People always say---Value the person you love while they are still beside you. Because once they are gone, all that remains is regret. And tonight---Enzo finally understood the meaning of that pain. Regret was eating him alive.

Why did he not stop Elena harder? Why did he not tell Donato everything about her dating nico? Why did he not investigate Nico properly? Why did he let Elena stay near that man? Why? Why? Why? The questions kept destroying his mind one after another while he held Elena's bleeding body tightly in his arms inside the speeding car.

Enzo always believed he had time. Elena was young. Much younger than him. That was one of the reasons he kept suppressing his feelings for years. He loved her too much. Too deeply. And maybe that was exactly why he stayed away. He wanted her to enjoy life freely. Peacefully. Without the burden of his dangerous world.

Without feeling trapped in a relationship tied to darkness, violence, and blood. Enzo worked in the shadows. A world where enemies destroyed families just to win wars. A world where weakness was exploited mercilessly. He never wanted Elena to become part of that darkness. Yes, Elena was brave. Strong.

She knew about the Romano empire. Knew about their mafia connections. But she still did not fully understand how cruel their world truly was. And Enzo never wanted her to learn like this. Never like this. So he stayed silent. Watched her from afar. Loved her quietly. He had even planned everything.

On Elena's twentieth birthday, he would finally confess. Grandly. Fearlessly. He would tell everyone how much he loved Elena Romano. Even if he had to fight Donato himself for her hand. He was ready for all of it. But then Elena grew impatient. Lonely. Confused by Enzo's distance.

And Nico entered her life. Enzo hated watching them together. Hated it. But he kept convincing himself Elena deserved normal happiness. A normal man. A peaceful life. Still---Something inside him kept hurting whenever he saw her smiling with Nico. That was why he secretly investigated him. But not deeply enough. And that became the biggest mistake of his life.

Because now---The girl he loved was bleeding in his arms. Dying. And all his careful decisions had led to this exact nightmare. "Elena... stay awake," Enzo begged again brokenly while pressing his trembling hand against her wound inside the car. Blood kept soaking through his fingers endlessly.

Albert drove like a madman while Donato sat beside Enzo in deadly silence. No one spoke. No one breathed properly. The only sound inside the car was Enzo's shattered voice and Elena's weak painful breathing. "Baby... look at me," Enzo whispered desperately while tears kept falling from his eyes onto her face. "Please... please don't leave me."

His entire body shook violently. For the first time in years---Enzo was terrified. Not angry. Not dangerous. Terrified. Because the girl he loved was slipping away from him. And he could do nothing except beg. Finally the hospital came into view. The car stopped so violently the tires screeched loudly.

Doctors and nurses rushed outside immediately after seeing the amount of blood. The moment the car door opened, Enzo stepped out while still carrying Elena protectively against his chest like he was afraid someone would take her away from him.

"She's losing blood!" one nurse shouted urgently. "Operation room NOW!" A stretcher was rushed toward them.

But Enzo could not let her go. His arms tightened around Elena instinctively.

"Sir, we need to take her---"

"No!" Enzo shouted brokenly. "Be careful! CAREFUL!" Donato immediately held Enzo's shoulder tightly. "Enzo," he said firmly despite his own shaking voice. "Let them help her." Enzo looked down at Elena again. Her face had become terrifyingly pale. Blood stained almost all his clothes now.

Slowly---Very slowly---He placed her onto the stretcher. And the moment the nurses began wheeling her away toward the emergency room---Enzo ran beside her. Donato and Albert beside him. All three men running through the hospital corridor like their entire world was being taken away from them.

Nurses pushed the stretcher faster. Doctors shouted medical instructions rapidly. Everything became chaotic. Bright hospital lights. Footsteps. Blood. Fear. Then suddenly---The operation room doors opened. The nurses pushed Elena inside quickly. Enzo tried following instantly.

But two doctors stopped him outside. "You cannot enter!"

