Vinzo's gaze locked onto the rearview mirror.
"Ryker's men," he growled.
Eliana's heart pounded.
"What do we do?"
Lorenzo floored it.
"Hold on!"
The sedan sped through the winding roads.
Vinzo's phone buzzed.
"Answer it," Lorenzo said.
Vinzo's voice turned icy.
"Ryker."
Ryker's voice dripped with malice.
"You'll never hide her."
Vinzo's eyes flashed.
"Try and take her."
Eliana's fear spiked.
"What's happening?"
Lorenzo's jaw clenched.
"Ryker's setting a trap."
Suddenly, the sedan screeched to a halt.
"Out!" Lorenzo shouted.
They leapt from the sedan as it exploded.
Eliana stumbled back.
"My god!"
Vinzo shielded her.
"Run!"
Eliana and Vinzo sprinted through the darkness.
"Where are we going?" Eliana panted.
Vinzo's gaze darted around.
"Somewhere safe."
A helicopter thundered overhead.
Ryker's voice boomed through a megaphone.
"Surrender, Vinzo! She's mine!"
Vinzo's eyes blazed.
"Never."
They dashed into a nearby warehouse.
Lorenzo awaited, armed and ready.
"Take this," he said, handing Vinzo a gun.
Vinzo checked the clip.
"Silver bullets?"
Lorenzo nodded.
"For Ryker's goons."
Eliana's eyes widened.
"What's happening?"
Vinzo's expression turned grim.
"Ryker's declared war."
Suddenly, the warehouse doors burst open.
Ryker's men poured in.
Vinzo and Lorenzo opened fire, taking down Ryker's men.
Eliana cowered behind crates, her heart racing.
Vinzo's gaze flicked to her.
"Stay down!"
Ryker's men returned fire.
Vinzo and Lorenzo took cover.
Lorenzo shouted.
"We need to get her out!"
Vinzo nodded.
"Cover me!"
Vinzo sprinted to Eliana.
"Come on!"
He dragged her to a side door.
Lorenzo laid down suppressive fire.
"Go!"
They burst through the door.
A black SUV screeched to a halt.
"In!" Vinzo shouted.
Eliana leapt in.
Vinzo and Lorenzo followed.
The SUV sped away.
Eliana panted.
"Where are we going?"
Vinzo's eyes locked onto hers.
"Someplace Ryker can't find you."
Suddenly, the car swerved.
"What's wrong?" Eliana asked.
The driver's voice was tense.
"We've got company."
A motorcycle chased them.
Ryker.
The car weaved through traffic.
Ryker gained ground.
Vinzo's eyes narrowed.
"Hold on!"
The car swerved onto a side street.
Ryker followed.
Lorenzo leaned out the window.
"He's too close!"
Vinzo snatched a gun from Lorenzo.
"Take the wheel!"
Eliana screamed as Vinzo leapt out.
He landed on Ryker's motorcycle.
The two vampires clashed.
The car screeched to a halt.
Eliana leapt out.
"Vinzo!"
Vinzo and Ryker fought.
Fists flew.
Fangs bared.
Eliana rushed toward them.
A figure intercepted her.
Lorenzo.
"Stay back!"
Ryker's eyes locked onto Eliana.
Vinzo's gaze snapped to hers.
Run!
Vinzo's strength waned.
Ryker's grip tightened.
Eliana screamed.
Lorenzo intervened.
He tackled Ryker.
Vinzo broke free.
"Get her out!" Vinzo shouted.
Lorenzo dragged Eliana away.
Ryker's roar echoed.
Vinzo stood firm.
"Flee!" Lorenzo yelled.
The trio sprinted through alleys.
Ryker's minions closed in.
A hidden door swung open.
"In!" Vinzo commanded.
They entered a secret underground bunker.
Vinzo sealed the door.
Safe.
For now.
Eliana's breathless voice:
"What's happening, Vinzo?"
Vinzo's eyes locked onto hers:
"Ryker's relentless."
Lorenzo's grim tone:
"We need a plan."
Vinzo's jaw clenched:
"I'll end this."
"Ending it won't be easy," Lorenzo said.
"I'll do what it takes," Vinzo replied.
Eliana stepped forward.
"What's going on? Tell me everything."
Vinzo's gaze met hers.
"Ryker's after your bloodline. He thinks it holds the key to breaking the vampire curse."
