Page 34 of Bound to the Enforcer

"I know," I reply, matching his tone.

We slip out of the car, the cold air biting at my skin as I follow him toward the warehouse. Gravel crunches under our boots with every step, loud in the emptiness. Alessio walks a few paces ahead, his posture tense but composed. His head moves slightly as he scans the area, but he doesn't say anything. Neither do I.

The closer we get to the building, the smaller it seems to make me feel. The air is thick here, the weak light above the door barely cutting through the dark. Everything looks abandoned—like no one's been here in weeks.

"You think the shipment's still inside?" I ask quietly.

Alessio doesn't answer immediately. He tests the door handle, finding it locked. "Only one way to find out." He glances back at me. "Stay behind me."

I nod, my grip on the gun tightening. I don't need him to keep telling me.

He moves to the side of the door, producing a small tool from his jacket and working the lock with swift, practiced motions. I hear a faintclick, and Alessio slowly eases the door open.

The smell hits me first—oil, metal, and something stale that makes my stomach turn. The interior is dimly lit, just enough light spilling from high-up fixtures to show rows of crates stacked haphazardly.

"It's quiet," I murmur, stepping in behind him.

"Too quiet," he mutters.

I glance at him sharply. "You think something's wrong?"

Alessio doesn't answer right away. He moves forward, gun raised, his steps silent as we navigate between crates. The faint buzz of the lights above is the only sound now, a dull hum that makes my skin crawl.

I stop beside a row of wooden pallets, scanning the space for any sign of movement. My heart beats a little too fast, and I tell myself it's just the adrenaline. But even as I try to steady my breathing, something doesn't feel right.

"We need to find whatever Domenico's hiding here," Alessio says quietly. "Stay sharp, and watch the corners."

I nod, moving when he moves. The rows of crates seem endless, stretching far into the back of the building. Shadows pool between them like they're alive, hiding something I can't see.

Suddenly, Alessio stops. He raises his hand, and I freeze, holding my breath.

"What?" I whisper.

He doesn't answer. He's staring at something up ahead—a faint glimmer of red. When I squint, I see it's just a tiny blinking light.

Before I can say anything, a metallicclinkechoes from somewhere to our right. My chest tightens.

"Move!" Alessio hisses, grabbing my arm and pulling me back just as the first explosion tears through the air.

The blast sends a shockwave of heat and sound through the warehouse. I stumble, Alessio's grip the only thing keeping me upright as crates shatter and splinter around us. Smoke billows up, thick and choking, filling my lungs as I cough and try to regain my footing.

"Ambush!" Alessio yells.

Gunfire erupts, sharp and relentless. I duck behind a fallen crate, gripping my gun with shaking hands as bullets tear through the space around us. My ears ring, my pulse thundering.

Alessio crouches beside me, his face smudged with dust and smoke. "You okay?"

I nod quickly, even though the adrenaline coursing through me has left me shaking. "Where are they?"

He peeks out from behind the crate, firing a few shots before ducking back down. "Everywhere."

The words send a chill through me, but I push the fear down. I tighten my grip on the gun, forcing myself to focus. I'm not going to let this end here.

"Stay low," Alessio orders calmly but still with a firmness. "We're getting out of this."

He moves ahead, his body a blur as he fires and takes cover. I follow as best as I can, my heart hammering with every step. The gunfire is deafening, echoing off the warehouse walls, but I can hear Alessio cutting through it, giving sharp orders to stay close, to keep moving.

And I do. Because I refuse to let this be the end.

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