The streets outside Ezra's penthouse were unusually quiet, the eerie stillness only serving to heighten Celia's anxiety. As they stepped out of the building and into the waiting car, her heart raced with a mix of fear and adrenaline. She could feel the danger lurking, though it remained unseen. Ezra slid in beside her, his face set in a hard mask of determination, his every movement precise and controlled.
The car sped through the streets of New York, weaving through the late-night traffic. Celia's hands fidgeted in her lap, her nerves on edge. She cast a sideways glance at Ezra, noticing how calm he appeared despite everything that was happening. She wondered if this was just another day for him, dealing with threats, enemies, and plots. For her, it felt like her entire world had been turned upside down.
"Where are we going?" Celia finally asked, her voice sounding smaller than she intended.
Ezra didn't look at her immediately, his focus still on the road ahead. "I'm taking you to one of my safe houses. No one knows about it except for a few trusted people. You'll be secure there while I deal with Ferrara's men."
Celia swallowed, her stomach in knots. "What if they find us there?"
"They won't," Ezra replied confidently. "I've made sure of it."
The assurance in his voice should have calmed her, but Celia couldn't help the sinking feeling that something was about to go horribly wrong. She had lived her life in the shadows of her father's debts, but this felt different. This was a war, and she was at the center of it.
Ezra's phone buzzed again, and he answered it with a quick, clipped greeting. His eyes flicked to Celia, his expression unreadable as he listened to the voice on the other end. After a few tense seconds, he muttered something in Italian and hung up.
"That was Lorenzo," Ezra said, turning to face her fully now. "Ferrara's men are regrouping. They're not far behind, but I've arranged for more security to meet us at the safe house. You'll be protected."
Celia's heart sank further. "And what about you?"
Ezra's jaw tightened. "I'll do what I have to do."
His words were simple, but there was a gravity to them that made Celia's chest ache. She didn't want to think about what that meant, about the violence that might unfold because of her. And yet, she knew there was no stopping it now. Ezra was in this fight, and so was she.
The car finally pulled into a quiet alleyway behind a row of unmarked buildings. Two black SUVs were parked nearby, their tinted windows making it impossible to see who was inside. Ezra's driver parked the car, and within moments, several men in dark suits emerged from the shadows, their faces grim and focused.
Ezra stepped out first, scanning the area before helping Celia out of the car. The men flanked them immediately, forming a protective barrier as they approached a nondescript door at the back of one of the buildings. Celia's heart hammered in her chest as they entered the safe house, the walls closing in around her as soon as the door shut behind them.
The room was sparse, with minimal furniture and no personal touches. It felt more like a bunker than a home, and Celia couldn't help but feel the coldness of the space. Ezra didn't seem fazed by the stark environment, his focus solely on ensuring their safety.
"Stay here," Ezra instructed, his voice leaving no room for argument. "I'll check in with my men and make sure everything is secure. Don't open the door for anyone."
Celia nodded, though the anxiety gnawing at her insides made her want to do anything but sit and wait. She watched as Ezra left the room, his broad shoulders tense as he spoke to his men in low, hushed tones.
For a few minutes, Celia paced the room, her mind racing with every possible outcome. The weight of everything was suffocating—her parents' deaths, the debt, Ferrara's men, and now, the very real possibility that she might never be safe again. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was living in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Ezra stepped back inside. His expression was unreadable, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor, something more protective, more urgent.
"They're closing in," he said softly, though his eyes burned with intensity. "But I won't let them get to you, Celia. Not now. Not ever."
Celia felt her breath catch in her throat. She could see the weight of his words, the unspoken promise behind them. Ezra had been many things to her—cold, distant, infuriating—but right now, he was the only person standing between her and the danger lurking outside.
She swallowed, her voice barely a whisper. "Why are you doing this?"
Ezra's dark eyes locked onto hers, the tension between them crackling like electricity. "Because I made a promise. To your father. And to myself."
Celia blinked, taken aback by the mention of her father. "My father? What does he have to do with this?"
Ezra hesitated for the briefest of moments before speaking again. "He was in deep with Ferrara, deeper than you ever knew. He made a deal to save you. That's why I married you in the first place—to protect you from being sold off to cover his debts."
Celia's heart clenched as the realization hit her. Her marriage to Ezra had never been about love. It had been a transaction, a way to keep her safe from a fate worse than death. But now, standing here in the dimly lit room, something had shifted between them. The lines between obligation and something more had blurred, and she wasn't sure where they stood anymore.
Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, and both of them tensed. Ezra moved toward the door, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun hidden beneath his jacket.
But it wasn't Ferrara's men. It was Lorenzo, Ezra's trusted lieutenant, his face grim as he stepped into the room.
"They're here," Lorenzo said, his voice low but urgent. "Ferrara's men are right outside. We need to move, now."
Ezra nodded, his expression hardening as he turned to Celia. "Stay close to me. Don't let go of my hand, no matter what happens."
Celia's pulse quickened as she followed Ezra out of the room, her hand gripping his tightly. The tension in the air was palpable, and every step felt like walking on the edge of a precipice. They moved quickly through the corridors, Lorenzo and the other men flanking them as they headed toward the back exit.
Just as they reached the door, a loud crash echoed through the building, followed by the unmistakable sound of gunfire. Celia's heart leaped into her throat as chaos erupted around them. Ezra pulled her closer, shielding her with his body as his men returned fire, the deafening noise of gunshots filling the air.
"Go!" Ezra shouted, pushing her toward the door as the gunmen closed in.
Celia's legs moved on instinct, fear propelling her forward as she ran with Ezra by her side. The world blurred around her, the adrenaline pumping through her veins as they burst out into the alleyway. The SUVs were waiting for them, and Ezra wasted no time in ushering her into the back seat before jumping in beside her.
The car roared to life, speeding away from the chaos behind them. Celia's heart pounded in her chest, her hands trembling as she tried to catch her breath.
Ezra's hand found hers, his grip tight and reassuring. "We'll make it through this," he said, his voice steady despite the danger they had just escaped.
Celia glanced at him, her fear slowly giving way to a different kind of emotion—one that she couldn't quite name. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn't alone in this fight. Ezra was by her side, and together, they were facing whatever came next.
And in that moment, despite the chaos and danger, she realized that she trusted him completely.