Chapter 10: Echoes of a Threat

The evening had reached a strange equilibrium. The light music in the background, the muffled laughter, and the feigned conversations couldn't completely mask the tension lingering in the air. I could feel it in every movement, in every furtive glance.

Alessandro stayed close to me, vigilant, like a protective shadow. His hand on my waist never left its place, and each time someone approached, he subtly placed himself between me and the guest, as if anticipating an invisible danger.

I thought that this unease might just be my imagination or my nerves. But everything changed in a fraction of a second.

A loud noise echoed.

Bang.

I jumped, my eyes instinctively searching for the source of the sound. Everyone froze instantly, conversations dying in an instant.

Then a second bang, louder, followed by muffled screams from outside.

The entire room stiffened, the silence becoming oppressive. I felt Alessandro tense up beside me.

"What was that?" I murmured, my heart racing.

He didn't respond immediately, his gaze scanning the room with chilling intensity. Then, with a firm yet measured movement, he gently pushed me behind him.

A murmur rippled through the guests like a wave: quick words spoken in Italian that I couldn't entirely understand. But one thing caught my attention: some of the men present—elegantly dressed guests—slipped their hands under their jackets and pulled out weapons.

I stood frozen, my eyes widening in disbelief at the sight.

"Alessandro, why…?" I didn't finish my sentence, unable to find the words.

He placed a reassuring hand on my arm. "Stay calm, Arianna. I'm here."

A third gunshot rang out, much closer this time, followed by the sound of rapid, disorganized footsteps outside.

The atmosphere shifted completely. Most of the guests—both men and women—seemed surprisingly prepared. Those who weren't already holding a weapon sought cover or exchanged knowing looks, as if they knew exactly what to do.

I, on the other hand, remained frozen, my mind unable to process what I was seeing.

Alessandro was already in action. He quickly approached one of his men, who had just returned through a side door.

"How many?" he asked coldly.

"Three men, armed," the guard replied. "In the garden. They haven't tried to enter, but they've fired several shots into the air."

"Target?"

The guard shook his head. "Unclear. It looks like a warning. But with all these clans gathered… hard to say."

I looked at Alessandro, a wave of anxiety rising within me. "What does this mean? Why are there armed men…?"

He turned to me, his expression still cold. "Stay here."

"What?" My voice trembled. "No, I'm not letting you—"

He leaned in slightly, his gaze growing more intense. "Listen to me, Arianna. I'll take care of this. You stay here. Trust me."

Before I could protest, he gestured to several of his men and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me alone behind a pillar.

As I stood frozen near the pillar, trying to make sense of what was happening around me, a voice sounded beside me.

"Arianna."

I jumped and turned sharply. Lorenzo was standing there, his expression more serious than usual. Despite the tension in the room, he offered a faint smile, though his eyes reflected a certain vigilance.

"Lorenzo," I murmured, slightly relieved to see a familiar face, though my nervousness remained palpable.

He stepped closer, reducing the distance between us, as if trying to offer reassurance while maintaining a protective stance. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head, unable to hide my distress. "Not really. There are gunshots outside, and… everyone here seems armed. Lorenzo, what's going on?"

His smile faded slightly, and he sighed softly, as if considering how best to answer.

"It's… a slightly more eventful evening than expected."

"Eventful?" I repeated, incredulous. "There are gunshots, Lorenzo. This isn't just 'eventful'! Why is everyone armed?"

He hesitated for a moment, placing his hands on his hips before briefly looking up at the ceiling, as if searching for the right words. When he lowered his gaze to me, his expression softened.

"Listen, Arianna. I know this all seems insane to you. But sometimes, things aren't as simple as they seem."

I narrowed my eyes, frustrated by his vagueness. "Then explain it to me. Because none of this makes sense to me."

A flicker passed through his gaze—something indefinable. Curiosity, perhaps? Or even a hint of admiration?

He stepped closer again, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his presence. "I can't explain everything to you right now. But know this: you have nothing to fear. I won't let anything happen to you."

His tone, though reassuring, didn't fully ease my anxiety. But I couldn't help but notice that he seemed sincere, almost protective.

"Stay close to me, okay?" he added.

I didn't respond immediately, but I instinctively moved closer to him, seeking a bit of stability amidst the chaos.

A few minutes later, as I stood near Lorenzo, Alessandro reappeared in the room.

His face was stern, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on us. When his gaze fell on Lorenzo, a shadow crossed his features, and his steps quickened, almost purposeful.

He stopped in front of us, his attention fixed on Lorenzo with a cold intensity.

"Lorenzo, it seems your presence here is unnecessary," Alessandro said, his tone icy but laced with an implicit threat.

Lorenzo, unfazed, offered a polite smile that carried a hint of provocation. "I was simply ensuring your wife's safety, Alessandro. It seemed you had… other priorities."

I felt a firm hand slide into the small of my back, and Alessandro pulled me gently but firmly against him.

"I'm here now. And she doesn't need you," he replied, each word delivered with calculated precision.

Lorenzo shrugged, his smile widening slightly. "Of course. But you know how unpredictable these evenings can be, Alessandro."

Alessandro didn't move, his gaze fixed on Lorenzo with an intensity that seemed to freeze the air between them. "If you want to avoid an unpredictable incident, I suggest you mind your own business."

This time, Lorenzo raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, though an amused glint shone in his eyes. "Very well. But if she ever needs anything…"

"She has everything she needs," Alessandro interrupted sharply.

Lorenzo stepped back, casting me one last look—curious and slightly provocative. Then he slowly walked away, disappearing into the crowd with his usual confidence.

When we got into the car, Alessandro shut the door with slightly more force than necessary. The silence in the vehicle was heavy, almost oppressive.

I finally broke the ice, unable to stay silent any longer. "You didn't have to react like that. Lorenzo was only trying to help me."

Alessandro turned his eyes to the window, his jaw clenched. "Lorenzo never does anything without ulterior motives."

I frowned, intrigued by his tone. "You're exaggerating, Alessandro. He was there because you weren't. He just wanted to—"

He cut me off abruptly, his intense gaze locking onto mine. "Arianna, listen to me carefully. Lorenzo is like a snake. Always watching, always ready to exploit the slightest weakness. Don't let him get close to you."

I stayed silent, surprised by the harshness of his words.

After a moment, his voice softened as he added, "I'm not saying this to control you. I'm saying this because I don't want him to hurt you."

This time, I looked away, unsettled by the sincerity in his gaze.