Under the cover of night, the team moved silently through the shadows of the Italian’s stronghold, their mission clear. It had taken months of planning, countless hours of surveillance, and now they were finally ready to strike. Jungkook, Namjoon, Taehyung, and the others were in perfect sync as they cleared room after room, eliminating guards swiftly and efficiently. The Italians had no idea what was coming for them.

Taehyung led the way down the dimly lit corridor, his gun raised and eyes scanning for any signs of movement. His mind was focused on one thing—finding Ariana and getting her out of there. For Isabella, he reminded himself. This mission wasn’t just another job; it was personal. The Italians had made a fatal mistake by taking someone close to them, and now they would pay the price.

As they reached the final door, Taehyung paused, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew this was it. Behind that door was the woman they had been searching for—the woman who had been held captive for months. He didn’t know what to expect when they found her. Would she be broken, like so many others who had been through this kind of torment? Or would she have that same fiery resilience as her sister?

With a silent nod to Namjoon, Taehyung kicked the door open, his gun ready. The room was dark, the air thick with the stench of dampness and decay. In the corner, chained to the wall, was a figure—Ariana.

Taehyung’s breath caught in his throat as he stepped closer. Even in the dim light, he could see her beauty. She was disheveled, her hair matted, her clothes torn, but there was something about her—an undeniable strength, a fierceness in her eyes that immediately captivated him. She was stunning, even in this state of vulnerability.

Ariana’s head lifted slowly, her eyes locking onto Taehyung’s. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Taehyung could feel the weight of her gaze, the intensity of her presence. She didn’t beg for help, didn’t cry out in desperation. Instead, she looked at him with defiance, as if daring him to pity her.

“We’re here to get you out,” Taehyung said softly, his voice gentle despite the chaos around them.

Ariana’s lips parted, but no sound came out at first. She seemed to be processing the fact that someone had finally come for her. After a beat, she gave a small nod, her voice hoarse as she spoke. “About time.”

Taehyung felt a smile tug at the corners of his lips. She had the same sharp tongue as Isabella, but there was something softer about her, something that made him want to protect her. He quickly knelt down, unlocking the chains that held her in place. As the metal cuffs fell away from her wrists, he gently helped her to her feet.

Ariana winced, her legs shaky from the long months of captivity. Taehyung caught her before she could fall, his arm wrapping around her waist to steady her. The contact sent a jolt through him, and he could feel the warmth of her body against his. For a brief moment, their eyes met again, and he felt something stir deep within him.

“We need to move,” Namjoon said, his voice cutting through the moment as he glanced at the hallway behind them. “The rest of the Italians won’t stay down for long.”

Taehyung nodded, his focus returning to the mission at hand. He kept Ariana close to him as they made their way out of the cell, his senses on high alert. The rest of the team was already clearing a path, making sure no one stood in their way as they moved toward the exit.

As they reached the courtyard, the sounds of gunfire and chaos echoed around them. BTS was dismantling the Italian mafia piece by piece, ensuring that none of their successors would live to reclaim the empire. By the time they were finished, the Italians would be nothing more than a memory—a warning to anyone who dared to challenge them.

Taehyung kept his arm around Ariana, shielding her from the worst of the carnage as they moved toward the waiting vehicles. He could feel the tension in her body, the way her muscles tensed with every gunshot, every scream. But she remained silent, her head held high. She wasn’t broken. She was a survivor.

Once they were safely inside the van, Taehyung sat next to Ariana, his hand still resting on her arm. She looked at him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, he thought she might say something, but then she simply turned her head, gazing out the window as the van sped away from the Italian stronghold.

The ride back to Isabella’s was quiet, the weight of what had just happened hanging heavy in the air. Jungkook and Namjoon exchanged a few words, but for the most part, the group was silent, their minds focused on the task ahead. The Italians were gone, their empire crumbling, but there was still much to be done.

When they finally arrived at Isabella’s mansion, Taehyung helped Ariana out of the van, his hand lingering on her waist as she stepped onto the pavement. She gave him a small nod of thanks, though her eyes still held that same guarded distance. Taehyung didn’t push her. He knew it would take time for her to heal, both physically and emotionally.

Inside the mansion, Isabella was waiting, her face a mix of relief and worry. She had been pacing the floor with Hana, who was seated on the couch, her pregnancy beginning to show. As soon as she saw her sister, Isabella rushed forward, pulling Ariana into a tight embrace.

“Ariana,” Isabella whispered, her voice breaking for the first time. “I thought I’d lost you.”

Ariana hugged her back, though her expression remained stoic. “You didn’t. I’m here.”

Hana, sitting nearby, watched the reunion with soft eyes. She had been caring for Isabella during the mission, offering comfort and support as best as she could. Though her own life was filled with the joy of expecting a child, she understood the depth of Isabella’s pain and worry.

“Thank you,” Isabella said, turning to Taehyung and the rest of the group. “For everything.”

Taehyung nodded, his gaze lingering on Ariana. There was something about her that drew him in, something he couldn’t quite explain. She had been through so much, but there was a fire in her, a strength that intrigued him. He couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for her—and for him.

As the night wore on, the group settled into the safety of Isabella’s mansion. The Italians were gone, and the empire now belonged to BTS. But for Taehyung, the real victory was knowing that Ariana was safe. And though their story had only just begun, he knew that he would do whatever it took to protect her, no matter the cost.

Because from the moment he laid eyes on her, Taehyung knew that Ariana was more than just a mission. She was something far more important—a part of his future. And nothing, not even the remnants of the Italian mafia, would stand in his way.