CHAPTER LIV

I had the car’s engine roaring and peeling out before Lo had even shut his door.

"FUCK! Nico, are you trying to break my goddamn legs?!" Lo shouted as he was shoved back into his seat.

I ignored him, my eyes fixed on the road ahead as I pushed the car faster and faster. I took the corners sharp, the tires screaming in protest.

"Goddamnit, Nico! Slow the fuck down!" Luca's voice cut through my rage-filled daze. "We're almost there. Take it easy and turn off your lights."

I forced myself to ease off the gas, my hands tightening on the wheel as the car's headlights flicked off. The car's speed dropped, but my heart still raced, my breath coming in short, angry bursts. We pulled off the main road and onto a dirt track, the trees closing in around us.

"Would you relax, for fuck's sake," Luca snapped. "I know you're angry, but we need to plan this. We go in hot-headed, and we risk Winter getting hurt. We need to be smart about this."

The sound of her name blurred my vision with rage, burning like wildfire.

I shot him a glare. "We do this now . I'm not waiting," I ground out.

“The longer we wait, the harder it will be to find her and bring her back to the US if she’s already been sold.” I turned to face the backseat, my eyes narrowing at Lo. “Stay here if you want. I don’t give a shit. But I’m not waiting for any goddamn backup.” With that, I pushed my way out of the car and walked to the trunk.

Luca and Lo tumbled out of the car and joined me in gathering our gear.

I slammed the trunk shut. "Let's go."

We made our way down the uneven terrain, the trees swallowing us in shadows until the warehouse came into view.

“How many guards?” I whispered, dropping to one knee and pulling out my night vision binoculars.

Lo pulled out his thermal camera, his brow furrowed in concentration. “There are four on the ground guarding the front of the building. Two snipers positioned high up, and three more lurking near the tree line.”

Lying flat on my stomach, I carefully set up my rifle on the bipod. Luca and Lo took their positions beside me, their eyes scanning our surroundings, ready to cover me if things went south.

I needed to maintain a clear line of sight. If they caught wind of our presence, we were fucked.

Not wasting any more time, I adjusted my scope. I took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger, sending a round through the first sniper's head.

“I’m taking out the ones closer to the trees,” I said, my voice low but firm. “Once they’re down, you two head for the front door and finish the rest. Use the silencers.” I kept my eyes trained on the next target, blood roaring in my ears.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

“Go, now,” I hissed, and they sprang into action.

I quickly packed up my gear, slinging my rifle over my shoulder and drawing my pistol as I advanced toward the door.

Lo and Luca worked efficiently, taking out the remaining guards. I wasted no time, pushing through the steel doors. The moment we stepped inside, I noticed two guards a few feet away from the front door, their backs turned to us, and a third guard lingering near the mayor.

In a fluid motion, Luca drew his gun. The first guard barely had time to register what the hell was happening before the bullet struck him between the eyes. The guard crumpled, his body hitting the concrete.

The second guard spun around, eyes wide. “What the?—”

He was cut off mid-sentence, a strangled gasp escaping as Lo's knife found its mark, plunging deep into the guard’s throat. Blood erupted from the wound as the guard’s hands flew to his neck in a frantic attempt to stop the flow. But it was too late. Lo yanked the knife free, and the guard fell to the ground, his body twitching until it stilled.

Lo wiped the blade on the guard’s uniform. “Let’s move. We don’t have much time.”

Lo and Luca swept their eyes across the area, landing on the high ceiling and then back down to the expansive floor, devoid of hiding places for a sniper.

My eyes narrowed as they fell upon a series of empty shipping containers. My stomach churned as I imagine Winter, my angel, locked inside one of those metal coffins.

I caught sight of the screen Liam mentioned, the numbers climbing steadily, each digit a punch to my gut. Where the hell were they selling these women? The place looked like a shithole.

And then my gaze shifted to the mayor, that piece of shit with his smug grin, acting like he had won some kind of prize from the Price is Right while counting the cash in that briefcase, completely oblivious to three skilled trained killers closing in on him.

The guard beside him noticed us first and raised his weapon, but Lo was quicker.

