DANTEAntonio stood there with his gun fixed on me while that familiar cold smile of his that I had known for all of my early life played on his lips. The sound of the helicopter rotors was almost deafening, but I could still hear him clearly when he spoke."You know, son, we're more alike than you want to admit,” he said."We're nothing alike," I said. I made sure to keep my hands visible but I was still ready to move if I got the chance."Really? Let's see." Antonio held his gun steadily while he talked, but his eyes never left mine. "You've built an empire through violence and intimidation. You've killed men who stood in your way. You've lied, manipulated, and destroyed anyone who threatened what was yours.""That's different,” I argued."Is it? The only difference between us is that you pretend to have a conscience about it." Antonio's laugh was very loud even as the helicopter’s rotors kept making noise. "Tell me, Dante, how many men have you killed in the name of protecting your
FLORAGunfire burst out from every direction as FBI agents swung into the factory through the broken windows. Antonio's men, who had been hidden throughout the place, opened fire immediately. The sound was deafening as it echoed around the building while the shells bounced off the metal walls and spoilt machines."Flora, get down!" Dante yelled. He quickly pushed me to the concrete floor as the sound of shots kept echoing.Through the chaos, I saw Antonio grab Sofia from Lorenzo’s grip, then he started to drag her toward a staircase at the far end of the walkway. But then someone grabbed me from behind."There’s been a change of plans, sweetheart," Lorenzo whispered in my ear. He pressed his gun against my ribs as he pulled me to my feet. "You're coming with me.""Let her go!" Dante called out. He turned around and started heading our way, but one of Antonio's men blocked his path by spraying it with multiple shots.Lorenzo started to drag me through the chaos all around us. We passed
FLORAThe abandoned factory looked like something straight out of a horror movie. Broken windows were all over the place, and signs of rust streaked the walls like dried blood. I pulled my jacket tighter around me, feeling the weight of the bulletproof vest underneath it."Are you sure about this?" Agent Harrison asked me through my earpiece. His voice was different through the earpiece but it was still clear.I touched the tiny device hidden behind my ear. "As sure as I can be,” I replied.The tracking device felt warm against my skin where they had taped it under my shirt. Harrison had positioned snipers on three buildings surrounding the factory, and FBI teams were covering every possible exit. At least, that was the plan."Remember," Harrison's voice spoke in my ear, "we need Antonio to make incriminating statements. Get him talking about the murders. About your father too."My stomach clenched at the mention of that, but I tried to push it out of my mind in order to focus. "I've
FLORAMy heart pounded in my chest as we heard Sofia’s voice echo from somewhere behind us. "Lorenzo! It's Sofia. I want to make a deal!""Lorenzo!" Sofia called out again. It was louder now. "I have information you need!"Through the passage, we could hear Lorenzo's cold laughter. "Well, well, well… The little traitor wants to negotiate.""I was never loyal to Dante," Sofia said to him. We could hear her voice perfectly in the enclosed space. "I've been working for Antonio this whole time. But things have changed. I want to make a new arrangement."Chills ran down my spine instantly. Was she telling the truth? Had Sofia been playing us all along?Dante's grip on my arm got tighter, but when I looked at his face, I saw understanding there, not betrayal. It was clear he knew something that I didn't."How interesting," Lorenzo drawled. "And what exactly are you offering?""Information about their escape route. Their next moves. Everything you want to know."There was a long pause before
FLORA"But I turned the tables," Sofia continued. "Once Marcus contacted me, we formed our own plan to trap Antonio. Everything, including the setup in California, and the supposed alliance with the Colombians, was all designed to draw Antonio out, get more evidence of his crimes, and take him down completely."Dante stared at his sister, but his expression remained unreadable. "And you couldn't tell me any of this because?""Because you trust too easily, brother," Sofia replied softly. "You would have wanted to believe in a clear solution. But with Antonio, with Lorenzo, apparently... there are no clear solutions."A sudden crash from somewhere in the house interrupted them. The thick smell of smoke began to filter in through the ventilation system."They're trying to draw us out," Salvatore said.Dante moved to the door again, then to the walls, listening in. "Is there another way out of here?" he asked Marcus.Marcus nodded weakly. "There’s an escape route behind that wall,” he rep
FLORAThe first bullets tore through the walls like they were made of paper. I fell onto the floor as the already weak plaster exploded around us, scattering dust and debris everywhere."Move!" Dante shouted right before he grabbed my arm and pulled me behind an overturned table. Salvatore was already firing through a broken window with his expression focused on the task at hand.Sofia and Carlo had taken cover behind a massive stone fireplace. The man who claimed to be Carlo Romano had his gun out, and he was currently firing shots toward Lorenzo's men outside."We need to get to higher ground!" Salvatore called over the sound of gunfire. "They're surrounding the building!"Dante nodded and gestured toward a doorway on the far side of the room. "We’re going to take those stairs and go through the back corridor!"I followed his lead, staying low as we moved carefully from one item to the next for cover. A bullet suddenly shattered the wooden frame a few inches from my head, and I felt