Page 61 of Scar

Defiance flashes in her eyes, a reminder of the woman who once ruled our family with an iron fist. “You’re still the scared little boy I left behind,” she snarls, her voice gruff. You’ll never be free from me.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Watch me,” I whisper.

In one swift motion, I snatch the knife she used to try and end my life. The cold steel glints in the dim light, promising revenge. She realizes too late what’s about to happen and her eyes widen in terror.

“This is for Father,” I say softly, plunging the blade into her chest, straight through her heart. Her body jerks, her breath hitching in a final gasp. Her eyes meet mine, filled with pain, shock, and a fleeting moment of regret.

As her life fades away, I hold her gaze without flinching. “Goodbye, Mother,” I murmur, my voice heavy with unspoken emotions. She looks at me, wheezing and trembling, her hands twitching weakly at her sides.

Her body goes limp as all resistance leaves her eyes. For a brief moment, everything is deathly quiet, and I am aware of the weight of what I have just done. Slowly, I rise to my feet and the bloodied knife slips from my fingers, clattering to the floor.

Strangely, I feel nothing as she takes her last breath. The sounds of battle fade away into silence; all our enemies have been defeated and I know that even the guards at the gate have been dealt with.

It's over. The specter of my past has finally been put to rest and a small part of my soul finds peace along with it. But the blood staining my hands reminds me that this is only the beginning. The war for what is rightfully mine has just begun.

“The area is secure,” I rasp to the empty room. I think of Rafi and Allegra, watching everything unfold on the live camera feed. Feeling a bit dazed and stunned, I repeat myself: “The building is secure.” And with that, I turn and walk out of the room.

CHAPTER 54 – ALLEGRA

I am waiting at the designated safehouse, a crude term for this underground shelter. But it's necessary for our safety, so I don't mind. I anxiously wait, nervously biting my nails for the return of Scar and his crew.

It's almost over now. Almost. I watched everything unfold on the security cameras at the Gatti mansion - the intense firefight and the ultimate burning of the house with all its inhabitants inside. Thankfully, the Gatti family has connections with the medical examiner, so this can all be passed off as a power struggle within their criminal empire. The evidence is quite clear, with the heads of four rival families found armed and gathered around a dining room table. It was also unfortunate that one of them had carelessly ignited a flammable curtain with their cigar, leading to the fire that consumed them all. When I think about some of the wild theories being thrown around by the media, I can't help but shake my head. Truth is often stranger than fiction.

But now, I'm waiting for Scar and his boys to come back from their mission at the slaughterhouse. As part of their grand plan to reclaim their territory and ensure no one would dare challenge them again, they have orchestrated a full-scale war against their enemies. This includes wiping out entire families and industries involved in drug trafficking - which is cleverlydisguised as a legitimate meat export business by Scarfones at the slaughterhouse. And now, the Gattis are set on obliterating anyone who has any connection to it.

In the early hours of the morning, a pivotal moment in the brutal war between rival families unfolds. The biting cold seeps into my bones as I watch the live feed on the screen before me.

“Are you sure you want to watch this?” Rafi asks, concern etched on his face. “It’s not going to be pretty.”

“I'm well aware,” I grin back at him. “But slaughterhouses rarely are.”

I try to maintain my composure, but I can feel my stomach churning at the thought of what I am about to witness. Yet, I know it needs to be done. If it means saving my husband and brothers from our enemies, then I fully support their actions. In this war, there are no innocent parties.

On the screen, I see nine men moving around a warehouse connected to a large walk-in refrigerator. This place serves as a hub for illegal activities, like a distribution port within another distribution port. One of the men receives a delivery and proceeds to open it. He cuts open a bag and sticks his pinkie finger inside, smearing it with white powder. After rubbing it against his teeth, he nods and smiles before directing the other men to bring out a work bench - a bench hidden within a larger bench; quite ingenious.

They begin weighing and bagging smaller batches of drugs.

Suddenly, there is a knock on the door - a massive roller door that can only be opened manually, as we have learned through surveillance. One of the men approaches a side door to look outside.

I check my watch - right on schedule.

This must be Attila making an appearance.

None of these men will escape this massacre. Not with our skilled team working tirelessly to dismantle their criminal operations.

In a swift motion, Attila, disguised as a police officer, shoves the man blocking the doorway and strides into the warehouse, taking the other men by surprise. In a matter of minutes, he has pulled out his gun and fired three shots as The Jekyll emerges from behind him and joins in the gunfire.

Nine men. Wiped out by just two individuals. It's hard to believe unless you're watching it unfold before your eyes.

The floor is slick with blood, and the walls are riddled with bullet holes. I observe as The Jekyll pours alcohol over the drugs and sets fire to the place. A grin spreads across his face as he watches the flames dance and then turns to walk away, as if he has just hit the jackpot.

The stakes are high, and I am acutely aware of the consequences if this shipment reaches its destination. It's more than just illegal substances; it symbolizes control and power in our world, where those who have it all hold the most influence.

As Brando turns off the headlights on the SUV and slows down to a crawl, we know that the truck will be arriving at any moment. We park off the road, hidden by a cluster of trees, as Scar checks his watch for the time. The anticipation builds as I watch the live feed on my screen. After months of being married to Scar, I understand him better than anyone else. I know what makes him stressed or anxious.

“Scar, you doing okay?” I ask through our communication devices, knowing that everyone in the team can hear me.

He shifts in his seat and looks up at the night sky above them, which appears to be filled with heavy clouds ready to unleash their fury on an unsuspecting world.

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