Page 43 of Bound to the Enforcer

"And if they don't believe you?" Matteo asks, arching an eyebrow.

I meet his eyes. I see the coldness. "Then I'll make them believe me."

Matteo lets out a low whistle, shaking his head. "You've got more guts than sense sometimes, Sophia. I like it."

I let out a low laugh. "I'll take that as a compliment."

The three of us make the final tweaks to the plan, and finally, we come to a conclusion, and we are ready to roll.

Night falls far too quickly for my liking, and suddenly, it's show time. I heave a heavy breath and say a silent prayer. This is do or die. I have no idea if I am going to walk out of here dead or alive, but my hope is that it's alive.

The hum of the engine is the only sound as Matteo drives through the city. I sit in the backseat, my focus fixed on the faint outline of Domenico's warehouse in the distance. From here, it looks harmless—quiet and unassuming—but I know better.

My stomach twists, not with fear, but with a cold, unrelenting resolve. I can still hear Alessio's words from earlier—Don't let it consume you—but it already has. The hatred I feel for Domenico sits heavy in my chest, pushing me forward.

"Two blocks out," Matteo mutters, his tone clipped as he takes a hard turn.

Alessio sits in the passenger seat, scanning the area. Every movement he makes feels deliberate, his focus unshakable. I draw a slow breath, trying to steady myself.

"You're quiet back there." Matteo's eyes catch mine through the rearview.

"I'm thinking," I reply.

"Don't overthink it," Alessio says, turning just enough to look at me. "Stick to the plan."

The plan. I repeat it in my head like a mantra—strike Domenico's meeting, expose him for what he is, and take back control. It's clear, simple even. But something about this doesn't feel right. The silence in the car, the tension in the air—it's different tonight.

Matteo pulls the SUV into an alley, killing the lights.

"We're here," he announces.

We step out onto the cracked pavement, the cold biting at my skin as I pull my coat tighter. The warehouse looms in front of us, surrounded by shadows, its steel walls faintly illuminated by the dim glow of the streetlights.

Matteo's phone buzzes in his pocket, breaking the silence. He pulls it out, frowning as he reads the message.

"What is it?" Alessio asks sharply.

"Nothing," Matteo replies quickly, shoving the phone back into his jacket. "Just the boys confirming the distraction's set. We're clear to move."

He's lying.

I don't know how I know, but I do. The way he avoided Alessio's eyes, the tension in his movements—it's off. My heart gives a hard thud in my chest, and I force myself to focus.

"Let's go," Alessio says, motioning for me to follow.

We stick to the shadows as we approach the warehouse. My pulse pounds louder with every step, my hand hovering near the gun at my side. I scan the area, searching for movement, but everything is still. Too still.

Alessio reaches the side entrance first, testing the handle. It's unlocked.

He freezes, exchanging a look with me.Unlockedmeans they're expecting us.

"It's a trap," I whisper inaudibly.

Alessio nods slightly, but his expression stays calm. "We move fast. Stick close to me."

Before I can respond, Matteo cuts through the quiet. "Guys, wait."

We both turn toward him, but Matteo doesn't look at us. He's standing a few steps back, his hands at his sides, his body tense. For a split second, I don't understand what's happening. Then I see them—shadows moving at the edge of the alley, faint silhouettes stepping into view.

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