29. Mia

Chapter 29

Mia

The crack of gunfire echoes through the dense air, each shot slicing through the fragile calm like a blade. Carlito shields me, his body a fortress against the chaos erupting around us. My heart pounds as I clutch the envelope to my chest, the weight of its secrets pressing into my skin.

“Stay low!” Carlito barks, his voice sharp and commanding. He pulls me tighter against the SUV, shielding me as the relentless assault continues.

“Carlito,” I whisper, my voice trembling but firm, “this ledger—it’s the key. We can’t lose it.”

“I know,” he growls, his focus fixed on the enemy advancing toward us. “And we won’t.”

Leo appears at Carlito’s side, his expression grim. “We’ve got a solid perimeter, but they’re pushing hard. We need to secure the property.”

Carlito nods, his jaw tight. “Get the men in position. No one breaches this line.”

Leo hesitates, his eyes flicking toward me before he moves. “Keep her safe, boss.”

Carlito’s hand brushes mine briefly, a fleeting moment of connection amid the chaos. “Stay with me,” he says, his voice softer now.

I nod, the ledger pressed tightly against me. “I’m not going anywhere.”

A deafening explosion rocks the ground, and I instinctively duck, my ears ringing from the blast. Carlito pulls me down beside him, his arm steadying me as debris rains around us.

Through the haze of smoke, figures emerge—Matteo’s men, armed and relentless. My stomach churns as I see their cold, calculated movements. This isn’t just an attack. It’s a message.

“Carlito,” I whisper, my voice barely audible above the gunfire, “Dominic said Matteo wouldn’t stop until he has this. He’s coming for all of us.”

Carlito’s eyes flash with fury. “Let him try,” he snarls. “He doesn’t get to take anything more from us.”

Another round of gunfire tears through the air, forcing us lower. Carlito shifts, positioning himself between me and the danger. “When I give the signal,” he says, his tone urgent, “you run for the house. Do you understand?”

“No,” I protest, gripping his arm. “I’m not leaving you.”

His gaze softens briefly, but his resolve is unshakable. “Mia, you have to. The ledger—Matteo can’t get his hands on it. We’re not just fighting for ourselves anymore. We’re fighting for what comes next.”

Tears sting my eyes, but I nod. “I’ll run when you say,” I whisper, my throat tight.

The battle surges, chaos swallowing us whole. But Carlito’s presence anchors me, his determination a lifeline in the storm.

For a brief moment, I allow myself to believe that we’ll survive this—that the ledger, our child, and everything we’ve fought for will endure.

But as a shadowy figure steps into view, a rifle aimed directly at us, my breath catches. It’s Matteo himself, his presence colder than the gun in his hands.

Carlito stiffens, his body tense with recognition. “Stay behind me,” he commands, his voice a deadly whisper.

Matteo smiles, a predator circling his prey. “You’ve fought well, Carlito,” he says, his tone mocking. “But it ends here.”

The ledger feels heavier in my grasp, its secrets burning against my skin. As the enemy closes in, I realize there’s no turning back.

This is it. The fight for everything.

Carlito shifts his stance, his entire body braced like a shield. “If you think I’ll let you win, you’re more delusional than I thought,” he snarls at Matteo, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

Matteo’s smirk widens, his gun still trained on us. “You’ve already lost, Carlito. That ledger belongs to me, just like everything your pathetic empire once touched.”

Before Carlito can respond, a deafening explosion erupts from the far side of the property, sending dirt and debris flying into the air. The ground trembles beneath us, and I clutch the envelope tighter, my knuckles white against its edges.

“Leo!” Carlito shouts, his voice barely audible over the roar.

Leo appears through the haze, blood streaking his temple but his stance unyielding. “We’ve got reinforcements coming,” he says breathlessly. “But Matteo’s pushing harder than we expected.”

Carlito’s jaw tightens, and his eyes flick toward me. “Mia, now’s your chance. Get to the house. Lock yourself in and don’t come out until I get you.”

“No,” I say fiercely, stepping closer to him. “I’m not running.”

“Mia—” His voice breaks, the fear beneath his frustration flashing in his dark eyes.

“Carlito, I’m not leaving you,” I insist, my grip tightening on his arm.

Before he can argue further, a gunshot whizzes past us, embedding into the side of the SUV. Matteo’s men are closing in, their advance relentless.

Carlito pulls me into a crouch, his eyes blazing with frustration and fear. “Stay low,” he orders, his tone leaving no room for debate.

As the battle intensifies, I watch Carlito command his men with precision and authority, his presence a beacon amid the chaos. His every move is calculated, his determination unwavering.

But Matteo isn’t backing down. He steps closer, his men flanking him like a wall of muscle and firepower.

“You can’t win this, Carlito,” Matteo sneers, his voice laced with venom. “Hand over the ledger, and I might consider letting you crawl away with your life.”

Carlito lets out a sharp, humorless laugh. “You don’t get to make demands, Matteo. Not here. Not ever.”

