Gunfire.

Sharp. Loud. Close. Kiara's smile vanished instantly. Donato's expression changed in less than a second-calm turning into something cold, focused, dangerous. "i am really disappoint while saying this, but darling we are under attack."

" Ofcourse How can a day go peacefully when I am with Donato Romano... the mafia leader?" Kiara muttered under her breath, a mix of disbelief and tension in her voice. "Now what, Ro?" she said quickly, her eyes scanning around. "Why are they following us?"

Donato didn't answer immediately. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he accelerated suddenly, the car shooting forward. Behind them- Headlights. Fast. Aggressive. Another gunshot rang out, hitting somewhere near the back of the car.

"Seatbelt," Donato said sharply.

Kiara immediately pulled it tighter across her chest, her heartbeat rising, but her eyes stayed on him. "What's happening?" she asked again.

"Attack," he replied shortly. "Stay low." Another shot. This time closer. Donato swerved the car sharply to the left, avoiding something coming straight toward them. Kiara grabbed onto the side of her seat as the car jerked.

"Ro-"

"I've got it," he said, his voice steady but cold. The calm, romantic man from a few minutes ago- Gone. This was Donato Romano. Sharp. Precise. Deadly. He checked the mirror quickly. "Two cars," he muttered. "No... three."

"Three?" Kiara repeated, her voice slightly tense.

"Yeah," he said. "They came prepared." Another round of bullets hit the road near them.

Kiara took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Your promise," she said suddenly. He glanced at her for a second. "You said... no guns, no chaos," she added.

For a brief moment- Even in the middle of danger- A faint smirk touched his lips. "I also said," he replied calmly, accelerating again, "your husband is here to protect you." The car sped through the road, sharp turns, sudden brakes, calculated moves.

"Darling," he said suddenly, his tone almost sweet-as if there wasn't a storm of bullets chasing them.

"Yes?" Kiara replied, her eyes alert, scanning both sides of the road.

"Open the front compartment in front of you."

Even as the car swerved to avoid another round of gunfire, she did exactly what he said. Her fingers quickly unlocked and pulled open the concealed compartment attached beneath the dashboard.

And froze. Her eyes widened. Inside wasn't just one weapon. It was an entire collection-guns of different sizes, neatly arranged, loaded, ready. "Oh my God..." she breathed. "You roam around with a whole arsenal in your car?"

"I have to, sweetheart," he replied nonchalantly, his focus still on the road. "Now give me one." He stretched one hand toward her while the other controlled the steering wheel, his eyes flicking between the road and the side mirror.

Without wasting a second, Kiara grabbed a gun and placed it in his hand. And just like that-He started firing. One hand on the wheel. One hand shooting. The car moved like a living thing under his control-dodging, turning, accelerating-while bullets cut through the air around them.

Chaos. Pure chaos. Another car tried to overtake from Kiara's side.

"Bend down!" Donato shouted.

She ducked instantly as he leaned across slightly and fired through her window. The bullet hit its mark, forcing the car to swerve back. He shifted again, firing from his side. One car down. He shot at the tires with precision-the vehicle lost balance, skidded violently, and flipped off the road.

But two more cars remained. Kiara watched him closely. He was handling everything alone. Driving. Shooting. Calculating. Fighting. And for the first time, she understood clearly-Even someone like Donato had limits. Her eyes sharpened. Then she saw it.

Another car-coming fast-from his side. Its aim clear. Donato. She didn't think. She moved. In one swift motion, she grabbed another gun from the compartment and fired. The shot rang sharp and precise, forcing that car to shift its angle.

Donato's eyes flickered toward her for a split second-surprised. But Kiara didn't stop. Something inside her had changed. Before he could react further- She did something that stunned him completely. She climbed out of her seat- And moved straight onto his lap.

Donato's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his eyes widening for a second. Was he seeing this right?

His wife.

On his lap.

Holding a gun.

And not just holding-Firing.

Kiara steadied herself against him, her body balanced despite the speeding car, her focus locked ahead. She leaned slightly forward, aiming carefully. "Eyes on your target, Mr. Romano," she said sharply. Her voice snapped him out of his shock.

A slow, dangerous smile touched his lips. And he followed. Now both of them were firing. In perfect, unspoken coordination. He handled the car. She handled the aim. Their movements aligned like they had done this a hundred times before. Within moments- Both targeted the tires.

Two shots. Precise. Deadly. The first car lost control, skidding wildly before crashing into the divider with a loud impact. The second one swerved violently, went off balance-and flew off the road. Silence. Sudden. Heavy. The gunfire stopped. The road ahead cleared. inside the car- Only the sound of their breathing remained.

