Page 99 of King of Obsession

It was grim work, but there was no time for sentiment or squeamishness.

‘We have to keep moving, bella,’ I cautioned.

With a nod, I loped to the idling Ram 1500, its robust engine growling like a caged beast. The sleek black exterior gleamed in the morning sun, starkly contrasting the chaos and violence outside.

I swung open the driver’s door and climbed into the massive cabin, the leather seat creaking beneath my weight.

‘Get in,’ I murmured to Cleo, eyes scanning the surrounding area for movement.

She slid into the passenger side, slamming the door behind her. I reached over to make sure she was securely strapped in. The last thing I needed was for her to get hurt if things went sideways.

My gaze snapped to the metal barrier between us and the Conti compound. ‘That Caputo bastard managed to shut it before I took him out.’

I gripped the steering wheel as I pressed down on the accelerator. The truck surged forward, eating up the distance between us and the gate in seconds.

‘Ready?’ I asked Cleo, my rasp tense with an edge.

Her eyes locked on the imposing barrier ahead. I slammed my foot down on the lead, the Ram 1500 roaring to life as we hurtled towards our target.

The impact was jarring, metal crashing against metal,echoing through the air. But the entryway held firm, refusing to yield to our assault.

‘Again,’ Cleo urged, her voice tight with tension.

I threw the car into reverse, the tires shredding the dirt road, peppering the wheel arches with gravel as I backed up for another run.

‘Come on, you bastard,’ I gritted my teeth as I again floored the accelerator.

The truck slammed into the gate with even greater force this time.

The sound of splintering wood and twisting alloy was deafening as the logs gave way and crashed to the ground in a shower of debris.

We ran over the shattered remains and onto the Conti property.

The driveway wound around a curve, the barn emerging into view in the distance.

‘Is that it?’

Cleo leaned forward, squinting at the rapidly approaching structure. ‘It’s the blue one,’ she confirmed. ‘With a big ass B emblazoned on the side. Can’t miss it.’

I nodded, my jaw clenched tight as I pressed down on the accelerator.

‘Mia sola, hold on,’ I warned Cleo, my fingers tightening on the steering wheel. ‘We’re coming in hot.’

With the engine’s final, defiant roar, I slammed my foot down on the throttle, sending the Ram 1500 hurtling towards the barn door like a battering ram.

The impact was bone-jarring, splintering wood and screeching metal filling the air as we smashed through the barrier and into the darkness beyond.

For a moment, the world was chaos, a whirlwind of debris and dust that threatened to engulf us. But then, as fast as it had begun, it was over, the truck skidding to a stop amid a pile of shattered wooden slats and twisted iron.

I blinked, my vision slowly adjusting to the gloom. Beside me, Cleo was already moving, her gun drawn and ready as she scanned the interior of the storehouse for any signs of movement.

I climbed out of the smoking vehicle, my boots crunching on the wreckage-strewn floor as I moved to join Cleo.

Inside, the barn was dark and musty, the air thick with the scent of hay and manure. Shafts of light filtered through the gaps in the wooden slats, casting eerie shadows on the dirt surface.

We moved fast, weapons primed, senses on high alert.

We froze as we came onto an enclosure of plastic sheeting.

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