The tension between them is electric, the weight of their rivalry palpable. I can feel the history between them, the years of hatred and betrayal simmering to the surface.

Suddenly, a familiar figure emerges from the shadows, his presence cutting through the smoke like a ghost. Dominic.

My breath catches as he strides forward, his expression grim and resolute. He holds a weapon at his side, his movements deliberate but measured.

“Dominic,” Matteo growls, his eyes narrowing. “What the hell are you doing?”

Dominic doesn’t answer immediately. His gaze flickers to me, then to Carlito, before finally settling on Matteo.

“What I should have done a long time ago,” he says, his voice low but firm.

Matteo’s face contorts with fury, his gun shifting toward Dominic. “You dare betray me?”

Dominic doesn’t flinch. Instead, he raises his weapon, his aim steady. “You’ll never get the ledger,” he says, his tone filled with finality.

The tension snaps like a taut wire, and the air erupts in gunfire once more. Dominic moves with precision, placing himself between us and Matteo’s men, his actions speaking louder than any words ever could.

I cling to Carlito as the battle rages on, the weight of the ledger pressing against my chest like a lifeline. For the first time, I see Dominic for what he truly is—not just a brother, but a man searching for redemption.

And in this moment, he’s risking everything to protect us.

The battlefield erupts into chaos, the relentless exchange of gunfire drowning out all other sound. Dominic moves like a shadow, his focus unyielding as he shields Carlito and me from Matteo’s advancing men.

Matteo’s voice cuts through the cacophony. “You think this changes anything, Dominic? Betraying me only ensures your death.”

Dominic’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t respond. Instead, he takes down one of Matteo’s guards with a precise shot, his expression a mix of fury and grim determination.

Carlito seizes the opportunity, motioning for Leo and the rest of the men to flank Matteo’s remaining forces. The tide begins to shift as Matteo’s men falter, their leader’s desperation growing more evident with each passing second.

Matteo raises his weapon, aiming directly at Carlito. Time slows as I see the intent in his eyes—the hatred, the need to destroy everything Carlito stands for.

“No!” I scream, stepping in front of Carlito without thinking.

But Dominic is faster. He lunges forward, shoving me aside and placing himself directly in Matteo’s line of fire. The gunshot rings out, and Dominic staggers, blood blossoming on his side.

“Dominic!” I cry, rushing to his side as he collapses to the ground.

Carlito grabs Matteo’s wrist, twisting the gun from his grasp with a brutal efficiency that sends it clattering to the ground. He forces Matteo to his knees, pinning him with a grip of steel.

“You’re done, Matteo,” Carlito growls, his voice low and venomous. “It’s over.”

Matteo sneers, blood dripping from a cut on his temple. “You think this ends with me? My empire is bigger than you, Carlito. Kill me, and you’ll only ignite the war you’ve been trying to avoid.”

Carlito’s grip tightens, his knuckles white against Matteo’s collar. For a moment, I think he might pull the trigger.

But then he glances at me—at the fear and exhaustion etched into my face—and something shifts in his eyes.

“No,” Carlito says, his voice steady. “You’re not worth it.”

He gestures to Leo, who steps forward and secures Matteo’s hands behind his back. “Take him alive. We’ll handle this the right way.”

Matteo snarls, his defiance unbroken. “You’ll regret this, Carlito. I swear it.”

Carlito ignores him, his focus shifting to Dominic, who lies slumped against a fallen crate. I’m already at his side, pressing my hands against the wound on his side in a desperate attempt to stem the bleeding.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I whisper, my voice trembling.

Dominic’s lips curl into a faint, pained smile. “Maybe I did,” he says hoarsely. “For once, I wanted to do something right.”

Carlito kneels beside us, his expression a mix of gratitude and sorrow. “You saved her,” he says, his voice tight with emotion. “You saved us.”

Dominic’s eyes flicker to Carlito. “She’s my sister,” he murmurs. “Protect her, Carlito. Don’t let this world take her like it took me.”

Tears blur my vision as I press harder against the wound, but Dominic’s strength is fading.

“Stay with me,” I plead, my voice cracking. “Please, Dominic.”

But Dominic’s gaze softens, his breath shallow. “You’re stronger than you think, Mia,” he whispers. “Don’t forget that.”

With one final, shuddering breath, Dominic’s body goes still.

A sob wrenches free from my chest, and Carlito’s hand grips my shoulder, grounding me as the weight of loss crashes over us.

In the distance, Matteo is hauled away by Carlito’s men, his shouts fading into the background. The battle is over, but the scars it leaves behind will linger long after the dust has settled.

Carlito helps me to my feet, his arms steady around me. “We’ll finish this, Mia,” he promises, his voice firm. “For him. For us.”

I nod, clutching the ledger against my chest like a lifeline. The fight isn’t over, but for the first time, I feel the stirrings of hope.

Together, we’ll face whatever comes next.