Fast. Sharp. Alive. Donato glanced at her, something unreadable in his eyes. Not shock anymore. Not confusion. Something deeper. Something darker. Something... impressed. And dangerously intrigued. He slowed the car and pulled it to the side of the empty road. The engine was still running, but everything else felt still-like the world itself had paused after the storm. For a moment, neither of them moved.

Kiara was still sitting on his lap. Still holding the gun. Still breathing fast. Donato's hands remained on the steering wheel, but his mind... wasn't there anymore. It was on her. On what she had just done. Slowly, he turned his head and looked at her. Really looked at her.

Not as his wife. Not as someone he had to protect. But as someone who had just stood beside him... fought beside him. Matched him. "What..." he said slowly, almost in disbelief, "...was that?"

Kiara blinked, as if coming back to reality. She looked at him, then at the gun in her hand, then back at him. And then-unexpectedly- She smiled a little. "Well," she said softly, catching her breath, "like Romano... Rajput also has enemies, Mr. Romano."

His eyes narrowed slightly, curiosity and something deeper flickering in them. "When I joined the company," she continued, shifting slightly but still not moving away from him, "Arav bhai taught me self-defense. At first, it was just for safety..."

She paused, her fingers brushing lightly over the gun. "But then I got used to it," she admitted with a small smile. "So I insisted him teach me shooting too." Donato didn't interrupt. Didn't even blink. He was just... watching her. Listening. Completely absorbed.

"I didn't know," she added quietly, "that this skill would actually be useful one day." Silence. A deep one. Then- A slow smile spread across Donato's face. Not his usual smirk. Something darker. Something impressed. Something... dangerous.

"Damn, darling..." he murmured, his voice low, almost rough, "you're making me crazy." Before she could react- He hold her neck and pulled her closer. And kissed her. Hard. Possessive. Like he had been holding it back for too long.

Kiara froze for a second-caught off guard by the sudden intensity-but then she melted into it, her hand instinctively gripping his shirt as she kissed him back. The kiss wasn't soft. It wasn't slow. It carried everything-adrenaline, fear, relief, pride, something wild and unspoken between them.

Minutes seemed to blur. Time lost its meaning. When they finally pulled apart, their breaths were still uneven, their foreheads almost touching. Donato looked at her, his thumb brushing lightly against her cheek. "My tiger," he muttered softly.

Kiara blinked, slightly breathless, her cheeks flushed-not just from the fight anymore. "Tiger?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

He smirked. "What else should I call you? You just climbed onto my lap in the middle of a gunfight and started shooting like you do this every day."

She tried to look serious, but a small smile escaped. "Well... someone had to save you."

His brows lifted immediately. "Save me?"

"Yes," she said, crossing her arms slightly, though she was still sitting far too close to him to look fully intimidating. "You were busy showing off your one-hand driving and shooting skills."

He leaned closer, amused. "Oh, I was doing just fine."

"Hmm," she tilted her head. "Really? Because from what I saw... you needed help."

He laughed softly, shaking his head. "Unbelievable."

"You're welcome," she added sweetly.

He looked at her for a second, then said quietly, "You weren't scared."

She paused. Just for a moment. Then she looked at him honestly. "I was." That made his expression change slightly. "But..." she continued, softer now, "I trust you." That hit deeper than anything else she had said.

Donato didn't reply immediately. Instead, his hand moved to her waist, pulling her a little closer again. "Careful, Kiara," he said lowly. "If you keep saying things like that..."

"Like what?" she asked, her voice softer now too.

He leaned in slightly, his lips almost brushing hers as he spoke. "I might forget we are on the road... and not at home."

Her face flushed instantly. "Ro..." she warned, trying to sound serious but failing completely.

He smiled, clearly enjoying this. "What?" he teased. "You started this."

"I did not," she protested.

"You climbed on my lap in the middle of a gunfight," he reminded her.

"That was strategic," she said quickly.

"That was dangerous," he corrected.

"That was necessary," she shot back.

He looked at her for a second-Then laughed. A real one. "God," he muttered, shaking his head slightly. "You are something else." A full of surprise."

She smiled, softer now. "And you," she said quietly, "are still the same."

He raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

"Still dramatic," she replied.

He smirked. "And you still love it." She didn't answer. But the way her eyes softened- Said everything. For a moment, the world outside didn't matter again. Not the enemies. Not the danger. Just them- Sitting in a car on the side of an empty road... After surviving chaos- And somehow finding something even deeper in each other.

