The sun had set, casting long shadows over the quiet streets as Enzo gritted his teeth, his eyes scanning every alley and side street. He knew his sister was out here somewhere, but the thought of her alone, vulnerable, and hurting clawed at his chest.

He slowed his car as he approached a dimly lit park on the outskirts of town. Something about it made his instincts prick—too dark, too quiet, too easy to overlook. He parked and got out, the crunch of gravel beneath his boots loud in the silence.

"Fina?" he called, his voice steady but urgent.

No answer.

He walked further into the park, his sharp gaze flicking between the shadows. His stomach churned as he noticed a figure slumped on a bench near the treeline.

"Fina?" he called again, quickening his steps.

As he got closer, his blood ran cold. Fina lay motionless, her face pale and her body slack, one arm hanging limply off the edge of the bench. A man loomed over her, his hand gripping her wrist, his other reaching for her shirt.

Rage ignited in Enzo's chest, blinding and instant.

"Hey!" he roared, his voice like thunder.

The man jerked his head up, his eyes wide with panic. "I—"

Before he could say another word, Enzo was on him, grabbing the front of his jacket and slamming him back against the nearest tree. The man's breath left him in a gasp, his knees buckling under Enzo's sheer strength.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Enzo growled, his face inches from the man's.

"I—I didn't do anything!" the man stammered, his hands clawing at Enzo's iron grip.

"You're about to wish you didn't," Enzo snarled, his fist connecting with the man's face in a sickening crack.

The man crumpled to the ground, clutching his nose, blood spilling between his fingers.

Enzo ignored him, his focus snapping back to Fina. He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands shaking as he gently cupped her face. "Fina. Fina, wake up. It's Enzo. I've got you."

She didn't stir.

"Damn it," he muttered, checking her pulse. Relief flooded him when he felt the steady beat beneath his fingers, but it did little to ease his panic.

He shrugged off his jacket, draping it over her to cover her exposed skin, then pulled out his phone. His hands were slick with sweat as he called Dante.

"Enzo?" Dante answered immediately, his voice sharp.

"I found her," Enzo said, his voice tight. "At the park near the old train tracks. She's unconscious."

"What? Is she hurt?"

"I don't think so, but there was a guy—" Enzo's voice cracked with fury. "I'll explain later. Just get here. Now."

The Family's Arrival

It didn't take long for the others to arrive. Alessandro's car screeched to a halt, and he was out before the engine cut off, followed closely by Antonio and Dante.

Isabella, despite Alessandro's protests, had come too, her face a mask of fear as she rushed to her daughter's side.

"Oh, my baby," she whispered, her hands trembling as she brushed Fina's hair back.

"She's breathing," Enzo assured her, his voice gentler now. "I think she just fainted. Probably from exhaustion."

Dante's fists clenched as he caught sight of the man still groaning on the ground. "Who the hell is this?"

"The guy I stopped," Enzo replied darkly. "That's all you need to know."

Alessandro's expression hardened as he stepped toward the man, his towering presence enough to make the guy scramble backward in fear.

"Please," the man begged, his voice muffled through his bloodied nose. "I didn't touch her—"

"You're lucky Enzo got to you first," Alessandro said coldly, his voice low and lethal.

Antonio, ever the strategist, placed a hand on Alessandro's shoulder. "Let's focus on Fina. We'll deal with him later."

Reluctantly, Alessandro stepped back, his gaze still burning holes into the man as he motioned for Antonio to call the police.

Back to Fina

As the chaos swirled around her, Fina's eyelids fluttered open. Her vision was blurry, her body heavy, but the first thing she saw was her mother's tear-streaked face.

"Mamma?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Oh, sweetheart," Isabella choked, pulling Fina into her arms. "You're safe. We're here. You're safe."

Fina's gaze darted around, taking in her brothers, her father, and the overwhelming concern etched into their faces. Her mind raced, fragments of the day coming back to her in flashes.

"I—I saw..." she began, her voice breaking.

"Shh," Enzo said softly, crouching beside her. "You don't have to explain right now. Just breathe, Fina. You're okay."

Tears streamed down her cheeks as the weight of everything hit her at once. She clung to Isabella, her body shaking.

And for the first time all day, she allowed herself to feel safe.

The living room was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards as someone shifted their weight. Fina sat curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, her brothers and parents forming a protective circle around her. She stared blankly ahead, her face pale, her hands gripping the edges of the blanket as though it were the only thing grounding her.

Isabella knelt beside her, her warm hand resting lightly on Fina's knee. "Sweetheart," she said softly, "you don't have to talk right now. But if you're ready, we're here to listen."

Fina didn't respond immediately. Her mind was a tangled mess of emotions—fear, shame, and the deep sting of betrayal. The image of Aiden and Sophia flashed in her mind, making her stomach twist. And then there was the man in the park, his rough hands reaching for her.

Her voice was barely above a whisper when she finally spoke. "I don't know why I went there."

Everyone froze, their attention locked on her.

"I didn't want to go home. I didn't want to face anyone. So I just... walked." Her voice cracked, and she pulled the blanket tighter around her. "And then I saw the bench, and I sat down, and I guess... I fell asleep."

Enzo, sitting across from her, leaned forward, his expression pained. "Fina, that guy—did he..." He trailed off, unable to say the words.

Fina's eyes flicked to him, and she shook her head quickly. "No. He didn't."

Isabella exhaled in relief, her hand squeezing Fina's knee gently.

"But he tried," Fina added, her voice trembling. "If you hadn't found me..." Her words broke off as a sob wracked her body.

Before she could crumble completely, Enzo was at her side, pulling her into a tight hug. "I've got you," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "Nothing's going to happen to you. Not while we're here."

One by one, her brothers moved closer. Antonio placed a hand on her shoulder, Matteo sat on the armrest beside her, and Dante knelt on the floor, his gaze level with hers.

"You're safe now," Dante said firmly, his usual smirk replaced with a rare seriousness. "That piece of trash won't touch you—or anyone else—again."

Alessandro, who had been standing near the doorway, finally stepped forward. His face was unreadable, but his voice was steady as he said, "You're not alone, tesoro. No matter how bad things feel, you come to us. Always."

Fina nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Sorry?" Isabella said, her voice sharp with disbelief. "Fina, you have nothing to be sorry for. None of this is your fault."

Her mother's words cut through her guilt, and Fina broke down, her sobs filling the room as her family surrounded her, their presence solid and unwavering.

For the first time since the day had begun, Fina felt the crushing weight on her chest begin to lift. She wasn't okay—far from it—but with her family by her side, she knew she wouldn't have to face it alone.