Lisa's POV
The days that followed Noha's confession were filled with a strange mixture of emotions—fear, tension, and a new, undeniable closeness between us. Noha had promised to protect me, but I could see the burden weighing heavily on his shoulders.
I tried to focus on the good things—the fact that he had finally opened up to me, that he had let me in, even if just a little. But there was still so much he kept hidden from me, and I couldn't help but wonder if the love we had was strong enough to survive the storm that was brewing.
Noha's POV
The Rivoli family's threat was growing more imminent by the day. I could feel it in my bones—the tension in the air, the eyes watching me from the shadows. They were waiting for the right moment to strike, and I had no intention of letting them catch me off guard.
But I couldn't stop thinking about Lisa. She was everything to me, and the more I thought about what could happen to her if the Rivoli family succeeded in their plans, the more my anger burned. I had to end this, and I had to do it fast. But first, I needed her to understand.
Lisa wasn't safe, not while I was at the center of this war. And I needed to protect her at all costs—even if it meant pushing her away.
Lisa's POV
I had grown used to the silence that surrounded Noha and me, the heavy weight of unsaid words between us. He was trying to shield me, trying to keep me in the dark, but I could feel the tension in his every move. He was distancing himself again, and no matter how many times I tried to reach him, I could see the walls he was building up.
It hurt, more than I wanted to admit. But I understood why. The mafia life he led—he couldn't bring me into it, not when it was so dangerous.
But the longer I stayed in this house, the more I realized that I wasn't afraid of the danger. I was afraid of losing him. Of watching him slip away from me. I couldn't let that happen.
Noha's POV
I watched her from across the room, her eyes filled with concern, and it made something inside of me ache. I wanted to tell her everything—wanted to pull her into my arms and promise her that we would be okay. But I knew I couldn't make that promise. The world we lived in didn't work like that.
The Rivoli family had already made their move. I could feel their presence closing in, their influence spreading across the city. It wouldn't be long before they made their play. And when they did, I needed to be ready.
Lisa's POV
That night, Noha was quieter than usual, his eyes dark and distant as he sat across from me at the dinner table. I could feel the tension between us, thick and suffocating.
"Are you going to keep shutting me out, Noha?" I asked, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. "I can't do this if you keep pushing me away."
His eyes flickered with a mixture of frustration and guilt. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, there was a knock at the door.
I froze. Noha's head snapped toward the door, and I saw his posture shift immediately—alert, tense.
"Stay here," he ordered, his voice cold, the boss in him coming to the surface.
I didn't move, though. I stood up slowly, watching him as he walked toward the door with controlled, measured steps.
Noha's POV
I knew something was off. The knock was too precise, too calculated. I opened the door, and standing there was Marco, his face grim.
"Boss," Marco said, his voice low, "we've got a problem."
I stepped aside to let him in, my heart rate picking up. "What's going on?"
"The Rivoli family—they've made their move. They hit one of our warehouses. Took out a few of our men." Marco's voice was steady, but I could hear the underlying tension.
I clenched my fists, anger surging through me. "How many casualties?"
"Too many," Marco replied. "They're escalating, Noha. We can't wait any longer."
I turned to Lisa, who had quietly stepped into the hallway, her eyes wide with concern. She could feel the shift in the air, the danger that was so close now.
I needed to act fast. But I also knew that if Lisa stayed here, she would be in the crossfire. She was already too close to the danger.
Lisa's POV
My heart was pounding in my chest as I stood in the hallway, listening to the conversation between Noha and Marco. I could feel the weight of their words, the urgency in the air. Something big was happening, something I couldn't ignore.
"Noha," I said, my voice shaking as I walked toward him. "What's going on? What do they want?"
Noha's eyes softened when they met mine, but his expression quickly hardened again. "Stay inside, Lisa. Don't come out until I say so. This isn't your fight."
I shook my head, frustration building inside me. "It is my fight. You don't get to shut me out like this."
His gaze hardened. "Lisa, this isn't a game. These people don't care about who you are. They'll hurt you without hesitation."
"And I can't stand here and do nothing while you risk your life," I shot back, my voice cracking. "You're not alone in this. I'm here with you."
Noha's POV
Her words hit me harder than I expected. I had been trying so hard to protect her, to keep her away from this dangerous world. But in that moment, I realized she wasn't backing down. She was right. She wasn't some fragile thing I could hide away. She was strong, and she wanted to stand by my side.
But even if she wanted to fight beside me, I knew I couldn't let her.
I turned to Marco. "Get everyone ready. We move out in an hour."
I turned back to Lisa. "Stay here. Don't make me regret this."
She didn't say anything, but I saw the resolve in her eyes. She wasn't backing down. And that terrified me.
Lisa's POV
As Noha walked away, my heart was in pieces. I knew he was doing what he thought was best, but it didn't change the fact that I hated the idea of him going into danger alone. I had to be by his side.
I had to be there when the storm hit.
Noha's POV
I glanced back at Lisa one last time before stepping out into the night. This battle was going to change everything. And I had no idea if I'd be able to keep her safe in the end.