___

The room was dark. Not just dimly lit- Dark in a way that felt suffocating. Only a single lamp on the table cast a sharp, yellow light across the space, leaving the corners drowned in shadow. The air itself felt heavy... tense... like something dangerous was about to break.

Lucas stood near the table, one hand resting on it, the other holding a glass-but he wasn't drinking. His jaw was tight. His eyes cold. Waiting. The door opened quietly. One of his men stepped in, hesitant.

"Boss..."

Lucas didn't turn immediately. "Speak," he said coldly.

The man swallowed. "We... lost them."

Silence. Dead silence. Then slowly-very slowly-Lucas turned his head. "What did you say?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.

The man lowered his gaze slightly. "Donato Romano... he dodged us again."

The glass in Lucas's hand tightened. For a second- It looked like it might shatter. But he controlled himself. "How?" he asked.

The man hesitated. "Boss... this time... he didn't fight alone."

That made Lucas pause. His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

The man took a breath. "There was someone with him. A woman."

Lucas's expression didn't change- But something dark flickered in his eyes. "A woman?" he repeated slowly.

"Yes," the man said. "At first, we thought she was just there... but she wasn't. She was fighting. Shooting. Precisely."

Lucas turned fully toward him now. "Explain properly."

"She..." the man hesitated, still shocked himself. "She climbed onto his lap while he was driving... and started shooting at us. Like she was trained. She took down one of our cars' tires herself. They were... coordinated."

Silence fell again. But this time- It wasn't empty. It was dangerous. Lucas let out a low, humorless laugh. "Donato Romano..." he muttered, shaking his head slightly. "So you've started bringing your wife into the battlefield now?"

His grip on the glass tightened- And this time- Crash. The glass shattered in his hand, pieces falling to the floor. Blood dripped from his palm- But he didn't react. Didn't even look at it. "A wife who shoots," he said slowly, almost thoughtfully. "Interesting."

The man stayed silent. Lucas walked slowly toward the window, staring out into the darkness of the city. "So..." he continued, his voice calm but filled with something darker, "he dodges my shipments... tricks my routes... steals my weapons..."

He paused. "And now..." A faint, cruel smile appeared on his lips. "He shows me his weakness."

The man frowned slightly. "Weakness, boss?"

Lucas turned his head slightly, his eyes gleaming. "Yes," he said softly. "his wife" A pause. "Find out everything about her."

"Boss, we already know she is his-"

"I don't care what you know," Lucas cut him off sharply. "I want everything." Her past. Her habits. Her routines. Her fears. Everything.

The man nodded quickly. "Yes, boss." Lucas looked back outside, his expression now completely calm again. Too calm. "Donato..." he murmured under his breath. "You played well." Another pause. "But every man loses..."

His smile darkened. "...when the game reaches his heart." And this time- Lucas wasn't planning to attack business. He was planning to attack something far more dangerous.

____

It was almost ten at night when the car finally entered the Romano mansion gates. The headlights cut through the quiet darkness, and within moments, the car came to a smooth stop. The night had settled deep, but inside the mansion, lights still glowed warmly-life still awake, still gathered.

Donato stepped out first, then moved around and opened the door for Kiara. She stepped out, adjusting her dress slightly, and for a moment their eyes met-both of them silently remembering what had just happened on the road.

A dangerous date. Yet... unforgettable. They walked inside together. The moment they entered the living room, all eyes turned toward them. The entire family was there-sitting comfortably, chatting after dinner. Laughter had been flowing... until the couple walked in.

"Well," Aravi said immediately, a knowing smile forming on her lips, "how was the date?"

Kiara didn't even hesitate. "Adventurous," she replied calmly.

Donato sighed dramatically as he started loosening the buttons of his blazer. "Yes... romantically adventurous."

A second of silence- And then the room burst into laughter. Sofia leaned forward slightly, raising an eyebrow. "That means... this date also ended with shooting and an attack?"

"Unfortunately... yes," Kiara said, shaking her head lightly as she moved to sit beside Nonna.

Donato walked over and dropped himself onto the sofa beside Albert, still looking mildly annoyed. "I swear," he muttered, "I should just start planning dates in war zones. At least then expectations will match reality."

That made everyone laugh again. Nonna patted Kiara's hand gently. "Are you alright, dear?"

Kiara smiled softly. "I'm fine, Nonna. Your grandson made sure of that."

Donato glanced at her for a second, and something subtle passed between them-unspoken, but understood.

Albert leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "At this point, I'm convinced enemies track your dates more seriously than your business deals."

"Jealous?" Donato shot back.

"Of being shot at?" Albert raised an eyebrow. "No, thank you."

