Chapter 23
The explosion tore through the tranquil atmosphere of the restaurant, shattering glass and sending patrons screaming in panic. The blast wave rippled through the room, and before Celestina could process what was happening, Dimitri had grabbed her arm and yanked her down.
“Get under the table!” he commanded, his voice sharp but steady.
She barely had time to react before he pulled her to safety, his arms shielding her as they ducked beneath the heavy wooden table. The sound of falling glass and distant sirens filled the air, but his calm presence anchored her amidst the chaos.
“Stay low,” Dimitri whispered, his breath warm against her ear. “The bodyguards will handle the rest.”
Almost on cue, a team of bodyguards in dark suits rushed into the room, their movements precise and efficient. They formed a protective barrier around Dimitri and Celestina, their eyes scanning the room for further threats.
“We’re moving you out,” one of the guards said, his voice clipped. “The back entrance is secure.”
Dimitri nodded, his hand still firmly on Celestina’s arm. “Come on,” he said, guiding her out from under the table.
Her heart pounded as they crouched and moved swiftly through the wreckage of the restaurant. Smoke and debris clouded the air, and the acrid scent of burning metal stung her nose. Dimitri never faltered, his grip steady and reassuring.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low but urgent.
“I think so,” Celestina managed, though her legs trembled with each step.
“We’re almost there,” he assured her.
The back entrance opened into a quiet alley where black SUVs waited, their engines idling. Dimitri helped her into one of the vehicles, sliding in beside her as the bodyguards piled in and the car sped off into the night.
The SUV pulled up to a discreet, fortified villa on the outskirts of the city. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter, their presence a stark reminder of the danger they had narrowly escaped.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense but calm. Dimitri led Celestina to a plush sofa in the main sitting room, handing her a glass of water.
“Drink,” he said firmly.
She took it with trembling hands, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat. “Thank you,” she murmured.
Dimitri sat beside her, his sharp eyes watching her closely. “You’re safe now. That’s all that matters.”
Celestina exhaled shakily, her thoughts swirling. “Who would do this?”
Dimitri’s jaw tightened. “Someone with a message. Bombings like this aren’t random.”
Before she could respond, a knock at the door drew their attention. A guard entered, speaking in low tones to Dimitri.
“The President has been informed of the situation. He wants to see you both at the palace.”
Later that evening, Dimitri and Celestina arrived at the presidential palace. The grandeur of the building, with its towering columns and glittering chandeliers, felt at odds with the tension hanging in the air.
President Alvada met them in the grand hall, his expression a mix of relief and determination. He embraced Celestina tightly, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “My daughter… you’re unharmed?”
“I’m fine, Father,” Celestina assured him, though her voice wavered slightly. “Thanks to Dimitri.”
The president turned to Dimitri, his sharp gaze softening. “You protected her,” he said, his tone heavy with gratitude. “For that, I owe you a debt I can never repay.”
“There’s no need for that,” Dimitri said humbly. “I did what anyone would have done.”
“Not anyone,” President Alvada countered. “You risked your life for her. That is not something I take lightly.”
He gestured for them to follow him into the security room, where a wall of monitors displayed footage from the restaurant and its surroundings. A technician paused the feed, zooming in on the parking lot where the explosion had occurred.
“Watch carefully,” the technician said.
The video showed a sleek white car pulling into the lot just minutes before the explosion. The driver’s side door opened, and a figure stepped out.
Celestina gasped. “Liora?”
