Chapter 13

Marco

A dull ache throbbed persistently at the base of my skull, remnants of last night's festivities still lingering. Not that I regretted them; far from it actually. Last evening brought unexpected revelations, surprising admissions, and unforgettable moments shared between us. Yet, morning-after headaches were a small price to pay for such pleasures.

I shifted in the leather seat, crossing one leg over another, trying to find comfort amidst my luxurious surroundings.

Thoughts drifted back, reliving events that happened days ago. Our entwined limbs, heated breaths mingling, sweat-slicked flesh glistening under the light streaming through the open windows. His cries echoing softly around us, punctuated by my grunts, growls, and feral snarls.

Intensity burned fiercely then, raw and unfiltered, consuming us. Passion fueled our movements, and desire dictated our actions. Nothing held back, nothing restrained. We claimed each other without holding back.

And now? Now, reality intruded harshly, shattering the illusion spun carefully around us. Reality meant responsibilities, obligations, and duties. All things I'd been avoiding, buried beneath layers of denial, ignorance, or plain old cowardice.

A soft knock sounded sharply against the door, pulling me abruptly from my reverie."Mr. Rossi?"A timid voice called out, seeking permission before entering.

"Enter,"I barked, sitting upright, shoulders squared. Time to face whatever news they brought today. Hopefully not bad ones this time.

The door creaked open slowly, revealing one of my men standing anxiously in the doorway. A relieved sigh escaped me, seeing a familiar face instead of some stranger bearing unknown tidings. At least something went right today.

"What is it?"I demanded, gesturing towards the empty chair beside me.

He stepped further into the room, closing the door firmly behind himself before approaching. Unease prickled at the nape of my neck, warning senses flaring. Something wasn't right here. Too much hesitation, too little confidence.

"Speak,"I urged, eyes narrowing. Waste no more time, damn it. Spit out what you came for already.

"I-I'm sorry, boss,"he started, wringing his hands together. Fuck, this was worse than expected. What could possibly warrant such apprehension?

My heart pounded against my ribs, anticipation coiling in my gut. Whatever happened next would change everything. Again.

"We've received intel, sir,"he continued haltingly, swallowing hard audibly."About your omega."

Omega. He meant Lucas. My omega. My mate. My world.

Fear clutched coldly at my insides, gripping my heart. Bad news. Had to be. Why else would he look like that?

"What about him?"I snapped, impatience fueling anger. Enough beating around the bush. Time for the truth, regardless of how ugly it appeared.

"He's... in danger, Mr. Rossi."His voice wavered slightly, breaking under the pressure building steadily within the room. Danger? Now? How fucking dare they threaten what belonged solely to me!

Not to mention, why was he so calm? His behavior was weird. I didn't think much about it. Instead, I focused on what was more important.

Blood rushed loudly in my ears, drowning out rational thought for the moment. Rage surged, heating my veins, and pounding in my temples. Every instinct screamed at once, demanding action, vengeance, retribution. Mine! Mine! MINE!

"How?"I ground out, teeth gritting tightly together, barely controlling the urge to lunge forward, grab him roughly, and shake the answers loose. Violence threatened, hovering close, ready to explode at the slightest provocation.

"We don't know yet, sir,"he admitted, holding up hands. Wise move; retreat while possible. Otherwise...

"But someone does,"I pressed, leaning forward, menace clear in my expression. They knew something. Knew enough to put fear in their hearts, uncertainty in their minds, and doubt in their souls. And so did I.

"Yes,"he conceded, looking away. Damn it, why didn't they tell me sooner? Before it escalated beyond control? Before lives hung precariously in balance?

"Who?"I questioned lowly, a dangerous edge sharpening my tone. Dangerous indeed—anyone nearby hearing it would tremble.

Anger surged hotter than inferno burning wild inside my chest cavity, threatening eruption any second now. Why wasn't I informed sooner? After all the trust bestowed upon them, loyalty earned over years, respect built through blood, sweat, and tears... this was how they repaid me?

"You're fucking dead!"I roared, lunging from my seat, grasping the man by his throat before he even blinked. Fear flashed across his features before acceptance replaced it. I wanted him to understand he could never fail me again.

"Boss..."he started, attempting futile resistance. What a pathetic effort that only wasted his energy.

"Not now!"I barked, shaking him."You were supposed to inform me immediately!"

His Adam's apple bobbed nervously, the swallow audible amidst the silence stretching taut between us. Cowards always squirmed when confronted, especially after failing their duty. Disappointment weighed heavily in my mind, tainting any respect I had for him.

But no time remained for regrets, recriminations, or reprimands. Not when Lucas' life was in danger. Urgency pulsed loudly, pounding vehemently against my eardrums, commanding swift action.

My fingers uncurled, and he dropped like a stone. His body crumpled on impact, hands scrabbling at his throat. But mercy's moment had passed—nothing could undo what was done.

Spinning around, I barked orders harshly, gathering my men."We leave now! Gather arms, weapons, and vehicles. Move out!"

