𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 45: 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐀𝐧 𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐎𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐦.

𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬°°°°

Breanna nestled in the passenger’s seat, while Lorenzo and Sophia sat behind.

Nothing seems off since the last minutes they started off, and it was beginning to unsettle her.

Blade knuckles is too disciplined to miss his own hit.

An unmarked police SUV suddenly falls in behind them, which she immediately spotted through the rearview mirror.

“Sophia,” she calls sharply, “How many convoys did we move with?.”

Sophia glances at the mirror and shrugs. “Last time I checked — three”

She slammed the dash, already on comms. “Team 033 … this is Detective Stewart…are you there?”

“Yes Ma'am”

“What’s the license plate of the SUV behind you?”

“414-EH” a response crackled back to her.

“The plate’s registered to our department,” Sophia confirms.

But her brows furrowed when she radioed dispatch to verify, static crackled — then a voice replied:

> “Negative Ma'am. No one from your division was assigned to that route.”

Her pulse spikes, it all made sense now. The tip was true.

“Ma’am…” She swallowed, putting away her phone. “I think someone’s interested in us.”

“That Motherfucker” Breanna seethed.

Lorenzo, who had been too relaxed, straightened, sensing the tension.

“Is something wrong?,” he asked quietly.

But neither of the women answered, rather they drew their weapons while the driver turned off the jazz tune on the radio.

“All units, slow down.” Breanna instructed smoothly.

The drivers obeyed, but the black SUV behind them mirrored every move — it stayed just close enough but never overtook.

Under Breanna's command their car veered into another lane and so did the SUV. Twice.

Breanna was finally certain that the hit was here, she tapped her earpiece.

“All units, prep for confrontation.”

The three convoys slowed in unison, tires screeching against asphalt.

“Pull over,” she ordered.

Everyone followed the order at once, engines went quiet and weapons came up, targeting the SUV as it eased to a stop opposite them.

“Keep an eye on him,” Breanna instructed the driver, already stepping out with Sophia.

“Yes, ma’am,” the driver replied, for the first time since the journey kicked off, though Breanna was already gone.

Surrounding the SUV, Breanna barked through their microphone. “This is the police, step out slowly!”

There was no response. She advanced, her gun raised while Sophia flanked her.

“I won't repeat myself — On the count of three — One, two —”

The SUV’s door swung open and everyone closed in. But the vehicle was empty.

Only the soft hum of its engine and the local radio filled the silence.

Breanna motioned Sophia forward. She drew her binoculars and angled for cover behind the hood of their car.

One glance through the SUV’s open door, it was empty.

“Can’t see squat,” she muttered, removing the binoculars.

“What the hell—?”

Breanna growled, moving fast to confirm.

Right behind them came a screech. All spun in time to see their own car tear off down the opposite lane with Lorenzo still inside.

The stench of tire filled the air as the driver accelerated hard.

“Jesus Christ—Sophia! He’s got the target!”

Without waiting to be told, Sophia bolted for the nearest cruiser, and dove into the driver's seat.

“That fucking SUV was a bait!” Breanna hissed, sprinting after her.

“Dispatch, this is Detective Stewart— our target’s been taken. Repeat, Blade knuckles is in motion. Lock down all routes from Highway Seven northbound!”

“Copy that,” the radio crackled, but Breanna heard the sound of another engine.

The abandoned SUV had suddenly cut across lanes, blocking their chase.

She leaned out, firing precise bursts at the tires.

But before her bullets could connect, the SUV jerked aside and exploded — flames erupting skyward, debris scattering across the highway.

The shockwave slammed their car sideways.

“Shit!” Sophia coughed, steering away the wheel.

Breanna blinked through the haze, Antonio had planned every inch.

The SUV, the decoy, the driver —every move was to frustrate her, while the real play unfolded right under her nose.

Her phone buzzed — an incoming message.

> “Take a chill pill Sweetheart. You just keep forgetting—you’re not the one moving the pieces”

“A*shole!” She spat, her fist tightening around the phone. “You're not getting away this time….I promise”

“Take right” she ordered tightly, eyes glued on the GPS moving in her phone.

“Ma'am?” Sophia raised a brow.

“We're intercepting him via Vista Grande lane…he's en route”

☆☆𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥☆☆

The driver screeched to halt and turned off the engine.

“We're here Sir… I told you” he announced eerily. “Your seminar”.

Lorenzo, who was still jagging for escape, darted his eyes around — breath ragged.

> Vista Grande Elementary School

The name was carved deep into the rock monument outside the gate.

“Thank you” he exhaled, reaching for the door handle.

A click echoed — the locks engaged, sealing him in.

“Don’t be in such a hurry, my friend.” The driver grinned as he peeled off his cap and fake mustache.

“I promised to get you to the seminar... but I never said alive.”

“Listen—” Lorenzo swallowed hard. “Whatever they paid you, I’ll double it—”

“It’s not about money.” The driver's voice shifted, as he turned — revealing himself.

“Antonio Hunt?” Lorenzo's heart constricted.

“No” Antonio slid on his gloves with a soft snap. “Allow me to reintroduce myself.”

A thin metallic whisper sliced through the silence — steel leaving leather.

“Antonio—drop it!” Lorenzo’s face drained of color. “Detective Stewart knows! She’s on her way!”

“I know.” He whispered evenly checking his watch, unhurried. “Let’s just finish this quickly.”

“You were warned to stay out of cartel territory,”

“I know,” Lorenzo cut in sharply, “But I only came to give a harmless talk, no other agenda. Knuckles—listen—I can fix this—”

“It’s nothing personal, my friend.”

He raised his hand, blades glittering sharply. “Just a deal I can't reject.”

In one clean motion, Lorenzo sagged sideways, eyes wide and glassy—his throat a shredded ruin.

Whine of pursuit sirens rose just a few meters from them.

“Shit.” Antonio cursed, slipping the ring blades off.

Then, calm as an elite arriving late, he steered into the school’s parking lot — blending in with the arriving guests.

☆☆☆

Meanwhile, following Breanna's command, Sophia swerved into the curb.

> The black sedan was inside the school. Parked crooked at the staff zone. The engine still running.

Breanna jumped out and approached it,

“Antonio?” she called, voice sharp, but there was no answer. Only the low purr of the idling engine.

“I think he fled, but that should be seconds ago.” Sophia's eyes scanned the perimeter.

Breanna yanked open the door and

Lorenzo’s head lolled out, throat glistening red, the seats, a crimson mess.

“Jesus, this is a school” Sophia mumbles, backing off. “How could he?”

There was a pause on Breanna's end. Then finally in a flat tone.

“Get the medic — now!”

Though she already knew it was useless.

The first backup stepped into her line of sight and took Lorenzo's corpse.

“Lock it down!” she snapped. “Nobody out.”

“Ma’am, these are elementary kids and a seminar —”