Three shots to the guard's chest and he went down like a sack of bricks.

My blood boiled, and I roared, the sound echoing through the warehouse, "Where is my fucking girl?!" I strode ahead, my gun already in my hand, my finger itching on the trigger.

"Nico, what the hell are you doing here?” he sputtered.

That's right, motherfucker. I’m the devil, bringing hell to your door.

I spat on the ground in front of him and raised my gun to his forehead. "Fuck you. Where. Is. She?"

The mayor's expression twisted in bewilderment. "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

I slammed the grip of my gun against his skull, and he cried out. "Listen to me, you sick fuck,” I hissed. “I will chop off your crusty dick and stuff it down your throat. Then I’ll rip your fucking spine out and use it to fuck your wife and then put a bullet in her brain.”

His eyes widened, and he started to shake. I pressed the gun harder against his forehead, feeling the metal dig into his skin. "Now that I have your attention, tell me where my girl is, and pray to whatever god you believe in that there is not one single mark on her body."

Luca's device suddenly came to life, alerting us to activity outside. “Whatever you're about to do, Nico, do it now before the calvary shows up,” he said.

I ignored the warning, focusing solely on the mayor.

I needed to break him, make him feel the agony he deserved. Soon, he would understand the extent of my wrath if he had anything to do with Winter's disappearance. "So, how's Preston doing? Have you heard from him lately?"

His face paled as the realization hit. His expression shifted, his eyes widening with immediate dread. "Y-You... What have you done?" he stammered, his voice barely audible.

A sinister grin spread across my face.

"No... Please..." he whimpered, his body trembling. "What did you do to my boy?"

I just stared at him, not giving two fucks if he knew it was me. “I made him pay for his sins. Should I tell you how I gutted him slowly?" My voice dripped with contempt.

"Wh-why?"

"Your son attacked my girl and then had his friends try to rape her. He begged for mercy when I ended his life just like what I’m about to do to you."

Walsh's face flushed with rage, his eyes narrowing.

I shrugged. “What do you want? My apologies? My sympathy? I’m not sorry your son is dead."

Walsh's body tensed, his fists clenching as he lunged forward, attempting to strike me. I seized his throat in an iron grip, my fingers digging into his neck.

“That is what happens when people cross me and go after the people I care about,” I hissed, my grip tightening around his neck, his eyes bugging out. “You’ve already killed my mother, several of my men, and now you’ve taken my girl. What do you think I’m going to do to you?”

“Wh-what are you talking about?” he gasped, prompting me to relax my hold just enough for him to speak. “I didn’t kill your mother or your men. I had nothing to do with that!”

Lo, standing nearby, couldn't contain his frustration. “Just kill the fucker, Nico.”

My grip tightened further, my knuckles turning white. “Did you sell my girl?” The question tore from my lips, raw and desperate. My heart plummeted at the thought of her being taken away, sold like property.

He attempted to shake his head, but it was futile with my grip around his neck. “N-no... I... I didn't sell her. A man... He wanted her?—”

My voice turned ice cold. "Who?"

"I... I never saw his face. He communicated through encrypted channels. But... but he spoke with an Italian accent; that I can tell you."

I hurled him into the chair, the force nearly sending him crashing to the ground. "Get him on the phone right now and find out where he took Winter,” I said, my tone deceptively calm.

"I-I can’t." His breath hitched in his throat. "He would only reach out to me," he stammered, his eyes wild.

Fuck! This was getting us nowhere.

"Lo," I called. Lo moved behind him, grabbing his arms and holding him steady.

“I’ll tell who would know!” he shouted, making me pause. “I swear to God, I’ll tell you who—just please, spare my life!”

“Who?” I fumed, my patience fraying.

“A woman.”

The world stopped spinning, and I could feel my heart climb up my throat. “What woman?”

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. “Davina.”

Lo and Luca each sucked in a sharp breath.

“What the fuck?” I snarled, my anger boiling over.

“All I know is that she's taking orders from the Puppet Master,” he sputtered.

“Who is he after?”