"No LET ME GO!" Enzo roared violently while trying to push past them. "SHE IS ALONE!"

"Sir please calm down!"

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!" His scream echoed through the entire corridor. Donato immediately grabbed Enzo before he completely lost control. And then---The operation room doors shut closed. Right in front of them. A red emergency light turned on above the door. And silence fell. Deadly silence.

Enzo stood frozen for one second. Two seconds. Then suddenly his knees gave out completely. He collapsed onto the hospital floor. Broken. Completely broken. Both his hands were covered in Elena's blood. His clothes soaked in it. His entire body shaking uncontrollably.

"She was scared..." he whispered weakly while staring at his blood-covered hands. "She was calling for help... and I wasn't there..."Donato looked away immediately after hearing that.Because for the first time in his life---He saw Enzo cry like a shattered man.

Donato always knew Enzo and Elena shared a special bond. From childhood itself, Elena had been attached to Enzo more than anyone else. She followed him everywhere. School. Family gatherings. Shopping. Even stupid little errands.

And Enzo never once complained. In fact, he spoiled her the most. Whenever Elena wanted something and either Donato or Albert refused, she already knew exactly where to go. Straight to Enzo. Her favorite person. Her self-declared personal bodyguard.

And Enzo--God--Enzo never said no to his "little Eli baby." Not once. No matter how ridiculous her demands were. That was why Donato believed Enzo was shattered like this. Because Elena was precious to him. Family. But Donato did not know the truth. Did not know Enzo's pain went far deeper than brotherly love. Much deeper.

Enzo loved Elena in a way he had hidden for years. Quietly. Painfully. Completely. And now the girl he loved was fighting for her life behind those operation room doors. The hospital corridor remained suffocatingly silent. The red emergency light above the operation room continued glowing mercilessly. Time passed painfully slow.

Five minutes felt like hours. No one moved much. No one spoke properly. Enzo still sat on the cold hospital floor leaning against the wall near the operation room doors. His hands remained stained with Elena's blood. He had not cleaned them. Could not. It felt wrong.

As if washing away the blood would somehow make this real. Albert stood nearby silently handling calls while Donato remained standing motionless near the doors staring at the red light without blinking. Then finally--The elevator doors opened hurriedly.

And the Romano family rushed inside. Aravi entered first. Crying already. Nonna behind her looking pale and terrified. Kiara and Kavya supported the old woman carefully while Sofia followed with trembling hands covering her mouth. The moment Aravi saw Donato standing there covered in blood--She broke completely.

"Donato!" She rushed toward him immediately. Donato instantly held his mother tightly before she collapsed from shock. "Mom..." his voice came out hoarse. Aravi clutched his shirt desperately while crying uncontrollably. "W-what happened to my Eli?" she asked shattered. "Where is my baby? Why is there blood? DONATO TELL ME!"

Everyone fell silent. Waiting. Terrified of the answer. Kiara stood frozen a few steps away. Her entire body trembling. Guilt consumed her alive. She should have stopped Elena. Her mind kept replaying the moment Elena lied to her. Please let me go. I will come back soon. And Kiara let her go. Now Elena was fighting for her life because of her mistake.

Kavya quietly held Kiara's hand tightly sensing her breakdown. Meanwhile Sofia stood beside Nonna trying not to cry herself. The old woman looked completely broken already. As if she could feel something horrible had happened to her granddaughter.

Albert carefully held Nonna before her legs gave out. "Please..." Nonna whispered weakly. "Someone tell me my child is okay..."The entire corridor fell deadly silent again. Then finally-- Donato spoke. And his voice sounded lifeless. "S-she..." He swallowed painfully. "She got shot."

Everything froze. Completely froze. Aravi's eyes widened in horror. Nonna gasped sharply before nearly collapsing completely into Albert's arms. Kiara covered her mouth instantly as tears spilled from her eyes. Kavya froze in shock. Even Sofia stepped backward in disbelief.