Chaos erupted, fueled by urgency gripping every soul present. Within minutes, we sped off, tires screeching, engines roaring, and adrenaline pumping through our veins.

The car tore through the streets, engine growling like a beast eager to be unleashed. My heart pounded in sync with the tires hitting the pavement, each beat echoing the urgency that gripped my soul. Lucas was in danger, and every second felt like an eternity stretching between us. The cityscape blurred past the windows, unseen and unimportant, as my focus narrowed down to a single point: getting to him.

My phone then buzzed in my pocket, and I answered it right away, barking, "What?"

"Boss," came the voice of one of my lieutenants, his tone grave. "We've just received confirmation. They have Lucas at Mercy Hospital. They want you to come alone, unarmed."

Ice traced my spine while fury blazed through my veins. "Understood," I replied tersely, hanging up without another word. I knew who "they" were—the DeLuca cartel. They'd been a thorn in our side for too long, always lurking, always pushing boundaries. Now, they'd crossed the final line.

"ETA?" I barked at the driver, slamming my fist against the dash.

"Five minutes, boss," he replied, the car lurching forward with renewed speed.

I leaned back, closing my eyes, picturing Lucas' face. Fear gnawed at me, but I pushed it down, focusing instead on the cold determination that had seen me through countless battles. I would get him back, no matter the cost.

The hospital loomed ahead, a stark white building filled with the scent of antiseptic and fear. Our tires screeched as we pulled up to the entrance, and I was out of the car before it fully stopped, striding towards the doors with determined steps.

My men knew their roles. They'd secure the perimeter, and ensure no one got in or out without my say-so. Meanwhile, I'd go in, negotiate, and get Lucas back by any means necessary.

The elevator ride up was agonizingly slow, each ding of the passing floors grating on my nerves. When the doors finally slid open on the designated floor, I stepped out, scanning the area. Empty, except for one lone figure standing at the end of the hall, a smirk plastered on his face.

"Rossi," he called out, his voice echoing down the corridor. "Glad you could make it."

I recognized him instantly—Giovanni DeLuca, cousin to the head of the DeLuca family. A snake in every sense of the word.

"Where is he?" I growled, stalking forward.

Giovanni chuckled, holding up a hand. "Ah-ah-ah. Not so fast. We have things to discuss first."

I halted, teeth gritting together. "Fine. Talk."

He gestured towards an open door, revealing a room filled with his men. And there, in the center, tied to a chair, was Lucas. His eyes met mine, fear flickering briefly before relief washed over his features. He was alive, unharmed. For now.

"Let's discuss territory, shall we?" Giovanni began, crossing his arms. "Your little empire is crumbling, Rossi. Time to face facts and step down."

I scoffed, not taking my eyes off Lucas. "You think you can take what's mine? You're mistaken."

Giovanni shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. But we have something you want. And you have something we want. Seems like a fair trade."

"What do you want?" I snapped, ready to get this over with.

"Step down from Nightshade. Hand over your territories to us. Simple as that."

A laugh escaped me, harsh and bitter. "You think I'd give up everything I've built for this? You're delusional."

Giovanni's smirk vanished, his expression turning cold. "Then maybe you need some convincing." He nodded towards one of his men, who stepped forward, gun pointed at Lucas.

Fury surged through me, but I kept it in check. Losing control now wouldn't help anyone. "Wait," I commanded, holding up a hand.

Giovanni raised an eyebrow. "Change of heart?"

"I'll consider your offer," I said through gritted teeth. "But only if Lucas goes free. Now."

As I stared down Giovanni, my mind raced, sifting through various scenarios, searching for the perfect solution. Luckily, I'd planned for such contingencies beforehand. Preparation was key; fortune favored the prepared, after all. My men knew what they had to do too, of course.

Lucas was the priority here. Get him safe first, deal with these fools later. Once he was out of immediate danger, we'd revisit options, reassess strategies, and re-evaluate alliances. Until then...

Plan A - Negotiate. Buy time, gather intel, and wait for backup. Classic tactics applied here. Offer them something valuable enough to convince them to release Lucas temporarily while maintaining a facade of cooperation.

Plan B - Bluff. Pretend acceptance, feign agreement, then strike when they least expected it. This route held risks, especially considering their unpredictable nature and Lucas' life on the line. Yet, desperation fueled reckless decisions sometimes, and right now, desperation fueled me from my head to my toes.

Plan C - Direct action. Overpower them swiftly, rescue Lucas immediately, and deal with all possible consequences afterward. Dangerous path, with high casualty potential, yet it also provided the quickest resolution. Tempting indeed, but not without severe repercussions. Not sure if I could afford the extra risk.

Weighing pros and cons, calculating odds, assessing risks... choices swarmed within my mind, clamoring for attention.

At the same time, one fact remained unchanged—Lucas needed extraction ASAP. No further deliberations, debates, or discussions. Action alone mattered now.