Lorenzo added, "But at what cost? He'll exploit and harm innocents."
Eliana's determination grew.
"I won't let him."
Vinzo's expression softened.
"I'll protect you."
Lorenzo nodded.
"We'll find a way to stop Ryker."
Suddenly, the bunker's alarm blared.
"What's happening?" Eliana asked.
Vinzo's eyes narrowed.
"Breach detected."
Lorenzo drew his gun.
"Ryker's found us."
"Get her to the safe room!" Vinzo shouted.
Lorenzo grabbed Eliana's arm.
"Come on!"
They sprinted down the corridor.
Vinzo covered their retreat.
Ryker's men closed in.
Vinzo fought fiercely.
But outnumbered.
A blow sent him crashing.
Eliana screamed.
Lorenzo dragged her into the safe room.
"Lockdown sequence initiated," a computer voice announced.
The door sealed.
Eliana pounded on it.
"Vinzo!"
Lorenzo held her back.
"He'll survive. He must."
Suddenly, the intercom crackled.
Vinzo's voice, weak but steady:
"Eliana... run..."
Ryker's laughter followed.
"Too late."
Ryker's voice dripped with malice.
"Vinzo's... finished. You're mine now."
Eliana's eyes blazed.
"Never!"
Lorenzo's grip on her tightened.
"Don't respond. He wants to provoke you."
Eliana's breath came in ragged gasps.
"What do we do?"
Lorenzo's expression turned grim.
"We wait. Reinforcements will arrive."
The intercom crackled again.
Ryker's voice taunted.
"Reinforcements won't save you. My men have taken the bunker."
Eliana's heart sank.
"We're trapped."
Lorenzo's eyes locked onto hers.
"Not yet. There's an emergency escape route."
He led her to a hidden panel.
"Through here."
As they stepped into the narrow tunnel, explosions rocked the bunker.
The tunnel shook.
"Move!" Lorenzo yelled.
Eliana stumbled forward.
Explosions grew louder.
Vinzo's voice echoed in her mind.
Run.
A blast threw her forward.
Lorenzo caught her.
"Almost there!" he shouted.
A glimmer of light.
The tunnel ended.
They emerged into night.
Fresh air enveloped Eliana. Freedom.
But at what cost? Vinzo.
Ryker's laughter echoed.
"No!" Eliana screamed.
Lorenzo dragged her away.
"We must keep moving!"
Eliana struggled.
"We can't leave Vinzo!"
Lorenzo's eyes filled with sorrow.
"He's gone, Eliana.
We'll regroup.
Revenge will come."
Eliana's world crumbled.
Lorenzo pulled her through the darkness.
They reached a hidden car.
"In!" Lorenzo shouted.
As they sped away, Eliana's eyes searched the rearview mirror.
Flames engulfed the bunker.
Vinzo, Gone.
Lorenzo's voice cut through her anguish.
"Eliana, focus! Ryker will hunt us."
Eliana's resolve hardened.
"I'll kill him."
Lorenzo's gaze met hers.
"Together, we will."
Suddenly, the radio crackled.
A mysterious voice spoke.
"Eliana, Lorenzo, I can help."
"Who is this?" Lorenzo demanded.
The voice remained calm.
"Family. Meet me at the old windmill on the outskirts at midnight."
Eliana exchanged a skeptical glance with Lorenzo.
"Who are you?" Eliana asked.
The voice hesitated.
"Someone who can help Vinzo. Trust me."
The line went dead.
Lorenzo frowned.
"Trap?"
Eliana's determination grew.
"Only one way to find out."
At midnight, they approached the windmill.
A figure emerged from the shadows.
Eliana's eyes widened.
"Kael!"
Vinzo's cousin .
Eliana's eyes locked onto Kael.
"Kael! What are you doing here?"
Kael's expression turned grim.
"I followed Ryker's men. I knew they'd lead me to you."
Lorenzo's gaze narrowed.
"How did you evade them?"
Kael's jaw clenched.
"I've been tracking Ryker for years. I know his tactics."
Eliana's mind racing.
"Vinzo...?"
Kael's eyes filled with sorrow.
"I'm sorry, Eliana. I couldn't save him."
Lorenzo's voice cut through the emotion.
"We need to move. Ryker won't stop."
Kael nodded.
"I've secured a safe house. Follow me."
As they followed Kael, Eliana's thoughts lingered on Vinzo.