The light banter continued for a few moments, easing the tension of what had clearly been a dangerous evening. Then Albert straightened slightly, his tone shifting to something more serious.

"Well... since everyone is here," he said, looking around, "I want to inform you all-auditions for the selection will start in less than a month." The room quieted slightly, attention shifting toward him. "The main event will follow soon after," he continued. "So someone from our family will need to be present when the selected participants arrive here after their regional rounds."

Aravi nodded thoughtfully. Before anyone else could respond, Nonna spoke. "You don't have to worry about that, Alberto," she said calmly but firmly. "That department is under me." She glanced briefly toward the older generation's legacy with quiet pride. "I and your grandfather will handle everything."

Albert nodded respectfully. "Of course, Nonna."

Sofia leaned back with a small smile. "This year's competition is going to be big. We're inviting talent from all over the world."

Kiara's eyes lit up slightly at that, but she stayed quiet, listening.

Aravi added, "And we need to make sure everything is perfect. No mistakes. The Romano name is attached to this."

Donato, who had been quiet for a moment, finally spoke, his tone calm but firm. "It will be handled," he said simply. There was something in his voice that made everyone trust it instantly. The conversation continued-discussing arrangements, planning, responsibilities-but the atmosphere remained warm, familial.

Even with danger lurking outside their world... Inside-There was laughter. Comfort. And a strange kind of peace. Kiara sat quietly beside Nonna, listening, occasionally glancing toward Donato.

And Donato- Every now and then- Looked back at her. As if, even in a room full of people... His attention still found its way to her.

___

Far away from Italy- under the warm, golden sky of Rajasthan- stood the grand and timeless Rajput Haveli, carrying centuries of pride, traditions, and unspoken stories within its walls. Inside one of its beautifully carved rooms, Kavya sat alone. Her laptop was open in front of her.

The soft glow of the screen reflected in her eyes-eyes that held hesitation, fear... and something else. Hope. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, unmoving. On the screen- An email. Unread just minutes ago. Now read a hundred times in the span of a few seconds.Her breath felt uneven. Her mind drifted back to a few days ago...

"No, Kiara... how will I participate in this competition? It's international. I won't make it-I know myself." Kavya had said that with certainty, shaking her head.

But Kiara had not given up. "No, Aunt... you will. I know you will. You are the best Kathak dancer I have ever seen. And I know you can win. You just have to fill the form. Select Kathak dance category. That's it."

Kavya had sighed then, still unsure. "Okay, let's say I even get selected... then I'll have to go to Italy. Do you really think Maa Sa will let me go alone outside Rajasthan?"

Kiara had laughed softly, full of confidence. "You worry too much. Leave that to me. I will convince Dadi Sa. You just fill the form. We'll handle the rest later." And somehow- She did. The very next day, Kavya had filled the form.
__

And now... Here she was. Staring at the result. Her heart started beating faster. Her hand trembled slightly as she slowly picked up her phone. Without thinking further- She dialed Kiara. The call connected in just two rings.

"Hello, Aunt! How are you?" Kiara's cheerful voice came instantly, full of warmth.

Kavya swallowed slightly. "H-hello, Kiara..." Her voice was soft... uncertain.

Kiara immediately sensed it. "Aunt... what happened? Why do you sound nervous?"

Kavya took a breath. "The form... the one you told me to fill..."

"Yes! What about that? Oh my God-don't tell me you didn't submit it!" Kiara said quickly.

"No, no-I did submit it," Kavya replied hurriedly. "It's just... the result..."

"Oh... the result didn't come positive? Don't worry, Aunt! I'll talk to Ro, I'll tell him they should select you for the audition-"

"Kiara, listen-" Kavya tried to interrupt.

But Kiara continued nonstop. "-he will talk to the authorities, don't worry-"

"Kiara! Listen to me!" Kavya said louder this time. A pause. Then softly- "I got selected." Silence. For a second.

"...Okay..." Kiara said automatically. Then it hit her. "Wait-WHAT?! You got selected?!" Her voice burst with excitement.

"Yes," Kavya said, a small, disbelieving smile forming on her lips. "I got selected. And... the audition is in two days."

"That's amazing, Aunt!" Kiara said instantly. "Then why are you nervous?"

Kavya looked back at the screen. "It's just... it's a selection round, Kiara. In just two days... how will I prepare? I haven't practiced Kathak properly for a month. I've been busy teaching hip-hop to my students..." Her voice carried doubt. Uncertainty.

Kiara's tone softened, but it remained firm. "Aunt... you don't need practice for Kathak." A pause. "Kathak is in your blood."

