Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

M assimo

T he message came through just after dawn, delivered by one of my runners—a note, short and cryptic, bearing the Russo family's insignia. They wanted a sit-down. After the chaos with Raffaele, I'd been expecting something like this.

I stared at the message for a moment, my instincts screaming at me to be careful. But if the Russos were willing to talk, I had to hear them out.

I folded the note, tucking it into my pocket, and glanced over at Sofia. She was standing by the window, her arms crossed, the morning light casting a halo around her dark hair, painting her in the perfect picture of ethereal beauty. Her expression was calm, but I knew better. She looked over her shoulder and met my eyes, her body tense.

"Looks like the Russos want to play," I said, keeping my tone casual.

She turned to face me, one eyebrow raised. "Do you trust them?"

I shrugged. "I trust them to look out for themselves," I replied. "And right now, they've got plenty of reasons to be scared. Raffaele's making moves, and they don't want to be caught in the crossfire."

She nodded slowly, but I could see the doubt in her eyes. "You think it's a trap?"

"It's always a trap," I muttered. "But we can't afford to ignore it. If the Russos are looking to continue our alliance, it could turn the tide in our favor. And if they're working with Raffaele, I want to know sooner rather than later."

She hesitated, then took a step closer. "Then we go," she said firmly. "But we stay sharp."

And in that moment, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. She was proving herself in ways I hadn't expected, showing me the makings of someone who could not only survive in my world but thrive. She was more than a just a beautiful woman by my side.

She was my life.

T he meeting place was an old warehouse down by the docks, a relic from a time when this city still believed in industry. Now it was nothing but rusted metal and broken glass. I'd brought a small crew with me—Leo, Stefano, a few of my most trusted men—armed and ready for whatever might come.

Sofia sat beside me in the car, her posture relaxed, but her eyes were sharp, scanning the surroundings as we pulled up to the warehouse.

"Remember," I said quietly, "we go in calm. No sudden moves. Let them think they've got the upper hand."

She nodded, her expression set. "Got it."

I nodded to Leo, and he pushed open the door, stepping out first. Stefano followed, his eyes sweeping over the area, his hand resting on the gun at his hip. I stepped out next, feeling the weight of my own weapon beneath my jacket.

The air was thick with the scent of saltwater and oil, a low fog rolling in from the harbor. I could hear the distant sound of gulls crying overhead, but otherwise, it was quiet.

Too quiet.

Sofia moved to my side, her shoulder brushing against mine, and I glanced at her. "Stay close," I muttered.

"Yes, sir," she replied, her voice steady, but soft.

We made our way to the entrance of the warehouse, the large metal doors slightly ajar, just enough to slip through. Leo and Stefano took up positions on either side, guns drawn but hidden, ready for anything.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside with Sofia right behind me. The interior was dark, the only light coming from a few broken windows high above. I could see the outlines of crates and old machinery.

The Russos were there waiting for me.

"Massimo," Antonio called out, his voice echoing through the empty space. "Glad you could make it."

I forced a smile. "You know me," I replied. "Always happy to talk business."

The man nodded, but there was something off in his demeanor, something twitchy. I felt Sofia shift slightly beside me, and I knew she felt it too.

And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement—a shadow, too quick, too deliberate. I turned just in time to see a man stepping out from behind one of the crates, a rifle in his hands, aimed directly at me.

"Down!" I shouted, grabbing Sofia, and pulling her behind a crate just as the gunfire erupted. Bullets whizzed past us, slamming into the metal walls with deafening cracks. The warehouse exploded into chaos, men shouting, gunfire echoing from every direction.

"Ambush!" Leo shouted, firing back, his voice barely audible over the noise.

I rolled, pulling my gun from its holster, and returning fire, hitting one of Raffaele's men right between the eyes and turning on another in an instant.

"They were waiting for us," Sofia muttered. "It's Raffaele's men!"

I gritted my teeth. "Bastard set us up," I growled. "We need to get out of here."

I scanned the room, looking for a way out. The main entrance was blocked—two men standing to either side of the door armed to the teeth. But there was a side door, half-hidden in the shadows, a possible escape route if we could get to it.

"Side door," I shouted to Leo and Stefano, pointing. "Cover us!"

They nodded, moving to provide cover fire as I grabbed Sofia's arm. "Stay close," I barked, pulling her up and moving toward the door.

We sprinted across the warehouse floor, bullets flying past us, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel the heat of the gunfire, hear the shouts of the men behind us, but I pushed forward, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

We reached the side door, and I kicked it open, shoving Sofia through first. "Go, go!" I shouted, following right behind her.

We burst out into the open air, the cold wind hitting my face like a slap. I could hear the sounds of more footsteps behind us, Raffaele's men giving chase. I turned, firing a few shots to slow them down, then grabbed Sofia's hand and pulled her into a run.

"This way!" I shouted, leading her toward the docks, where the fog was thicker, offering some cover.

