Page 29 of Masked Mafia's Runaway Bride

He looked at his partner, a thick-necked man who hadn’t said a word since we arrived. They exchanged a nod. “We’ll take it. Transfer’s ready.”

Before I could respond, a faint sound reached my ears—the crunch of gravel outside the warehouse. My instincts kicked in immediately. Something wasn’t right.

I glanced at Ryan. He’d heard it too. “Stay sharp,” I muttered under my breath. He nodded. It could be nothing, but it was better we stayed at alert.

“Let’s get this…” I was about to conclude when all hell broke loose.

The first shot rang out like a crack of thunder, and the buyers dove for cover, shouting curses. I grabbed Mirella without thinking, pulling her down behind a stack of crates as bullets started flying.

“Stay here,” I told her sharply.

Her wide eyes met mine, but she nodded, pressing herself against the wood. I turned back to the chaos, my gun already in my hand.

“Ryan, take the left!” I barked.

Ryan was already moving, firing back at the shadows outside the warehouse. My men were scrambling, some returning fire, others yelling orders. It was chaos, but my focus was split between the ambush and Mirella.

Another wave of shots slammed into the crates, and I heard her gasp behind me.

“Stay down!” I shouted, keeping my voice firm.

She didn’t answer, but I could feel her tension from where I stood. The attackers were closing in, their silhouettes becoming clearer in the dim light of the warehouse.

“Who the hell are these guys?” Ryan growled as he ducked behind a pillar.

“Doesn’t matter,” I snapped, taking aim and firing. “Just keep them off us!”

My chest tightened when I realized some of the attackers were making their way toward Mirella. There wasn’t time to think.

“Cover me!” I yelled to Ryan before breaking into a sprint toward her.

Without wasting a second, I darted as I reached her. One of the attackers grabbed her arm, trying to drag her out from behind the crates.

“Let her go!” I roared, firing a shot that hit its mark. The man crumpled, and I yanked Mirella to her feet.

“You, okay?” I demanded, gripping her arms.

She nodded shakily, but her eyes darted toward the chaos. “Sergio, the shipment—”

“Screw the shipment!” I cut her off. “You’re what matters.”

I didn’t wait for her to argue. Wrapping an arm around her, I pulled her toward a side exit. The gunfire behind us was relentless, but I kept moving, shielding her as best I could.

We burst out into the night, the cold air hitting like a slap. I turned to Mirella, scanning her for injuries.

“You’re fine,” I said, more to reassure myself than her. “You’re fine.”

She was trembling, but she nodded. “I’m fine.”

Ryan stumbled out a moment later, his face twisted in anger. “They got the shipment!”

“Let them have it,” I muttered, still holding Mirella close.

Ryan stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “You’re joking. That shipment was worth—”

“I don’t care what it was worth,” I snapped. My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. “We’re alive. That’s what matters.”

Ryan muttered something under his breath, pacing in frustration, but I tuned him out. My focus was on Mirella.

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