Their car drove into the familiar mansion. The one she'd been in before the whole kidnapping. Nothing had really changed, it still looked the same.

Their car came to a halt and she looked out the window "We're here" Enzo's voice boomed, she sighed out. She hadn't really said anything to him since they left Dimitri's place, and they'd been on the road for hours.

She quickly got out of the car and there in the middle of the huge compound stood her sister, Cara was looking thinner than usual and disorganized.

The moment her eyes set on Cora, she gasped and ran with all her strength, before flinging herself in the arms of her sister She'd missed her greatly

Tears were already streaming down her face "Oh God you're back, I'm so sorry you had to go through all that" she whispered amidst tears.

Cora didn't really know how to react to this, she just stood with her hands on her side as her sister cried silently on her shoulders.

She's finally home, she should be happy but she felt awkward and uncomfortable. Cara stepped back a bit and looked at her sister very well, a lot had changed about her.

Her eyes no longer looked innocent or even a tad bit lively, she looked dead. She didn't really know how much humiliation and punishment Dimitri had subjected her sister to but she knew it was something Cora couldn't take

"Come let's go inside" she whispered tugging at her sister's arm before pulling her inside with her. They both stepped into the house and a few men there bowed their heads in respect for their Donna.

She just returned it and pulled her sister with her upstairs, she took her to her former room, the place still looked the same, save for the door that had been fixed.

Cora looked around and her eyes landed back on her sister, she walked towards Cora and took both her hands in hers with a huge smile and a few tears on her face

"I've missed you so much, I'm sorry about what you had to go through because of me" she whispered her voice trembling.

Cora didn't want all this now, she just needed some peace and quiet, she gave her sister a weak smile.

"Can I be alone for a while... Please" she whispered.

She saw the surprise on her sister's face and then the realization, before she nodded

"I'll be outside, if you need anything just call, I'll cook you something to eat" she said before walking out

She was disappointed and sad, she knew her sister had gone through a lot but hearing her request for space after almost 6 months apart, she knew Dimitri had really done a number on her.

Cora collapsed on the bed with a heavy sigh, tears streamed down the side of her eyes. This wasn't how she imagined she'd feel like if she finally got her freedom from Dimitri.

She wasn't at all happy, she felt trapped. She felt uneasy. Her mind kept drifting to Ivan and then to Dimitri. The gunshot she heard while running must have been him shooting someone or someone shooting him.

She quickly shook her head and wiped her face, why was she thinking about him. She was finally free of him. She got up and went into the bathroom to have a warm bath.

___________________________________________

He was running late to going back home, he kept glancing at his watch. He didn't know he would take this long in getting it. He wanted to go back home to Cora. He had already started missing her, even though these past days haven't really been like they used to, he still had deep feelings for her that he couldn't deny.

He was tapping his keys on the table waiting for his business associate to show up when his phone vibrated from his pocket. He fished it out and saw Dimitri's name on the screen.

What did his cousin want? He grumbled before hitting the receive button and putting the phone to his ear, at first he didn't hear anything just what seemed like heavy breathing from the other side.

Was this some kind of joke? What was Dimitri playing at

"Hello" he finally took the liberty to speak first, but he could only hear shuffling and heavy breathing, then he heard a groan.

"Ivan, where the fuck are you"? Dimitri managed to groan out amidst the pain he was feeling.

Ivan could hear the strain in Dimitri's words but he didn't really think it to be something much, he sighed out before answering

"I went out to take care of a few things, what do you want D"? He asked obviously uninterested in his cousin's games

"You gotta get back here immediately" he rasped out trying to catch his breath, his hand clutching his stomach was filled with blood. He was loosing too much blood.

"I don't have time for your games D" he muttered attempting to end the call when Dimitri's voice stopped him.

"The mansion...... The mansion is under attack" he managed to croak out with a loud groan.

All the colour drained from Ivan's face, the only thing that came to his mind was Cora. Where is she?

"I'm on my way" that was all he said before the line went dead.

Dimitri looked at his surrounding and saw what he had done, he had successfully taken out the two guys left, but he was badly injured and bleeding out.

If he didn't get the medical attention needed, he would definitely bleed to death here. He was already feeling dizzy and weak

Enzo had taken her He didn't get a chance to apologize before he took her. And now he didn't even know if he'd survive the gunshot wound to his stomach.

He tried to sit up but groaned and fell back down on the floor, still clutching his stomach. It wasn't a fair fight but they didn't call him ruthless for nothing.

Ivan was on edge the whole drive down to his cousin's mansion, how did they get attacked? And where was Cora in all this? Dimitri didn't make any mention of her, which meant, he hadn't seen her or she was hiding somewhere

He managed to get home and rushed inside the house breathlessly, the whole place was littered and scattered, a few of the men left there were dead

The house was kind of less crowded than usual when he'd left earlier on, no Viss or Sasha, but the few left were now dead.

The sounds of glass being crunched beneath his shoes was all that could be heard, as he walked inside. A lot of damaged had been done.

He quickly dashed for the stairs, he had to find Cora, he hoped she'd be okay in all of this. He got to her door and saw it had been broken, bullet holes on it, his heartbeat picked up.

He prayed silently for her to be okay, what if the intruders had gotten her?? He walked inside and was met with two men lying face flat, no doubt dead.

He looked around the room frantically and that's when he heard sound of grunting, he followed it and came face to face with Dimitri and a bleeding bullet wound.

He rushed forward and held his cousin Dimitri breathe out on seeing Ivan, he had never been grateful for his cousin's presence but for once, he was.

"You're here" he sighed out with a grunt, he could barely keep his eyes open

"What happened"? Ivan asked examining his cousin's wounds and seeing how much blood he'd lost.

"They took us unaware" he managed to whisper trying to sit up but failed

"Who"? Ivan asked but Dimitri was finding it hard to even respond, he'd gotten weaker "keep your eyes open Maxim, where's Cora"? He asked the one question that'd been sitting on the tip of his tongue

Dimitri closed and reopened his eyes trying to see clearly, he breathe out. "They took her" he whispered closing his eyes but Ivan was quick to hold his head up

"Who took her Dimitri"? By now he was already panicking

"Enzo" he muttered before his head fell forward and he passed out completely.

Ivan was left speechless, so Enzo had finally found her, after months of her being here and he'd taken her home.

He didn't know if he should be happy for her or feel sad she'd left without saying goodbye. He doubt he'd ever see her again She might not even remember him or want to see him again

He quickly dragged Dimitri up and held him by his arm letting him rest on his shoulder. He needed treatment and he wouldn't get it here.

He'd worry about Cora later, for now someone had to clean up this mess.

He drew out his phone and called Viss.

Dimitri was shot

Pheewwwww That was a close call