Page 7 of The Don's Eternal Vows

I nod instead, matching his urgent stride as we approach the trucks. Our men fan out around us, a protective barrier of muscle and firepower. The air crackles with tension.

"I'll check the exterior…," I say, my voice steady despite the flutter in my chest. Gianni's gaze meets mine, a flicker of gratitude in those dark depths. “…while you boys deal with the systems inside.”

"Good idea, amore," he says, his calloused hand brushing mine for just a moment.

I move towards the nearest truck, my senses on high alert. The men's voices fade as they clamber inside, checking systems and software for having been hacked or decrypted. I crouch down, running my hands along the undercarriage. My fingers brush against something cold and metallic.

My heart stops.

"Gianni," I call out, screaming as loud as possible. He's at my side in an instant.

"What is it?" his dark-speckled eyes look into mine.

I pull out the small device, its silver surface glinting in the dim light. "Tracking devices. We were right. We were compromised from the outside. An insider would know where the trucks are at all times. They’d need no devices like these."

Gianni's jaw clenches, a storm brewing behind his eyes. "Enemies," he growls.

I stand, brushing off my dress. "What now?"

He takes my hand, squeezing it gently. "Now, we prepare for war."

I nod, a question still lingering. “There’s so many…” I say, at last.

Gianni pulls out his phone, his fingers flying over the screen. "I'm calling for the CCTV footage," he says, his voice low and controlled, as it always is in situations like these. "We need to know who had access to these trucks, and then we’ll know who had it out for us."

I watch his face, marveling at how he can remain so outwardly calm. But I see the tension in his jaw, the fire smoldering in his eyes. A storm is brewing inside him, and I fear for his safety.

A war is dangerous for all involved, after all. And Gianni? He has no limits.

Suddenly, a sound cuts through the air: footsteps. My heart leaps into my throat as I recognize the warning from the rhythm, the weight and the urgency of those unfamiliar steps.

I turn to see over two dozen men surrounding us, weapons drawn. My heart races, and I see our men momentarily freeze, caught unaware by this fight we aren’t prepared for.

My vision darts back to our intruders. And then, I see them. Two men to the right, faces I’d never forget.

"Gianni," I whisper urgently, gripping his arm. He looks at me, his brow furrowed. "It's Paolo Greco's men. I recognize two of them from that meeting in Naples."

His eyes widen for a split second before narrowing dangerously. "Are you certain?" he asks, his voice barely audible.

I nod, my pulse racing. "Positive. The tall one with the limp and the stocky redhead. They were his right-hand men."

Gianni's hand moves to his waist, where I know his gun is holstered. "Stay behind me," he orders, his tone leaving no room for argument.

But before we can move, the footsteps grow louder. My heart pounds in my ears as I brace myself for what's coming.

Chaos erupts in an instant. Gunshots shatter the tense silence, their sharp cracks echoing off the warehouse walls. Gianni's men spring into action, weapons drawn, their faces set in grim determination.

"Get down!" Gianni roars, pushing me behind him.

My heart races, adrenaline surging through my veins. The acrid smell of gunpowder fills the air, mixing with the metallic tang of blood. I want to stay and fight alongside Gianni, but his eyes lock onto mine, fierce and pleading.

"Hide, Genoveva. Now!"

I hesitate, torn between my instinct to stand my ground and the wisdom in his words. My fingers twitch, longing for the comforting weight of a gun. But I know he's right. I'd be a liability in this firefight.

"Go!" he shouts again, ducking as a bullet whizzes past his ear.

Swallowing my pride, I nod and sprint towards a stack of wooden crates. My heels click against the concrete floor, each step feeling like an eternity. I dive behind the crates just as another volley of gunfire erupts.

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