Arrogant. Impossible to deal with—"
Her voice cracked.
Just slightly.
---
"But you're not allowed to die."
---
The words hung there.
Raw.
Unfiltered.
Real.
---
The car hit a rough patch.
Jolting him slightly.
---
A faint sound left his lips.
Barely there.
---
Her heart skipped.
---
"Dante?"
---
Nothing.
---
"Don't mess with me right now," she warned.
---
Silence again.
---
She exhaled sharply.
Frustrated.
Relieved.
Terrified.
All at once.
---
"You're unbelievable," she muttered.
---
The road stretched ahead.
Long.
Empty.
---
Too empty.
---
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
---
"Something's wrong."
---
The feeling hit her instantly.
Sharp.
Unmistakable.
---
She checked the rearview mirror.
---
Nothing.
---
Again.
---
Still nothing.
---
Too clean.
Too quiet.
---
"That's not good," she murmured.
---
Her grip tightened on the wheel.
---
Then—
Headlights appeared behind her.
---
Fast.
Too fast.
---
"Of course," she muttered. "Why wouldn't there be more?"
---
The car behind gained speed quickly.
Closing the distance.
---
Not random.
Not coincidence.
---
"They found us," she said quietly.
---
She pressed harder on the accelerator.
The engine roared.
---
The chase began.
---
Bullets hit the back of the car.
Sharp.
Loud.
---
She flinched—but didn't slow.
---
"Seriously?" she snapped. "Is everyone trying to kill us tonight?"
---
More shots.
Closer.
---
She swerved.
Dodging.
Barely.
---
Her side burned.
Her vision blurred slightly.
But she didn't stop.
---
Couldn't.
---
She glanced at him again.
Still out.
Still not helping.
---
"Great timing," she muttered.
---
The car behind pulled closer.
Too close.
---
Another vehicle appeared ahead.
Blocking the road.
---
Her breath caught.
---
"No…"
---
Trap.
---
She slammed the brakes—
Hard.
---
The car skidded to a stop.
---
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
---
Doors opened.
---
Men stepped out.
Armed.
Waiting.
---
Behind her—
The second car stopped too.
---
Surrounded.
---
Again.
---
She closed her eyes for a second.
Just one.
---
Then opened them.
Cold.
Focused.
Unbreakable.
---
"Well," she muttered softly, reaching for the gun beside her.
---
"Guess I'm doing this alone."
---
A faint sound came from beside her.
---
"…not alone."
---
She froze.
---
Slowly—
Turned.
---
Dante's eyes were open.
Barely.
But open.
---
Alive.
---
Relief hit hard.
Fast.
Unwanted.
---
"You picked a terrible time to wake up," she said.
---
A faint smirk touched his lips.
---
"Wouldn't miss this."
---
The tension snapped.
---
Outside—
Guns raised.
Closing in.
---
Inside—
Two people.
Bleeding.
Outnumbered.
Outmatched.
---
But still standing.
---
Because now—
It wasn't just survival.
---
It was something else.
---
And neither of them was ready to admit it.
---
"Ready?" she asked.
---
His grip tightened weakly around the gun.
---
"Always."
---
The first shot rang out.
---
And everything exploded into chaos.