“Winter.” He shivered and his face paled when he noticed the expression on my face. I was going to explode like a volcano and torch this whole fucking place to ashes.

“Nico, we have to get the hell out of here!” Luca hissed. “Now!”

I turned my gaze to Walsh, who continued to tremble, the sweat glistening on his brow. I stepped closer, towering over him.

"Wait! Please! I can help you find her! Don't do this!" he pleaded desperately, his spit flying as he begged for his life.

"Too late. You made a deal with the wrong devil." I reached behind my back, seizing the handle of the bowie knife.

Lo stepped back, allowing me to move forward. Lifting the knife, I growled, "See you in hell, motherfucker."

With a swift, powerful motion, I drove the blade straight into his chest. I pushed deeper and felt the resistance of bone and muscle. His eyes widened in shock, and a gurgling scream escaped his lips. I showed no mercy, grinding my teeth as I wrenched the knife sideways, tearing through the flesh. Blood spurted, staining my clothes. I yanked the blade free, silencing his screams forever.

"Let’s get the hell out of here, Nico. We’ve got less than eight minutes before the feds show up," Luca snapped as I wiped the blood off my blade with a rag, the metallic scent lingering in the air.

Before I could respond, a sudden rustling sound caught my attention. My instincts took over. “What was that?” I asked, tucking the blade into the back of my pants.

"What are you talking about, Nico? I don’t hear—" Luca started, irritation creeping into his voice, but then we heard a sharp clanking sound from one of the nearby shipping containers.

“Could be nothing,” Lo muttered.

I wasn't taking any chances.

“Let’s check it out.” I drew my gun, the metal cold against my palm, and we cautiously approached the container. Each step felt heavy, the pulse of fear thrumming in my throat as I pulled the door open, revealing a dim interior.

My heart stopped as I recognized the very naked woman huddled in the shadows, half-naked and trembling, her wrists bound by heavy chains.

"Fuck,” Luca gasped. “Is that...”

Tabi.

I could see the vulnerability in Tabi’s dull eyes, and the way her body trembled. What the hell was Tabi doing here? Who brought her here?

"What the actual fuck is she doing here?" Lo’s words mirrored my thoughts.

His jaw tightened as he ripped off his jacket and stepped into the cramped container. "Tabi, it's me, Lo. I'm going to cover you up, okay?" he called out, his voice strained.

Tabi remained silent, her gaze fixed intently on Lo.

He moved slowly until he closed the distance between them and draped his jacket over her frail body.

Kneeling beside her, he removed the heavy chains from her wrists and ankles. "Come on," he murmured. "You're safe now, Tabi." He slid his arms underneath her legs and climbed to his feet. “I won’t let them hurt you again,” he promised, lifting her into his arms and pulling her closer to his chest.

* * *

I stole a glance in the rearview mirror, my heart tightening at the sight of Tabi's head resting against Lo's shoulder.

Tabi hadn’t uttered a single word when we left the warehouse. The moment we climbed inside, she fell asleep.

I couldn't shake the memory of those needle marks on her arm. It was clear she had been injected with some type of drug. And then the bruises. God knew what they did to her.

"We need to find her son, Nico," Lo whispered, breaking the heavy silence that filled the car. I turned my gaze to him, but I couldn’t meet his eyes.

"I know," I responded quietly.

After the shocking revelation from Walsh, I immediately gave the order to find and detain Davina.

"What's the plan, Nico?" Luca inquired as I brought my vehicle to a halt in the driveway.

Steeling myself, I gazed into the night, my mind racing as I prepared to confront Davina and find Tristan.

"The usual treatment for traitors," I spat out, my voice cold like ice.

Lo, already knowing the inevitable outcome, still probed, "And after we get what we want?"

"I kill her," I stated bluntly. Without another word, we exited the car, our footsteps echoing on the pavement as we approached my house that now looked like a war zone.

I led the way through the front door and down the hallway, where two guards stood outside my office door.

Jacobi and his nurse met me halfway there, his expression grave. “Nico,” he greeted me, his gaze shifting to Tabi's limp body cradled in Lo’s arms.

“Please take her to the medical room immediately,” I told him. “She was injected with some type of drug. And…she may have been assaulted.”