"We need to lose them!" she yelled, her voice tight with urgency.

"I know," I replied, glancing back over my shoulder. "Keep moving!"

My eyes scanned the area, heart pounding, and I spotted our car parked in the shadows where we'd left it.

"There!" I grabbed Sofia's hand, pulling her along as we sprinted toward it.

Shots rang out behind us, the crack of gunfire tearing through the air. I ducked low, keeping Sofia close, feeling the heat of the bullets whizzing past us.

"Move, move!" I barked.

We reached the car, and I yanked the door open, pushing Sofia into the passenger seat before diving in myself. The moment my door slammed shut, I turned the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life.

"Hold on," I muttered, slamming the gearshift into reverse and flooring the gas pedal.

The tires screeched as we shot backward, Raffaele's men closing in from all sides. I could see them out of the corner of my eye, rifles raised.

"Get down!" I shouted to Sofia, jerking the wheel hard to the left to avoid the hail of bullets that shattered the rear window.

I slammed the gearshift into drive and floored the accelerator, the car lurching forward with a burst of speed. We shot out of the alley and onto the main road, tires squealing as I took a sharp corner. In the rearview mirror, I saw the headlights of two black SUVs following close behind, their engines roaring like angry beasts.

"They're gaining on us!" Sofia called out, her voice tight with adrenaline.

"I see them," I muttered, my grip tightening on the wheel. "Hold on!"

I pressed down harder on the gas, weaving through traffic, the city lights blurring past us in a dizzying whirl. Horns blared as I cut in front of a taxi, narrowly missing a truck that slammed on its brakes just in time. The SUVs were right behind us, relentless, their headlights flashing in my mirror.

"There's a construction zone up ahead!" Sofia urged, her eyes darting between the side mirrors.

I nodded, spotting the orange barricades and warning signs in the distance. "Good eye," I replied. "That's our exit."

I yanked the wheel hard to the right, steering us toward the narrow opening between two construction barriers. The car bounced violently over a patch of uneven pavement, but I held it steady, maneuvering through the maze of debris and equipment.

The SUVs followed, barreling through the barriers with reckless speed, their drivers determined not to let us out of their sight. I could hear the crash of metal as they tore through obstacles behind us, the sound of engines roaring, the squeal of tires skidding on loose gravel.

"They're still with us!" Sofia shouted, glancing back over her shoulder.

"Not for long," I growled, spotting a narrow ramp leading up to an overpass. "Hang on!"

I slammed on the gas, the car surging forward and up the ramp, tires squealing as we climbed. The SUVs followed, but I could see them struggling to keep up, their bulky frames swaying dangerously on the uneven terrain.

I swerved sharply, sending us careening around a stack of concrete barriers. "They're too heavy!" I shouted. "They won't make the turn!"

Sure enough, one of the SUVs tried to follow, but its rear wheels lost traction on the loose gravel. The driver overcorrected, and the SUV spun out of control, slamming into a pile of metal pipes with a deafening crash.

"One down," Sofia muttered, her voice tight.

"One more to go," I replied, glancing in the mirror at the remaining SUV that was still on our tail.

I gunned the engine again, pushing the car harder as we reached the top of the ramp. I could see the lights of the city below, the rush of traffic, and the streets stretching out before us. I needed to get us back onto the main road so we could blend in.

"There!" Sofia pointed, spotting a narrow off-ramp that led back into the city. "Take that!"

I nodded, yanking the wheel hard to the left, sending us hurtling down the ramp. The SUV followed, its headlights blinding, but I could feel the gap widening between us as we merged back onto the main road.

"We're losing them!" Sofia cried excitedly.

"Not yet," I muttered, weaving through traffic, cutting across lanes, trying to shake them for good. I could see the driver in the SUV behind us, his face set with determination, refusing to give up.

I took a sharp right, barreling down a narrow side street, then another left, zigzagging through the back alleys, taking every shortcut I knew. The SUV struggled to keep up, its engine roaring, but I could feel it starting to lag, the distance between us growing with every turn.

"Come on," I hissed under my breath, my hands gripping the wheel tight. "Come on…"

And then, just as I took another sharp turn, I heard it—the screech of tires, the sound of metal crunching against a brick wall. I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the SUV slam sideways into a dumpster, its engine sputtering to a halt.

"They crashed!" Sofia shouted, her face breaking into a grin. "We did it!"

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, my heart still pounding in my chest.

"Yeah," I muttered, a grin spreading across my face. "We did."

I slowed the car down, turning onto a quieter street, the noise of the chase fading into the distance. I looked over at Sofia, her cheeks flushed with adrenaline, her eyes bright.

"You okay?" I asked, my voice softer now.

She nodded, but her face paled as she looked in the rearview mirror.

"Massimo," she whispered, her voice edged with alarm. "Behind us… another car."

