"You’re going after Nikolai, aren’t you?" she asked tensely. I nodded. "But you’ll come back, right?" She added quickly, taking my hands in hers desperately. "You’ll come back to me, won’t you?"
"I promise, I will. I could be a little late, but I’ll come back to you. I’ll come back to myhome."
"You have to. You don’t have a choice," she said solemnly before pulling me in for a chaste kiss. This one was different from the ones we had shared before. It was slow and passionate, filled with unspoken promises and love.
***
Waiting outside the club, I sat in my car with Giovanni, the glow of the neon lights casting an eerie glow on our faces as we watched from our hidden spot. My men were strategically spread throughout the club and positioned outside for cover. We were ready. We were always ready.
As the minutes ticked by, I scanned the entrance. My eyes narrowed when I saw a man in a cap and dark clothes moving suspiciously. He bypassed the main entrance and slipped in through the back door. A gut feeling told me this was our target. "That's him," I muttered to Giovanni, who nodded and sent a quick message to the team. We exited the car, blending into the shadows as we followed the man discreetly. Inside the club, the pulsating music and throngs of people made it easy to stay out of sight.
The man moved swiftly, weaving through the crowd, but we kept pace. Just as I thought we had him, he vanished into the sea of dancing bodies. I cursed under my breath. "Spread out and keep your eyes open," I instructed Giovanni, who relayed the orders to the others.
I moved toward a quieter area of the club, away from the throbbing bass and flashing lights. My instincts led me down a narrow hallway, the sounds of the crowd fading behind me. The air grew cooler, and the walls seemed to close in, creating an intimate, almost claustrophobic atmosphere. The dim light cast long shadows, making every corner look like a potential hiding spot.
As I walked further, I noticed a subtle seam in the wall, almost imperceptible to the untrained eye. It was a secret door, blending seamlessly. The faint outline of the door was barely visible in the low light, but my years in this business had honed my senses to spot such details. I pushed against the door, and it gave way silently, swinging inward on well-oiled hinges. I stepped into a small, dimly lit room that seemed like it had not been used in years. The air was thick with dust, and the faint smell of mildew lingered. Faded posters of old club events adorned the walls, curling at the edges. A single, bare bulb hung from the ceiling, casting a weak, yellowish glow over the space.
Immediately, I felt a presence. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and my senses went on high alert. I was not alone. The room was eerily silent, save for the distant thump of the club's music, now muffled and distant.
"There’s no use hiding. Come out now. I know you're here," I said darkly, my voice cutting through the stillness like a knife. My hand hovered near my gun holster, ready for any threat. I moved slowly, eyes scanning every inch of the room. My footsteps echoed softly on the concrete floor as I advanced, the tension building with each step. Suddenly, I heard a slight shuffle behind me. Instinctively, I spun around, my gun already in hand. I fired a shot, but the man in the baseball cap was quick, dodging the bullet. His swift movement almost impressed me.Almost. Nikolai finally gave me a worthy opponent.
We both started firing, the room filling with the deafening sound of gunshots. I managed to get a clear shot, hitting his gun and making it fall out of his hands. Seizing the moment, I lunged forward. He was fast, though, and before I knew it, he had disarmed me as well.
He swung first, a wild punch aimed at my jaw. I ducked, feeling the air whoosh past my face. I countered with a sharp jab to his ribs, making him grunt in pain. He retaliated with a swift kick, catching my side and knocking me back a step.
We circled each other, breaths heavy, eyes locked in a deadly stare. I charged, landing a solid punch to his gut before he could react. He doubled over, but not for long. In a quick move, he grabbed my arm, twisting it behind my back. Pain shot through me, but I did not let it slow me down. I used the momentum to spin, freeing myself and delivering a hard elbow to his face.
Blood spattered from his nose, and he stumbled, but he did not go down. He was tough. He recovered quickly, launching himself at me. We grappled, exchanging blows, each one more vicious than the last.
I felt his strength waning, and I took advantage, slamming him against the wall. He tried to push back, but I was relentless. With a final, powerful punch to his temple, he crumpled to the floor with a tired groan. He lay there powerless, not unconscious but clearly defeated. I loomed over him, a mocking smile playing on my lips.
"I'm glad you were good," I taunted, "but sadly, not good enough."
But what surprised me was that he scoffed before a mockingly evil chuckle escaped his mouth. "Yeah? And I'm glad you're in the wrong place at the right time." I frowned, his words starting to settle in. "Say hello to your little girlfriend for me. I’ve heard she has a golden puss—" Before he could finish, my bloodboiled at his mention of Angela. I punched him again, making him pass out.
Breathing hard, I stood over him, fists still clenched. Giovanni and the others burst in, having followed the sounds of the fight. "Get him out of here," I ordered. "I want him alive." As my men moved to secure the unconscious man, I picked up my gun and holstered it.
***
Chapter 20
Lorenzo
A sense of unease washed over me the moment I stepped foot into my mansion, and it felt like deja vu. The air felt heavy and suffocating. My steps quickened, and I pushed open the door to find chaos. I froze, my breath catching in my throat as I took in the scene before me. The house was a wreck—the living room was thrashed, furniture overturned, vases shattered, and blood splattered across the floor, the bodies of my men lying motionless.
"What the—" I could not even form a sentence, my voice trailing off into a strangled gasp. Panic surged through me as I started yelling for Angela with my heart pounding in my chest, ready to burst out of the ribcage any second. "Angela! Angela, where are you?" I screamed, my voice echoing through the lifeless mansion.
Giovanni and the rest of my men, who had returned from the mission with me, sprang into action, spreading out to search for her. The feeling of dread gnawed at my insides, twisting my gut into knots. I tore through the rooms, desperation fueling my every step.
"Angela!" I bellowed again, but there was no response. Every second that passed only intensified my fear. As I rounded the corner, I saw one of my guards, barely alive, his breathing shallow and labored. I rushed to his side, my voice shaking with urgency. "Where is Angela!?"
"They took her. There were too many of them," he gasped, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. It felt like I choked on air, the reality of his words sinking in. I pushed the guard back onto the ground, my mind reeling. Angela was gone. They had taken her. My chest tightened, and it was hard to breathe. The thought of losing her, of her being in danger consumed me.
"Get the CCTV footage!" I roared, my voice cracking with fear and anger.
Giovanni hurried to comply, his expression mirroring my own dread. Every fiber of my being was focused on finding Angela. The fear of losing her was unlike anything I had ever felt. It was a raw, gnawing terror that clawed at my skin, threatening to tear me apart from within.
Giovanni returned with the footage played on his phone, and I watched in horror as my worst fears were confirmed. Masked men had stormed the gate, swiftly and ruthlessly eliminating the guards before they rushed into the mansion, leaving a trail of blood behind them. My heart pounded as I watched my men lay lifeless, some fallen while bravely attempting to protect Angela in the living room.