"No..." Aravi whispered brokenly while shaking her head repeatedly. "No no no..."Aravi completely shattered after hearing that. "My baby..." she sobbed uncontrollably against Donato's chest. "She is scared of wound... she gets scared so easily when she is hurt... how much pain must she be in..."

Those words broke something inside Enzo completely. Because he remembered Elena trembling in his arms. Bleeding. Terrified. Calling his name weakly. Enzo suddenly bent forward while covering his face with blood-covered hands. A broken sound escaped him.

Half sob. Half destroyed breath. Everyone slowly looked toward him. And for the first time--The family truly realized how deeply this had affected Enzo. Kiara's eyes filled again after seeing him. Even Donato looked at Enzo silently now.

And something inside him began noticing things he had ignored for years. The way Enzo kept calling Elena "baby." The way he refused letting anyone touch her while carrying her. The way he completely lost control. This was not normal fear. Not just family fear. This looked like something deeper.

Something terrifyingly personal. But before Donato could think further--The operation room doors suddenly opened. Everyone stood instantly. A nurse rushed outside in panic. "We need more blood units immediately!" she shouted toward another staff member before trying to run past them.

Donato instantly stopped her. "How is my sister?" he asked sharply, The nurse looked overwhelmed. "We cannot say anything right now, sir," she answered breathlessly. "She is losing too much blood. Please excuse me."

Those words alone made everyone's hearts stop. Losing too much blood. The nurse quickly freed herself and rushed toward the blood bank while doctors and staff continued running in and out of the emergency ward. Within minutes more blood bags were brought inside.

Then the operation room doors closed again. And the red emergency light continued glowing mercilessly. Another hour passed. Then another. The hospital corridor slowly turned into a living nightmare. Everyone settled somewhere eventually, but no one was truly sitting peacefully. Fear had consumed them completely.

Aravi silently cried while holding Nonna's hand tightly. Albert handled doctors, paperwork, calls, and security all at once despite looking exhausted himself. Sofia sat beside Rose quietly while trembling every few minutes whenever the operation room doors moved.

Kavya remained beside Albert holding his hand silently, supporting him without words. And Enzo-- Enzo still sat near the operation room doors like a broken soul. His shirt still carried Elena's blood. His hands still stained red. He had not moved properly once. Donato stood beside him silently. Like a statue. Like a man holding himself together through sheer force.

Kiara looked at him from afar several times. But he never once looked back at her. Not once. And that silence hurt her more than shouting ever could. Finally gathering courage, she slowly walked toward him. Her hands trembled slightly. "R-ro..." she whispered softly.

Donato did not even turn toward her. His eyes remained fixed on the operation room doors while his voice came out cold. "I am not in the mood to talk to you right now, Kiara." The coldness in his tone pierced directly into her chest. "Just pray my sister comes out alive."

That was all he said. No warmth. No softness. Nothing. Kiara felt tears instantly burn her eyes. Because she understood. He blamed her. Maybe not fully. But somewhere inside, he blamed her for letting Elena leave the mansion. And honestly--Kiara blamed herself too.

A tear slipped down her cheek silently. Without another word, she slowly stepped away and walked toward the restroom. Kavya noticed immediately. Her heart hurt seeing Kiara's broken expression. But Albert needed her beside him right now. So she could only watch helplessly while Kiara disappeared down the hallway. Rose quietly stayed beside Sofia, trying to comfort the younger girl despite her own pale face.

Four hours later. The operation room doors finally opened again. Everyone stood up instantly. Hope and terror mixed together in every face. The doctor slowly walked outside while removing his gloves tiredly. His exhausted face alone revealed how difficult the surgery had been.

Donato reached him first. "How is she?" he asked immediately. The entire corridor fell silent. The doctor took a deep breath. "We removed the bullet successfully," he finally said. Everyone visibly exhaled. But the doctor was not finished.

