LOGINThe drive back to the estate was painfully quiet.The engine hummed through the empty road while none of us found the strength to speak. Roman sat beside me in complete silence. His wife remained at the back with their little boy asleep against her shoulder, one hand gently stroking the child's hair as though reassuring herself he was still there.I kept my eyes on the road. Trusting Roman was already a dangerous gamble. Bringing him into our hideout...That was an even bigger one.If he truly meant every word he had said...Then today might become the turning point of this war. But if he was lying...and this was another one of Malachi's games...Then I had just handed our location to the enemy.And this time...Renz would never forgive me. The thought stayed with me until the familiar gates finally appeared ahead. The guards recognized my car almost immediately...as the heavy iron gates slid open.Roman watched them carefully before looking farther into the estate."So..." His voice wa
He then stepped aside, I walked into the house, but before I had taken two steps, the door shut almost immediately behind me. The sound echoed louder than it should have.My eyes wandered around the room.The place was small but neat.Nothing about it suggested the man living here had once worked for one of the most feared criminals in Italy.Then my eyes caught them.A woman sat on the old sofa, patiently feeding a little boy who couldn't have been older than four. The child laughed softly at something she whispered.I blinked.Roman... had a family?That was new.He noticed where I was looking and sighed."How did you find me?" he asked. His voice wasn't curious. It was cold.I shrugged lightly. "Some things just happen." His expression didn't change."No."He took a slow step toward me."They don't. So I'll ask again." He said narrowing his eyes."How...""...did you find me?"The room suddenly felt much smaller. "That's not important right now.""Were you followed. You know Malac
Marco's PovSmoke escaped slowly from my lips as I stared into the endless darkness surrounding our compound.It had been two weeks. Two long weeks since everything fell apart. The hideout was quieter than ever. My men stood guard around the building while the others remained inside. No one joked anymore. No one laughed.Not after what Malachi had done.I took another drag from the cigarette, my thoughts drifting back to the video he had sent.Nyx...Camila...The little girl...They were tied to chairs, bruised and bleeding while Malachi laughed behind the camera. Every time I remembered their faces, my chest tightened.Then there was Renz.He had become someone else. He barely spoke. Barely slept. He answered only when necessary, and even then, his voice carried nothing but cold silence. Everyone knew he was trying to hold himself together so no one dared stand in its path.Even Bronco kept his distance. Everyone did. And every time I looked at him ...I heard his voice in my head .
**Two Weeks Later**Malachi's PovBeautiful.There was something strangely beautiful about silence before destruction.I stood atop a stack of weathered shipping containers overlooking the enormous cargo depot that had made me millions over the years. My hands rested lazily on the rusted railing.Rows of towering containers stretched across the yard like a maze. Cargo trucks stood parked in neat lines while cranes loomed overhead. To anyone else, this looked like an ordinary shipping yard.To me...It was a theater. And today's performance had only one audience.Luis Renz.I couldn't stop smiling as his black figure walked through the entrance exactly as instructed.Alone.I chuckled."A good boy after all."Why wouldn't he obey?After receiving the little video I sent him with his precious family tied up... bleeding... terrified...How could he possibly refuse?Besides, even if he'd wanted to bring an army, it wouldn't have mattered. No one could enter this depot without my knowledge
Bianca's PovThe ride back felt longer than it should have. It was painfully quiet. No one spoke.The van rattled over the rough road, its engine the only sound inside. Blood stained the floor beneath our boots. The smell of gunpowder clung to every one of us like a curse that refused to fade.I glanced across the van.Renz sat against the wall with his head lowered, one hand pressing firmly over the bullet wound in his arm. Blood continued soaking through his sleeve, yet he acted as if he couldn't feel it.He hadn't spoken a single word since we escaped.Somehow...That frightened me more than his anger ever could. Quietly, I picked up the medical kit and moved closer. "Let me see your hand."He didn't even look at me."No.""It's still bleeding.""I said no."His voice wasn't loud. It was flat.I sighed."If you don't stop the bleeding, you'll lose more blood than necessary."His eyes finally lifted to mine. "Treat your own wounds first." I looked down at the cuts running across my
"It's a fucking trap..."Bianca's voice came out strained as she stared at the unconscious woman and little girl.Her face hardened..."Renz could already be in serious danger."I clenched my jaw. "Signal the men to fall back," I barked immediately. "We're heading for the main entrance. Right now."She looked at me as I grabbed my gun. "We get Renz out before this turns into something even worse.""But the hostages—""Bianca!"She went silent."They're not here." I pointed around the room. "Can't you see? This whole damn place was built to fool us." I looked back at the fake hostages. "They wanted us to believe they were here. So they'll bring Renz straight into Malachi's den.""Fuck." Bianca cursed under her breath. "So every single detail...""...was real enough to fool us," I shamefully finished."If Renz had come with another plan...""He...would've failed anyway."She slowly nodded."Fuck..."Without another second to waste, she lowered the little girl onto the floor and we rushed
Renz’s POVThe morning light slipped through the curtains, warm and golden, falling across her skin. Nyx lay tangled in the sheets, her breathing slow and deep. I stayed there for a while, just watching her. She looked peaceful.I moved carefully, trying not to wake her. When I slid out of bed, she
Rynna’s PovI lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my phone clutched in my hand. Tomorrow was the talent show, but I didn’t feel excited. Everyone would be there with their parents cheering them on. Everyone but me.I had called Mom earlier, hoping she’d changed her mind.“Sweetheart, I really wa
The night was brutal. I didn’t sleep at all. Just lay there, staring at the ceiling, cursing everything. By morning, Renz dragged me to the gym. We worked in silence, pushing through weights, letting sweat do the talking.On our way back, the sun was barely up, the ladies still knocked out in their
I jumped into my car, planted my foot, and chased. Heart banging, hands tight on the wheel. I didn’t think. I only wanted to close the distance. My eyes didn’t leave the van.Whoever you bastards are, you picked the wrong girl. Y'all be dead men if she’s hurt, I’ll make sure you beg for death.But







