Page 101 of Wicked Rivals

I got out and went around to the car’s trunk. Tony followed and opened it. Then he removed the false bottom to reveal our hidden collection of weapons. I grabbed a couple more magazines for my pistols.

Then Tony pulled out an assault rifle, slammed a magazine into it, and shut the trunk.

“At least let me take point, huh?” he asked.

I gave him a look which clearly said that wasn’t happening.

With a sigh, Tony stepped into place behind me and to the right, ready to follow my lead. If this were anything less important, I would have let him take point. Beyond it being his job, he also had the military training I lacked.

Didn’t matter in this case.

For my family, no one risked more than I did.

My gaze moved around the shop as we entered. It had been destroyed worse than during the shootout.

Absolutely everything.

All tables and chairs were decimated. Holes punched in the walls. Coffee machines smashed. A destroyed refrigerator door from the kitchen.

“What the fuck,” Tony said under his breath.

I carried my gun in the low-ready position while weaving through the rubble and passing through the busted kitchen door. The goddamn kitchen was worse if that was possible.

The gas range stood on its side in the middle of the room.

I pointed it out to Tony, and he nodded before heading that way. He dropped to one knee, sniffed around, then shook his head, letting me know he didn’t smell any gas.

The police must have shut off the line running into the building. So no ticking clock counting down to an explosion.

Athudcame from above us.

Someone moved upstairs in the apartment.

Tony and I pivoted and aimed our weapons up the stairs. The sound continued, anotherthudevery few seconds.

My second-in-command stepped forward first to climb the staircase ahead of me, but I blocked him with my outstretched arm and took the lead myself.

The apartment had received the same treatment as the café. The living room and kitchen had been ransacked from top to bottom. Furniture lay upside down, bookcases tipped over, clothes and personal items littered all over the floor.

Fuck. But where was Val and our son?

“Val… Enzo… Valerie!” I shouted.

More glass crunched beneath my shoes.

Whoever had destroyed my son’s childhood home would pay for it with his life.

The bastard’s death would come slowly with excruciating pain. The animal would suffer for his crimes against my family. I would make sure everyone saw his lifeless body and understood what happened when you fucked with someone who belonged to me.

After we slid the couch away from the door, I cleared the first bedroom, then moved on to the bathroom. Enough light from the adjoining bedroom penetrated the darkness, so I could check the tub and linen closet.

Clear.

Athunkcame from the other room.

My gut clenched and knotted.

I motioned for Tony to step aside. Then I pushed through the hanging pieces of the bathroom door and into the second bedroom.

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