Page 89 of Enforcer's Obsession

I kept watch while cousin made quick work of the padlock.

Ninety more seconds, and we were in.

There were four large black duffel bags, a safe, and a table with eight money counters laid on top.

A standard set up, and I ignored everything but the duffel bags.

It wouldn’t be all their cash, but it be enough to send them into the tailspin that I wanted.

Enzo lifted two, and I grabbed the two others, taking a second to adjust to the weight.

Then we were out.

Enzo went ahead, and I followed, not bothering to close the door behind me.

I also didn’t disturb the men upstairs.

Most in my place would have eliminated them, but I let them live. Not out of any particular charity, but because doing so would only sow more seeds of suspicion.

If a stickup crew, or rival family were behind it, the Genovese would expect that any men at the stash house be killed.

Another fun mystery for them to untangle.

We made our way down the stairs, and too late, I heard something stir behind me.

When the duffel bags were secured, I grabbed at the weapon in the holster strapped to my leg. Turned, and at the very instant saw the flash and heard the muffled sound of the shot.

Felt the familiar sting, but didn’t let it stop me from returning fire.

“Go!” I yelled.

Enzo took off, and I followed, still shooting as I moved down the basement stairs backward, then out the door.

I wasn’t sure if I hit anyone, but I didn’t stop to check.

My arm was burning, but Enzo was out in front of me, and I had the cash.

I was winded, but so high on adrenaline that I didn’t feel the pain of the shot.

We threw the bags in the van, and were off.

“You hit?” Enzo said.

He pulled the ski mask off, his dark hair standing on end, his face flushed.

“It’s nothing,” I said.

The sting had intensified, but I barely paid any attention.

I couldn’t, not when every thought in my brain was about her.

That could have gone worse.

If the asshole who’d shot didn’t have shit aim, I’d be dead now.

The truth was, I had made my peace with that years ago, so I wasn’t afraid of dying.

But the thought of dying without her knowing how I felt about her…

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