CHAPTER 20

**AVA**
I close my eyes when I hear the sound of the gunshot. I tremble, feeling the tears run down my face. I open my eyes slowly and see the man lying on the ground, dead. I let the gun fall, and I felt Pietro's arms wrap around me in a tight embrace.
"It's okay now, Ava. We're safe.", he says, trying to comfort me. But I can't shake the feeling of dread that still surrounds me.
"Are you alright?", Pietro asks, his voice soft and concerned. I nod, but the tears keep falling.
"I... I'm fine. I just... just need a moment.", Pietro helps me sit on the floor, still holding my hand.
"Let's get out of here soon, okay? We'll go to a safe place.", I nod again, trying to control my breathing. I look around, seeing the bodies scattered on the ground. I feel a knot in my stomach, but I try to focus on Pietro, who is by my side, offering his strength.
After a few minutes, I managed to stand. Pietro helps me, and together we start walking towards the exit. Each step is painful, but his presence gives me the strength to continue.
"We'll find a safe place. I promise everything will be alright.", Pietro says, his tone firm and reassuring. I look at him, feeling a mix of gratitude and fear. I know he's trying to protect me, but I can't help but worry about what's to come.
We're outside the building, and my breath is still quickened by adrenaline and fear. The night air feels colder and heavier than before. I look at Pietro, trying to understand the confusion of emotions I'm feeling.
"What was that man talking about, Pietro?", I ask, my voice trembling with anger and pain. He looks at me with a serious expression, as if he's trying to hide something.
"Pietro...", I insist; my voice is firmer now.
"It's complicated, Ava. The world I live in is too complicated to involve you like this.", he responds, looking away. I feel the frustration growing inside me.
"Then tell me! I killed people in that building, Pietro! I need to know why I did that!", I shout, feeling the tears wetting my face. At this moment, the pain in my leg doesn't seem to matter as much.
"Ava, you did what you had to do to survive."
"But why? What was that man saying? Who were those people?", the exasperation in my voice is palpable.
"Ava, don't make me do this.", he says, shaking his head, avoiding direct confrontation. I move closer to him, my gaze fixed on his, full of anger and pain.
"Do what? Tell me what's going on, Pietro!"
He approaches me, touching my face with a tenderness that contrasts with the harshness of the situation.
"I don't want to hurt you with my darkness, Ava. I know you want to know what happened here today, and I understand that, but I can't put your life in danger again.", I shake my head, pulling away from him before screaming and crying.
"Don't you dare do this to me! It's too late for that; people tried to kill me today, and you know why, and you're not telling me, Pietro!"
"Your life would never be the same after finding out more about me, Ava."
"Why? You think I can't handle all this? I can't endure it? I've been through much worse than this, Pietro.", The pain in my voice is evident, dark memories emerging.
"That man was talking about you destroying his family; what does that mean? Tell me, please...", my voice reduces to a whisper, while tears continue to stream down my face.
He sighs, still looking at me silently. I nodded, feeling my body trembling. I look at my hands, seeing blood, and it reminds me of when I touched the dead bodies of my family. I cry, feeling my vision blur, and pull away when he tries to come closer to me.
"Ava, please..."
"We both have ghosts; we both have pain. I've endured so much pain, but I need to be alone right now."
"Ava, stay close to me; there might still be men alive out there.", I turn my back to him.
"Fuck that!", I walk to a nearby tree and sit down, watching Pietro as he calls the police. The man's words still echo in my mind. Something happened between Pietro and him, and I need answers for almost being killed so many times today.
I remain seated, touching my forehead and seeing blood on my fingers. I sigh, closing my eyes for a few seconds. I killed people today, and I can't stop thinking about it. Not only that, but I open my eyes and look back at Pietro, standing there, talking on the phone.
I realize he has many secrets. The police arrive, and I stand up to tell them everything that happened. The sirens and flashing lights add a new layer of unreality to this already surreal night. Pietro watches everything with a stern expression while I talk to the officers, detailing the attack and the deaths that occurred.
"That man blamed Pietro for his wife's death. He said Pietro destroyed his family.", I explain to the police, trying to keep my voice steady despite the chaos inside me.
The officer writes down my words, his eyes serious as he asks additional questions. My mind drifts back to the scene in the building: the gunfire, the fight, and the look of desperation and hatred on that man's face. I finish my account and step back, feeling exhaustion take over. I sit down again, this time on a bench near the building entrance, watching the surrounding activity. The blue and red lights of the police cars flash incessantly, and the sounds of radios and muffled conversations fill the air.
Pietro approaches me, his expression still serious but with a touch of concern.
"Ava, we need to talk.", I shake my head.
"Not now, Pietro. I can't... I just... need a moment.", He nods, respecting my need for space, but remains close, as if he wants to protect me from any further threat.
His words echo in my mind: "I don't want to hurt you with my darkness" – and I wonder how much darkness really exists in his life. I run my hand over my face, wiping away the tears that still insist on falling. I look around, seeing the police investigating the scene, taking photos, talking among themselves. I feel a surreal disconnection, as if I'm watching everything from the outside, like a spectator of my own life.
My mind returns to the bearded man's words about Pietro destroying his family. What does that really mean? Pietro has secrets—secrets that endanger lives.
And now, by being by his side, my life is also in danger. Finally, Pietro sits next to me, his presence silent but somehow comforting.
"Ava, I know you need answers, and you will get them in due time. We're probably going to be here for a few more hours, but I know nothing will happen to us."