"She lost a dangerous amount of blood," he continued seriously. "And she suffered multiple injuries during the struggle before the shooting. Her head was hit three times very badly. There is severe trauma to her body."

Aravi covered her mouth immediately while crying harder. Enzo closed his eyes painfully. The doctor continued carefully. "The bullet thankfully missed her major organs by a few inches. If it had moved slightly deeper..." He stopped mid-sentence. "She would not have survived."

Nonna nearly collapsed hearing that. Albert immediately held her. "But..." the doctor added slowly, "because of the blood loss, shock, physical injuries, and emotional trauma her body endured, her brain has shut down temporarily as a protective response."

Everyone frowned in confusion and fear. Donato's jaw tightened. "What does that mean?" he asked. The doctor looked at them seriously. "She is in a temporary coma." Silence. Complete silence. Those words destroyed whatever hope they had been holding onto. Aravi broke down crying loudly. Sofia began sobbing beside Rose.

Kavya covered her own tears while Albert held her tightly. And Enzo stood completely still. Like he had stopped hearing anything after the word coma. The doctor spoke gently again. "She is alive. That is the important thing right now. But her mind went through extreme trauma. Sometimes the brain shuts itself down to survive emotionally and physically."

"How long until she wakes up?" Donato asked immediately. The doctor sighed tiredly. "We do not know." Those four words terrified everyone again. "It could take one day," the doctor explained softly. "Or a week. Sometimes longer. It depends entirely on her willpower and recovery."

Enzo's breathing became uneven instantly. No. No no no. Not longer. He could not survive that. The doctor continued speaking medical instructions to Albert and Donato, but Enzo barely heard anything anymore.

"Mr. Romano... there is something else I need to discuss with you. Please come to my office." The doctor's serious voice instantly made the air heavier. Enzo's head snapped upward immediately. Something inside him broke again. Because doctors only spoke like that when the situation was worse than expected. Much worse.

The doctor quietly turned and walked toward his office down the hallway. Donato and Albert followed immediately. And this time--Enzo followed too. Donato did not stop him. Did not even glance back. Because at this point, even Donato understood one thing clearly--Enzo needed to know everything about Elena. He had every right.

The four men entered the doctor's office silently. The atmosphere inside felt suffocating. No one sat comfortably. No one breathed properly. Fear sat between them like a living thing. Donato already had a slight idea what this conversation was about. And that thought alone was making something monstrous rise inside him.

His jaw clenched violently. Nico. That bastard. Donato's men were already hunting him. But suddenly killing him no longer felt enough. Not anymore. The doctor slowly removed his glasses tiredly and sat down across from them. For a few seconds, he stayed silent. As if carefully choosing his words.

And that silence itself terrified them. Albert leaned forward slightly. "What is it, doctor?" he finally asked quietly. The doctor sighed deeply. "Mr. Romano..." he began slowly while looking directly at Donato. "I believe you need to know this now rather than later."

Enzo's fingers tightened around the armrest of the chair painfully. Then the doctor spoke the words that shattered the room completely. "Other than the gunshot wound and physical injuries..." He paused heavily. "Your sister was sexually assaulted." Everything froze. Completely froze. Enzo went numb instantly.

His mind stopped functioning. Albert stared at the doctor in disbelief. And Donato--Donato slowly lowered his head while closing his eyes. Because his worst fear had just become real. The doctor continued carefully. "We did not find evidence indicating rape occurred," he clarified quickly. "But she was brutally harassed physically by multiple men."

His voice grew heavier. "There were marks all over her body. Bruises. Finger marks." The doctor swallowed uncomfortably. "From different hands." Maybe five men."

Silence. Dead silence. The room suddenly felt impossible to breathe in. Enzo's entire body went rigid. His mind immediately imagined Elena terrified. Weak. Drugged. Surrounded. Crying. Trying to fight them alone. And something inside him completely snapped. "No..." he whispered weakly.