Kavya closed her eyes for a moment.

"You can do it. I know you can."

"Are you sure?" Kavya asked quietly.

"I am 100% sure."

Something in Kiara's voice- That unshakable belief- Calmed her. "Okay..." Kavya whispered. They talked for a little longer before ending the call.

____

On the other side- In Italy- Kiara stood near the window, her phone still in her hand. A soft smile rested on her lips. "Don't worry, Aunt..." she murmured to herself. "You will make it." Her gaze drifted outside. "I just need you to come here..."

A small, mischievous thought crossed her mind. "And then... everything will fall into place." A faint smile deepened. "I hope you and Albert brother... fall for each other." you both deserve lots of love, Before she could think further- She felt strong arms wrap around her waist from behind. She smiled instantly.

"With whom were you talking so cheerfully?" Donato's low voice came near her ear.

"It was Kavya Aunt," she replied, gently placing her hand over his.

"Hmm?" he murmured.

"Ro... should I tell you something?"

"Yes," he said simply.

"The competition happening in Romano Industries..."

"Yes, what about it?"

"Kavya Aunt has also participated."

Donato paused slightly. "Really?"

"Yes," Kiara nodded, turning slightly toward him.

A small smirk appeared on his lips. "Well... that means if she wins... she'll have to come here."

"Yes," Kiara said softly.

Donato studied her face for a moment. "You think your grandmother will let her come?"

Kiara's expression turned confident. "I'll manage that." A pause. "Don't worry."

Donato smiled faintly. "Alright." He didn't question further. Because he knew one thing- When Kiara decided something... She found a way to make it happen.

And somewhere- A new story had already begun to take shape. One that neither Kavya... Nor Albert... Fully realized yet.

___

Albert's room was unusually restless that night. The lights were on, but the space felt tense-like the calm before a storm that refused to break. He sat on the edge of his bed, leaning forward slightly, elbows on his knees, one hand tangled in his hair as he pulled at it in frustration. His jaw was tight, his expression dark, and his patience... almost gone.

"Unbelievable..." he muttered under his breath. Ever since his ex had resurfaced- His peace had been completely disturbed. She appeared out of nowhere. At random places. At random times. Like a shadow that refused to leave. And every time- She had the same thing to say.

"Give me one more chance."

Albert let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "One chance?" he scoffed. "On my dead body."

The words came out cold. Firm. Final. Because for him- There were no second chances. Not after what she had done. Not after the way she had broken his trust... humiliated him... used him. His grip tightened on his hair as flashes of the past crossed his mind-her lies, her betrayal, the way she had played with his emotions like they meant nothing.

That wound- It hadn't healed. It had just been buried. And now she was back- Digging it all up again. Suddenly- His phone rang. The sharp sound cut through the silence of the room. Albert's eyes snapped toward it. The screen lit up.

Unknown Number.

His expression darkened instantly. He didn't even need to guess. "I know it's you..." he muttered under his breath. His ex. somehow she find out his number, He had already blocked her. One number. Two numbers. Three. And yet- She kept finding new ones.

Calling again. And again. And again. Like she refused to accept reality. Albert clenched his jaw. "God..." he exhaled sharply, dragging his hand down his face. "I hate this woman." The phone kept ringing. Persistent. Annoying. Relentless.

For a moment, he just stared at it-his eyes filled with irritation... but beneath that, something deeper. Exhaustion. Because this wasn't just anger anymore. It was draining. Dealing with her. Remembering her. Being forced to relive something he had already decided to leave behind. The phone finally stopped ringing.

Silence returned. But only for a second- Before it rang again. Another unknown number. Albert let out a frustrated groan, throwing his head back slightly. "Are you serious right now?" He grabbed the phone suddenly, his fingers tightening around it like he might crush it.

For a moment- He thought about answering. Ending it once and for all. Telling her clearly- There is nothing left. But then he stopped. His thumb hovered over the screen. Because deep down- He knew. People like her didn't listen. They didn't understand "no."

They only heard what they wanted. And engaging with her would only pull him deeper into something he had already escaped. He closed his eyes for a second, taking a slow breath. Then- Without another thought- He declined the call. And switched his phone to silent. Throwing it onto the bed beside him. The room fell quiet again.

But his mind- Didn't. He leaned back slowly, staring at the ceiling now. His expression wasn't just irritated anymore. It was guarded. Careful. Like someone who had learned the hard way what trust could cost. "Not again..." he murmured quietly. "This time... I'm not letting anyone in that easily." And for the first time that night- He didn't look angry. He looked... resolved.

Thank you babies 😊🫂🫀