Jacobi and his nurse exchanged a glance, their expressions tinged with pity.

“Please look after her.”

“Of course,” Jacobi replied, his smile strained but still reassuring.

Lo carefully transferred Tabi into the doctor’s arms, and we walked past them toward my office.

"Liam?" I asked one of the guards.

"He's in your office, boss," he replied.

I nodded.

Lo and Luca trailed behind me as we stepped into my office. I clenched my hands into fists, my eyes narrowing as a red haze of anger clouded my vision. With an animalistic roar, I spun and unleashed the fury building inside me on the nearest object. A chair flew across the room, crashing through the window. Shards of glass sprayed across the floor. My breath came in ragged gasps, and the weight of my mistake crushed me. I sank to the chair, my head in my hands, fury and despair drowning me. The acid of resentment burned in my stomach as I replayed the hurtful things I'd said to her.

I deserved this pain.

I’d fucked up.

I stared at the wreckage in the living room when Enzo joined me with two other agents.

“That was a fucking bloodbath, Nico,” he snapped. “I told you to let me and my team handle it.”

I whipped my gun from its holster and pointed it right at Enzo. His men mirrored my actions, weapons drawn, tension thickening the air. “What the hell are you doing here, cop ? I didn’t invite you, let alone your dogs, into my home.”

“We’re on the same team here, Nico.” He raised his hands.

“No, we’re not. You fucking betrayed me. You let them take Winter from me.” My voice was a low growl, each word laced with fury.

“That was on you!” Enzo shot back as he jabbed a finger in my direction. “YOU! You tied her to a fucking chair. YOU left her! Fuck you! If anyone betrayed anyone, it’s you!”

I staggered back, my guilt crashing over me. I had to get her back, and make it all up to her, but how? Where could I even start? She could be anywhere by now.

“What the hell happened?” Enzo demanded.

“Davina sold Nico out,” Lo responded.

“What?” Liam jolted upright, disbelief etched on his face.

I forgot the fucker was still there.

“What are you talking about?” Enzo snapped, his eyes darting between them. After a beat, his frustration boiled over. “Somebody better start talking. Now.”

The guys shared the details of what Walsh revealed, and that his death was the consequence for his actions.

“I should’ve done a better job of protecting her,” Liam muttered.

“Jesus, fuck,” Enzo muttered, his shoulders sagging as he collapsed back onto the couch. “Where’s Davina now?”

“My men are looking for her.”

Enzo ran his good hand down his face, "Okay. It’s time to bring in the big guns." “No cops or agents,” I interjected, my voice firm.

Enzo shot me a sharp look, his jaw clenched. “I wasn’t talking about the cops.”

“Then what?” Lo asked, confusion flickering across his face.

“Her father.”

We turned toward the doorway, drawn by the voice of a man I’d never met before. He wore all black and looked like he was ready to go to war.

“Who the fuck are you?” I barked. "And who let you in?"

“He’s my father,” Liam replied, moving to stand beside the man.

The man’s gaze softened momentarily as he looked at Liam. “Are you okay, son?”

“Yeah, but they took Winter, Dad.”

“What?” The man’s head snapped in my direction, fury igniting in his eyes. “How did that happen? Where is she?”

“Hold the fuck up,” Luca said, stepping forward. “How do you know her?”

“I’m Dante,” he declared, his voice a low growl. “I knew her mother. My brother and I were asked to look after her.”

“Well, you did a great job of that, didn’t you?” I retorted, my sarcasm dripping with bitterness.

“I thought she was safe with you ,” he sneered, jabbing a finger at me.

The accusation cut deeper.

“I know,” I managed to say.

"Look, we can stand here all day and blame each other, but every second we waste is one more second Winter is out there. The longer we delay, the harder it’s going to be to find her."

"And how do we do that?" I asked, feeling like my head was spiraling out of control.

“I know where she could be, but we can't do this on our own. I'll explain everything once we book our flights, but right now, we need to get the hell out of here."

"Where are we going?" Lo asked.

“We’re going to Italy,” Dante responded. “To see her father.”