The doctor continued softly. "She fought very hard." That sentence destroyed Enzo further. "Most of the bruises on her arms and legs suggest resistance. Defensive injuries. She tried protecting herself." Albert looked away instantly while clenching his fists tightly.

Donato's breathing turned dangerously slow. Deadly. The doctor carefully continued. "We also found traces of sedatives in her bloodstream. She was injected with something strong enough to disorient her mentally and physically."

Enzo suddenly stood up so violently the chair crashed backward loudly. His breathing became uneven. Murderous. His eyes turned blood red with rage and grief. "I'll kill them," he whispered shakily. No one stopped him. Because honestly--Everyone in that room wanted the exact same thing.

Donato slowly raised his head now. And the look in his eyes terrified even the doctor. There was no humanity left there anymore. Only darkness. Only violence. Only revenge. "Five men," Donato repeated coldly. The doctor nodded slowly. "That is what the evidence suggests." Albert cursed under his breath while dragging a hand through his hair violently.

Enzo suddenly punched the wall beside him brutally. The loud crack echoed through the office. His knuckles split instantly. But he did not even feel the pain. Because Elena--His Elena--Had gone through hell while he failed to protect her. "I-i faild her Enzo whispered brokenly while staring at his bleeding hand. "She must have been so scared..." The doctor softened slightly after hearing that.

"When she wakes up," he said carefully, "she will need emotional support more than anything else. Trauma like this destroys a person mentally. She may panic around men. She may stop speaking for some time. She may develop fear episodes." Each sentence felt like another knife.

Donato suddenly stood up slowly. And his calmness was far more terrifying than rage. "Doctor," he said coldly, "no one outside this room learns about this. No media. No police leaks. Nothing."

The doctor nodded immediately. "Of course." Donato gave one sharp nod. Then turned toward the door. Albert followed behind him silently. But Enzo remained frozen in place. Still unable to process anything. The image of Elena lying terrified among those men kept replaying in his head repeatedly.

Donato turn and look at his bestfreind broken look, he hold enzo hand and said " lets go we will surly kill them." enzo look at donato with teary eyes and nodded.

_____

The moment the three men stepped out of the doctor's office, the entire Romano family stood up instantly. Everyone searched their faces desperately for answers. But one look at Donato's expression made fear spread through the corridor again. He looked terrifyingly calm.

Too calm. The kind of calm that came before destruction. Aravi rushed toward him immediately. "How is she?" she cried. "Why did the doctor call you separately? Donato what happened?"

Donato looked at his mother silently for a few seconds. And for the first time in years--He did not know how to answer. Because how could a son tell his mother that her daughter had gone through hell? How could he say those words aloud? He glanced briefly toward Nonna.

Toward Sofia. Toward Kavya. Toward Kiara. Then finally he spoke carefully. "She is stable for now," he said quietly. "The doctors are monitoring her." That was all. He hid the rest. Because he could not destroy them more tonight. Aravi immediately broke into relieved tears after hearing the word stable.

Albert stepped forward quickly and supported her before she collapsed again. Meanwhile Enzo walked past everyone silently. Like a ghost. His face empty. His eyes hollow. Kiara noticed his bleeding knuckles immediately. Blood still dripping slowly from his hand.

"Enzo..." she whispered softly. But he did not respond. Did not even seem to hear her. He simply kept walking until he reached the large glass window outside Elena's ICU room. And there--He stopped. Everyone slowly followed behind. Inside the dim ICU room, Elena lay completely motionless on the hospital bed.

Machines surrounded her. The steady beeping of monitors filled the silence. Bandages wrapped around her head. Her arm connected to IV lines. Oxygen support near her face. And her skin--God--Her skin looked horrifyingly pale. As if all life had been drained from her body. Enzo stared at her through the glass without blinking.

This was not his Eli. His Eli laughed loudly. Fought everyone fearlessly. Annoyed him endlessly. Smiled like sunshine. But this girl--This silent, broken girl lying lifeless on that bed--Did not look like Elena Romano anymore. "She hates hospitals," Enzo whispered suddenly.

