Continued:Peering into the room, my gaze falls on Benji, lying unconscious on the table, his chest eerily exposed as if caught in a moment of vulnerability. The glint of surgical instruments catches the harsh overhead light, and the doctor deftly inserts piping into Benji's chest cavity, a stark reminder of the life-and-death situation unfolding before us."Tell me what to do," Bianca says, her voice steadier now, though I can still sense the uncertainty shadowing her demeanor. The weight of the moment hangs heavily in the air, punctuated by the beeping machines that seem to monitor not just Benji's life but our own connection to it, too."I'm more than willing to scrub in," Luca declares, striding into the state-of-the-art operating room with a sense of purpose. He effortlessly peels off his jacket, revealing a crisp white shirt beneath, and rolls up his sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms, which speak of both strength and agility. He approaches the sink, methodically scrubbing
NikoI'm going to kill him.Maim him.Every fucking body part will be skinned alive, and his dick fed to him like soup from a blender.I detest and abhor him with every fibre of my being, yet there exists within me a conflicting emotion—a fragment of my soul that cherishes Bianca. That part understands the bitter truth: to keep her by my side, I must endure this torment and remain passive in the face of my own resentment. Luca gently intervenes, preventing me from crossing a line I hadn't fully realised I was approaching. I had been poised to insist that she stay by my side, completely disregarding her own feelings and desires. In that moment, I recognised how close I came to stripping her of her autonomy, unwittingly trying to control her choices and dictate her path. I detest men who are willing to be that man, and I detest Luca for making those choices with Emma."Niko, you're going about this all wrong," he warned as we assessed the wreckage in the room a warning similar to my own
Continued:He worked skillfully, his fingers dancing over the buttons as he hacked into the door's code, focused and determined. After what felt like an eternity, a soft buzzing filled the air, accompanied by a triumphant green light that illuminated the area above the door. I glanced over to see Luca, Drake, and Mitchel—three formidable leaders that rule our mafia with an iron fist—raising their hands in a silent command, their expressions steely as they signaled for their men to prepare for a fight and their men moved into position before them both a protective stance and following their silent commands.With a mix of tension and anticipation, Benji pushed the door open, his gaze never wavering from mine, as if he was trying to convey an unspoken promise. In an instant, the silence shattered as a barrage of bullets erupted from the room, echoing like thunder in the chaos.The men behind me began to return fire and I leaned into Benji, covering my eyes with his chest, and my ears wi
BiancaDespite Niko's firm grip around me, I could sense the simmering anger coursing through him, a palpable tension that hung in the air. I couldn't fully blame him for it; after all, I had kissed Benji—a decision rooted in gratitude for all he had done for me. But how could I have known it was him stepping through the door?It was all so tangled and confusing, a web of emotions that left me feeling trapped. Looking at Benji, my heart ached. He kneeled there in nothing but his jeans, his bare skin a canvas of scars and wounds, each mark telling a story of pain and resilience for anyone to see. It pained me to witness his struggle, the way he fought to maintain his steadiness, a stark reminder of the battles he faced. The sight was haunting, a mix of vulnerability and strength that made my own turmoil feel small yet insurmountable.No matter what I did, his safety weighed on me like a heavy charge I had to uphold. I could sense Niko's resentment simmering beneath the surface—I could
Continued:"Bianca?" I call, my jealously dripping from every sylable of her name.Luca swiftly sidesteps me, his desperation palpable as he charges into the room, determined to reach Bianca. It's as though the very essence of his being is woven into the urgency of his actions. He kneels beside her, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek, a tender gesture that speaks volumes of his concern. His voice, laced with warmth, urges her to move away from the fool I'm about to murder in cold fucking blood. My guns drawn, and I step inside with stealth as I walk right to him. He looks half dead as it is, and I pretend I'm doing this for his own interest. The safety clicks back, and I'm pressing down on the trigger."No," Bianca steps before the gun, her eyes wild and protective of him making me jealously rage."Move, Bee.""You can't kill him, Niko.""And why the fuck not?" I spit moving to the left hating that she adjusts her protection to follow me and then again to the right as I te
NikoAs I survey the room, I notice three distinct doors, each providing access in and out of this space. The first door, positioned at the back, swings open to reveal a cramped area filled with storage cupboards. Among the clutter, I spot an elderly woman nestled among the shadows, her presence almost hidden. She exudes an air of gentle vulnerability, with silver strands framing her soft, weathered face. Though her age marks her features, she radiates a sense of inherent harmlessness, as if shaped by years of quiet resilience.I leave her there, carefully tucked away in the shadows of the cupboard, making a silent promise to return for her. As I step back into the bustling canteen thats filled with our men, my instincts guide me to the left, my fingers dancing over the control panel as the electronic system springs to life on autopilot. It buzzes red and so I shoot it much as we have done with the others.The atmosphere shifts abruptly as everyone turns, bracing for another chaotic v