I turned, catching sight of it in the mirror—a black sedan, moving fast, too fast, closing the distance between us. My gaze flicked to the driver's seat and my heart stopped. Raffaele was leaning out the window, a twisted smile on his face, as the car came to a stop.

"Shit," I muttered, gripping the wheel tighter. "Hold on!"

Raffaele's men had played their cards, and now he was making his move. I saw him step out of the vehicle with a massive weapon aimed directly at us, his eyes wild with raw determination.

Fuck.

He was holding a rocket launcher.

The street was too narrow, too quiet—there was no way we'd get away in time if he pulled that trigger.

"Massimo, we need to move!" Sofia urged, panic creeping into her voice.

I slammed on the gas, the engine roaring as I tried to swerve out of the way. But I knew, in that split second, we wouldn't make it.

Raffaele laughed, his voice carrying over the distance. "Did you think it would be that easy?" he taunted, his finger hovering over the trigger. "I know you betrayed me, Sofia. Now you and Massimo are going to pay the price."

Sofia's eyes were wide, fear flashing across her face, but she didn't flinch. "What do we do—" she began, but I cut her off.

"Get down!" I barked, pulling my gun from its holster. "Now!"

Sofia ducked just as Raffaele raised the rocket launcher to his shoulder, his smile widening. I felt time slow, every second stretching out as I lifted my weapon, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.

I couldn't miss. Not this time. Not with her life on the line.

"Not today," I growled, squeezing my own trigger.

The shot rang out, echoing down the empty street. For a split second, I thought I'd missed—Raffaele's grin never faltered. But then his head snapped back, a spray of crimson erupting as the bullet hit its mark. His body crumpled like a ragdoll, the rocket launcher falling from his hands, clattering uselessly to the ground.

Sofia gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, eyes wide with shock. "Did you…?"

I nodded, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my gun still trained on the fallen figure. "I had to," I muttered, lowering the weapon slightly but not entirely. "He wasn't going to stop."

The engine in Raffaele's car was still running, but there was no movement from the men inside. I could see their faces through the windshield—confused, terrified, unsure of what to do now that their leader lay dead in the street.

"Is it… over?" Sofia asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Not yet," I murmured.

There were still the rest of Raffaele's men to deal with.

I shifted the car into drive, the engine purring beneath us as I watched the men in the sedan scramble. They were panicked, caught between running and staying, unsure of their next move.

I rolled down my window, lifting my gun again, aiming it steadily at the windshield of their car.

"Get out of here!" I barked, my voice cutting through the silence. "Tell anyone left that they could run, or they will die—those are their only choices."

One of Raffaele's men dove into the driver's seat, his hands gripping the wheel, his eyes darting between me and the rest of the men with him. He knew he didn't stand a chance if they stayed.

"Go!" I shouted again, and this time he nodded, slamming the car into reverse.

The tires screeched as they peeled away, the sedan reversing quickly before the driver shifted into gear and sped off. I kept my gun trained on them until they were out of sight, my heart pounding in my chest.

"They're gone," Sofia murmured, her voice still tight with adrenaline.

I reached for her, my hands moving over her arms, her shoulders, her sides, checking for any sign of injury. "Are you hurt?" I demanded urgently. "Did they hit you?"

She shook her head, but I couldn't stop. My hands kept roaming, searching, needing to know she was okay. I ran my fingers over her legs, her waist, pressing gently, feeling for any hidden wounds.

"Sofia," I murmured, my gaze fixed on hers, "tell me you're fine."

She caught my hands in hers, holding them tight, forcing me to stop. "Massimo," she said softly, her voice steady, her eyes locking onto mine. "I'm fine. I promise."

"Good," I muttered, my hands lingering on her for a moment longer. "I just… I can't lose you."

She smiled, a reassuring light in her eyes. "You won't," she whispered. "I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere."

I nodded, feeling a fierce protectiveness swelling in my chest. "We need to get out of here," I said firmly, pulling my hands back and gripping the wheel. "Before anyone comes looking."

She nodded, sliding back into her seat, her hand still holding mine for a moment longer. "Let's go," she agreed.

I shifted the car into gear, slamming down on the accelerator, the tires screeching as we sped away from the scene. I kept my eyes on the road, my heart still pounding, but I reached out and took her hand in mine and squeezed it tight.

As I drove through the narrow streets, weaving in and out of traffic, I glanced over at her, her expression calm and focused despite everything we had just gone through. I could still see the fire in her eyes, the resolve that had kept her steady when the bullets were flying, and Raffaele had come at us with everything he had. She'd handled herself like she'd been born to this world, fearless and sharp, never flinching, never hesitating.

I felt a surge of pride, a fierce satisfaction that this woman—this brave, unyielding woman—was by my side. She wasn't just surviving; she was thriving, showing me that she had the strength to stand beside me in every storm, no matter how brutal.

She belonged with me.

There was only one thing that could get in my way.

Her father.