Everyone looked at him. His voice sounded distant. Broken. "When she was twelve she cried for two hours because she needed stitches." A weak laugh escaped him painfully. "She held my hand so tightly the entire time..."His voice cracked completely. "And now look at her..."Kiara lowered her head immediately while crying silently.

Even Sofia began sobbing again beside Rose. Enzo slowly placed his bleeding hand against the ICU glass. "I'm sorry, baby," he whispered shakily. "I'm so fucking sorry..."Donato watched him silently now. And finally--Finally he understood everything. Every single thing. The protectiveness. The jealousy. The panic. The breakdown.

Enzo loved Elena. Not like a sister. Not like family. He loved her completely. And somehow-- Donato never noticed. Albert slowly realized it too after looking between Enzo and Elena. His expression softened painfully. But this was not the time to speak about it. Not now.

Suddenly Donato's phone rang. The sharp sound echoed through the silent corridor. Donato answered immediately. "What."

The man on the other side spoke quickly. "We found Nico."

And within seconds-- Something dark entered Donato's eyes again. "Alive?" Donato asked coldly.

"Yes, boss," the man answered from the other side. "Barely. He tried escaping the city. We caught him near the docks."

A terrifying silence followed. Then Donato spoke quietly. "Bring him to the warehouse."

Enzo immediately stepped forward. "I'm coming too." Donato looked at him for a long second. Then nodded once. Because honestly--Nothing in this world could stop Enzo now. Nothing. Not after what happened to Elena. Donato disconnected the call slowly. Then he turned toward Albert.

"Stay here," he ordered quietly. "Protect the family." Albert nodded immediately. Donato looked once toward the ICU glass. Toward his unconscious sister. And something monstrous completely settled inside him. Lucas wanted war. Fine. Now he would see what happened when the Romano family stopped showing mercy.

_____

The underground warehouse echoed with screams. Darkness covered most of the massive room except for the single hanging light above Nico's chained body. Blood dripped slowly onto the concrete floor beneath him. His face was nearly unrecognizable now. Bruised. Swollen. Bleeding. Both of his wrists were chained tightly above his head while his body barely remained upright anymore.

But still--Donato and Enzo were not done. Not even close. Enzo punched Nico again so brutally that the chair beneath him nearly tipped over. "You touched her!" he roared furiously. "YOU LET THEM TOUCH HER!"

Nico coughed blood while laughing weakly. That laugh only made Enzo lose more control. He grabbed Nico by the collar violently and smashed his face against the metal pole beside him. Again. And again. And again. Blood splattered everywhere.

Donato stood nearby breathing heavily himself. His white shirt already stained with blood. But his expression remained horrifyingly calm. That calmness was far more dangerous than rage. "Where is Lucas?" Donato asked coldly.

Nico spat blood on the floor while panting painfully. "I-I don't know..."

Donato punched him instantly. Hard enough to crack another tooth. "Wrong answer."

Nico screamed loudly. "I SWEAR I DON'T KNOW!"

Donato grabbed his hair violently and forced him to look upward. "Then start remembering."

Nico breathed heavily while trembling now. "The moment I left that abandoned place..." he coughed painfully, "I tried contacting Lucas..." Enzo's fists tightened again.Nico continued shakily. "He promised me protection. H-he promised he would get me out of the country before you found me..."

Donato's eyes darkened dangerously. "But?" he asked coldly.

Nico laughed bitterly through blood. "But that bastard disappeared." Silence. Nico's expression twisted into rage now too. "I went to his place," he shouted weakly. "That fucking coward already fled somewhere! He left me here to die!"

Enzo punched him again immediately. "You deserve worse than death."

Nico groaned painfully while coughing harder. "I tried escaping!" he shouted desperately. "I tried leaving Italy before you caught me!"

