Luciana's POV

In one swift, fluid motion, I raised the gun and aimed it at him. The cold steel felt heavy and solid in my palm, my knuckles turning white as my grip tightened. I stood my ground, my feet planted firmly on the floor, my mind made up. He had two choices: a bullet to the chest or to get out of my way.

Our eyes locked in a tense standoff. His held no flicker of surrender, only a stubborn defiance that told me he wouldn't budge. My finger tightened on the trigger, the familiar ...