Page 29 of Mafia Wars

Finally, we reach the end of the corridor. The door ahead is slightly ajar, and from my angle, I catch sight of the backof someone’s head. It’s drooped forward, their body slumped unnaturally. My breath catches, chest tightening painfully.

Luna.

Without thinking, I step forward, my hand reaching for the handle. But before I can grip it, Jack’s strong hand clamps over mine. I whip my head toward him, eyes narrowing, but the look on his face stops me cold. His lips are pressed into a grim line, his dark eyes hard as stone. He gives a subtle shake of his head. He doesn’t need to speak for me to understand. This is a trap.

But I can’t stand here and do nothing. I glance back through the crack in the door. Luna stirs, a faint groan escaping her lips. Relief and rage collide within me, almost knocking me off balance. She’s alive. But she’s bound to a chair, her arms restrained tightly behind her back.

That’s when I hear it—the distinct, gut-wrenching click of a gun being cocked behind me.

“You got further than I thought you would,” a voice drawls, smooth and smug.

My body goes rigid, the adrenaline spiking through my veins as I turn slowly to face him. Richard stands there, flanked by a small army of men, all with their guns trained on Jack and me. His smile is a cruel slash across his face, one that makes my stomach churn.

“Drop your weapons,” Richard orders, his tone laced with mockery, as though he’s already won.

I let a smirk curl my lips, refusing to let him see how the odds are stacking against us. “Just give me Luna, and I’ll let you all live.” My voice is calm and confident.

Richard laughs, a low, guttural sound that grates against my nerves. “I don’t think you’re seeing the situation clearly, friend. There are eight guns pointed at your head. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and out of options.”

“Oh, I see just fine,” I say smoothly, tilting my head. “But you don’t really think we came alone, do you? That would be foolish.”

The smirk slips from Richard’s face, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. He glances sharply at three of his men. “Check the perimeter,” he snaps.

As they move to obey, I do a quick mental calculation. That leaves five of them in the room. Five against us? Doable, but not without risk. My mind races for a plan, my hand tightening on my weapon.

“Drop your weapons,” Richard repeats, his voice sharper now, more insistent.

Jack moves first, his jaw clenched so tightly I can almost hear his teeth grinding. He lowers his gun to the ground with deliberate slowness, then kicks it over to Richard with more force than necessary. The heavy clang echoes in the charged silence. Richard’s gaze snaps back to me, expectant.

Reluctantly, I follow suit, dropping my gun and sending it skidding across the floor. The moment it leaves my hand, two of Richard’s men close in on me, their intentions clear.

But they’ve underestimated us.

Jack strikes first, a blur of motion, as he lunges at the closest man. He wrests the gun from the guy’s grip and uses him as a human shield, firing over his shoulder with ruthless precision. The room erupts into chaos, bullets flying and men shouting. I dive for cover, adrenaline sharpening my every move.

Jack ducks into a side room, dragging me with him as we regroup. He fires several quick shots through the window, the glass shattering with a deafening crash. It’s enough to send a message to our men outside. They wouldn’t have heard our earlier shots because we used silencers, but the last few bangs are loud enough to wake the dead.

Then, just as planned, reinforcements arrive. Gunfire explodes in the hallway, a cacophony of controlled chaos. I catcha glimpse of our men charging in, their movements practiced and efficient. The tide is turning.

But it’s not over yet.

Jack and I re-enter the fray, taking advantage of the distraction to eliminate two more of Richard’s men. I fight my way toward Luna, my focus narrowing to a single point: her.

Richard retreats, but not before locking eyes with me, his expression a promise of vengeance. I don’t care. He can’t run far enough.

Finally, I reach her, my hands working quickly to untie the ropes that bite into her wrists. She’s dazed, her head lolling slightly, but when her eyes meet mine, there’s recognition. Relief floods through me, almost buckling my knees.

“I’ve got you,” I murmur, my voice low but fierce. “You’re safe now.”

The fight rages on around us, but for a moment, it’s just the two of us. And that’s enough to keep me going.

I almost have Luna out of the chair. Her head lolls against my chest, her eyes fluttering but unfocused. She's unharmed—at least, I don’t see any visible injuries—but it’s clear she’s been drugged. Her body is limp, unable to hold itself up, and I tighten my arm around her waist to keep her from collapsing.

“It’s okay,” I murmur, more for my own reassurance than hers. “I’ve got you.”

She doesn’t respond, just lets out a faint sigh as I help her rise. The weight of her against me fuels my determination to get her out of here, away from this nightmare.

Then I see him.

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