Donato slowly crouched in front of him now. And the look in his eyes terrified Nico completely. "You should have run faster," Donato whispered coldly. Then he grabbed Nico's injured arm and twisted it brutally. A horrifying scream echoed through the warehouse.

The underground warehouse no longer looked like a place for interrogation. It looked like hell. Blood covered the concrete floor beneath Nico's chained body. His breathing had become uneven, broken by painful coughs as blood dripped continuously from his mouth. One of his eyes was nearly swollen shut. Bruises darkened his skin everywhere. His white shirt had long turned crimson.

But despite everything--He was still laughing. That laugh echoed horribly through the warehouse. A sick. Mocking. Broken laugh.

Enzo stood a few feet away breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling violently. His hands were covered in blood--Nico's blood. His knuckles were split open from punching him repeatedly. Veins bulged dangerously in his neck while his eyes looked completely unhinged.

Donato stood beside him in silence. Silent. Deadly. Like a monster waiting for the perfect moment to tear someone apart. The hanging light above them swung slightly, making shadows move across their faces.

Nico coughed painfully before spitting blood near their shoes. "You Romano men..." he laughed weakly. "You think you already won?"

Enzo snapped instantly. He grabbed the gun from the nearby table and stormed toward Nico. The metal chair screeched loudly across the floor as Nico's chained body jerked backward violently. Enzo pressed the gun directly against Nico's forehead. His hand trembled from pure rage. "I'll fucking kill you," he whispered in a voice that no longer sounded human.

Nico smirked weakly despite the fear now visible in his eyes. "Do it." Enzo's finger tightened on the trigger. But suddenly--Donato grabbed his wrist hard enough to stop him. "No." Enzo turned toward him furiously. "Move."

"No," Donato repeated coldly. Enzo looked ready to explode.

"He touched her!" he roared. "HE DID THIS TO ELI!" Donato's jaw clenched violently. "You think death is enough for him?" he hissed darkly. His eyes slowly moved toward Nico. Cold. Terrifying.

"I won't give him such an easy death." A shiver ran down even Nico's spine hearing that tone. Donato stepped closer slowly. "I will peel his skin from his body," he whispered dangerously. "I will make him beg for death." Then suddenly-- Donato kicked Nico brutally in the stomach.

A horrible scream tore out of Nico's throat as the chair crashed backward. Blood sprayed from his mouth. Enzo watched breathing heavily. Still shaking. Still wanting to kill him immediately. That was when movement from the side corner caught Enzo's attention.

Two other men were tied to chairs nearby. The same two men who had escaped from the abandoned place after Enzo shot the others during the rescue. Their bodies already looked destroyed. Both had gunshot wounds in their arms and legs from earlier. Blood soaked their clothes while ropes held them tightly to the chairs.

One of them whimpered seeing Enzo look at them. And suddenly-- Enzo remembered. Elena lying on the floor. Blood pouring from her stomach. Her weak breathing. The exact place where she had been shot. Something snapped inside him again. Without warning--Enzo turned and fired. BANG.

The first bullet hit the man directly in the stomach. The man screamed so loudly his voice cracked instantly. BANG. The second bullet tore into the other man's stomach too. Both men screamed and cried in unbearable pain while blood poured down their bodies. Enzo walked closer slowly. Terrifyingly calm now.

"You shot her here, right?" he whispered. Another shot. BANG. The first man cried hysterically. Enzo shot the second one again too. Same place. Same stomach. Exactly where Elena had been shot. "You wanted to see her bleed?" Enzo shouted suddenly. "LOOK AT YOURSELVES NOW!"

The warehouse echoed with screams. But Enzo heard none of it. Because in his head-- He only saw Elena. Drugged. Terrified. Alone. Donato looked at him silently. He did not stop him. Because honestly--He wanted worse. Much worse.

