His eyebrows shoot up, and he sees right through me.
“If you want to save him so he can get to your son, Ria, you need to come with me.”
Tears sting my eyes at the confirmation that he knows about Adrian.
“Don’t worry, daughter. I have no use for your son when I have you to run my empire. I will consider sparing your husband’s pathetic life in exchange for yours. He can try but there is no way he will get out of here alive. I have more than a dozen men outside of these walls.”
He drops his hand, rolling his shoulders back as he turns and marches straight for where Villegas has Noah pinned to the ground. Santos stops to pick up the gun Noah had found on him earlier and aims it straight at Noah.
“This man is not suited for you, daughter. We will find you someone better. Someone who will help you give me a proper heir.”
My heart stops, slamming hard against my chest.
My blood rushes to my ears, drowning out sound as my skin flushes, and I know I need to make my decision.
Knowing this is my only chance at getting my husband out of here alive, I raise the gun over my head and fire a single shot.
All three look at me, but it’s my husband whose gaze pierces me.
Noah’s chin drops, his eyes never wavering from mine as fear invades his every feature.
It’s two against one. He thinks he’s going to die.
Noah, it’s us against the world. Always.
“Let him go.”
Santos smirks, snapping his finger at Villegas, who picks Noah off the floor. The director grabs Noah’s arms, yanking them behind him. My father stands next to my husband with a giant smile as he shoves the gun against my husband’s bloody face.
Noah’s eyes turn misty, mouthing the words that have me deciding our fate.
I love you.
I look away, not wanting to waver in my decision. I fight against every beat of my heart that still calls out Noah’s name.
I start walking towards them, stopping in between Patty and Penelope’s unconscious bodies.
Slowly, I raise the gun. My father laughs darkly.
“What? You’re going to shoot me?” He huffs, shaking his head. “You’re only prolonging the inevitable, Alessandria. This is my game we’re playing here. And I always win.”
That’s where he’s wrong.
I may be my mother’s daughter, but I am this man’s daughter too.
It’s time to call him on his bluff.
He loves me, in his own crazy way.
I raise an eyebrow at him, straightening my posture as I turn the gun until it rests under my chin.
He watches my movements, his brow furrowing, and I can see the internal battle to keep himself calm.
"So what? All this just to have me dead?"
My father's eyes darken with rage, and he sneers. "You don't have the stomach to shoot anyone, let alone yourself, Alessandria."
There’s a note of uncertainty in his tone. He’s trying to keep himself at bay and control this game he is determined to win.