Meanwhile Nico watched everything with wide terrified eyes now. For the first time since getting caught--He looked truly scared. Yet suddenly-- He started laughing again. That horrifying laugh echoed through the room. "Kill me if you want..." Nico whispered painfully through blood. "But Lucas already got what he wanted."

Donato frowned instantly. "What do you mean?" Nico's bloody lips curved upward slowly.

"A few more minutes," he whispered mockingly. "Then you'll get your surprise."

Enzo stormed toward him immediately and grabbed his throat violently. "What did you do?" he shouted. "TELL ME!"

But Nico only laughed harder despite choking. "What's the hurry?" he whispered. "You'll see soon enough."

Then --Donato's phone rang. The sound cut through the warehouse sharply. Everyone went silent. Donato answered immediately. "What." Albert's tense voice came from the other side. He spoke quickly. Too quickly. And as Donato listened--The color slowly drained from his face.

His expression froze completely. "No..." he whispered unconsciously. Then the call disconnected. A notification appeared immediately afterward. Albert had sent a link. Donato stared at the screen silently before opening it.

And suddenly--The phone slipped from his hand. Crashing loudly against the floor. Enzo frowned instantly. "Donato?" No answer. Donato simply stood there frozen. Like his body had stopped functioning.

Enzo's heart started pounding dangerously. Slowly--He bent down and picked up the phone. Then he looked at the screen. And his entire world shattered. Enzo stopped breathing. "No..." he whispered brokenly. Then louder--"No no no..."

His hands began shaking violently around the phone. A guttural scream ripped from his throat. Pure agony. Pure rage. And before anyone could stop him--Enzo grabbed the large hunting knife from the table nearby and lunged toward Nico like a madman.

Nico's eyes widened in absolute terror. "WAIT-- Too late. The blade came down brutally. A horrifying scream exploded through the warehouse. Blood splattered everywhere. And Nico's severed hand dropped onto the floor. Nico's scream echoed through the underground warehouse so loudly that even the guards outside froze for a second.

Blood poured endlessly from the ruined arm while Nico writhed violently on the chair, chains rattling against metal as he cried and begged like an animal. "AAAAAHHHHH!"Enzo stood in front of him breathing like a monster.

His chest rose and fell violently. His hands Covered in blood. His eyes--Red. Broken. Murderous. The phone still remained clutched in his other hand "You touched her..." he whispered shakily. Then suddenly-- He roared.

A sound so terrifying even Donato's men stepped back instinctively. "You touched MY ELI!" Enzo grabbed Nico by the hair brutally and slammed his face against the metal chair. Again. Again. Again. Blood exploded from Nico's nose and mouth. Nico cried in agony, but Enzo looked beyond reason now.

Years. Years he had hidden his feelings. Years he had loved Elena silently. Protected her silently. Watched her smile from afar. And now This--This was what happened while he stayed away. This was what his hesitation caused.

Donato grabbed Enzo's shoulder tightly. "Enzo." But Enzo pushed him away violently. "No!" His voice cracked. "She was crying in my arms!" Another punch. "She was bleeding!" Another punch. "She was begging for help while these animals touched her!"

Nico coughed blood violently while laughing weakly through pain. That laugh snapped the last thread of Enzo's sanity. He turned slowly toward the two surviving men. One of the men started shaking immediately.

"P-please..."

Enzo walked toward them step by step. cold. Deadly. Broken. "And you..." His voice trembled. "You touched her too."

"No no we didn't do anything--!"

BANG. The bullet pierced straight through the first man's stomach again. The exact place Elena had been shot. The man screamed horrifically and collapsed sideways. Before the second could react--BANG. Another bullet. Same place.

The second man cried in agony, blood pouring from his stomach while Enzo stood there emotionless. Like death itself. Donato watched silently. Even he could not stop Enzo anymore.

Nico laughed weakly again despite his condition. "You're too late..." he whispered painfully. "The things lucas wanted that done ... even if I die... Elena Romano will still be destroyed... Roman's name will going to destroy now"

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