Page 50 of Rafi

It’s a promise. And I know, just like everyone else in the room knows, that if Lucky gets his hands on Russo, there will be no mercy. But for now, it’s the fury in his words that’s still echoing in my chest.

Jacklyn doesn’t flinch. She simply nods, her fingers smoothing over his cheek. “I know, baby. I know. But we’ll get him. There’s one of him, and one ofus. He’s outnumbered.”

She smiles at him, and Lucky’s eyes soften as he curls into her hand against his cheek. If anyone should be weary or concerned about Daniel Russo being back, it should be Jacklyn, but she accepts the news like a soldier and refuses to let the news dictate her next move one way or the other.

I can’t seem to draw my eyes away from them as Jacklyn continues to look at Lucky as though he’s the sun and the moon and everything else in between.

Lucky exhales sharply, his body still tense, but there’s a softness in his eyes now, something that’s a little more like theman we all know and trust. Jacklyn’s voice, her presence, it’s the only thing that can break through his storm.

Slowly, his shoulders drop, and the anger in him seems to bleed out, leaving him exhausted and brittle. He turns his face into her palm, pressing a kiss there, and for the first time in minutes, the room feels like it can breathe again.

Lucky steps back, his hands running through his hair. He gives a sharp nod to the rest of us, though his gaze never fully meets mine. His fury hasn’t disappeared—it’s just been momentarily quenched, redirected into something more controlled. Something dangerous.

“We find him,” he says, his voice steady but full of the same rage that just moments ago had shattered a chair. “We have to.”

Lucky runs a hand over his jaw, still trying to reign in the beast inside him. Jacklyn hasn’t let go of him, her touch a silent tether that holds him steady in the midst of the storm. He meets her gaze, and for a moment, the world outside the room seems to fade. But just as quickly, he snaps back to what needs to be done.

“We need to hit Russo before he even thinks about making a move,” Lucky mutters, his voice gruff, the venom still lingering in it.

Scar, sitting back at the table, doesn’t miss a beat. “We’ll find him, brother. It won’t be too hard now that we know he’s working with Igor Aslanov – snakes usually congregate in the same den.”

Lucky glances at the wall, his mind already working through every possible lead. I can see the storm brewing in his eyes again. When Lucky is this driven, there’s no talking him down. He won’t stop until Russo is gone, erased from the earth.

“The minute I find Russo,” Lucky continues, his tone colder now. “I’m wiping everything he’s built out of existence.”

I nod in agreement, knowing there’s more at play here—his obsession, his anger—it’s not just business anymore. Russocrossed a line, and it’s personal now. It’s been a sore point for Lucky that he hasn’t been able to avenge Jacklyn’s kidnapping and the attempted murder on her brother Jack’s life.

Jacklyn gently guides him to the chair, coaxing him down with her steady presence. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?” Her voice is calm, but the determination in her eyes tells me she’s ready for whatever comes next. She looks at the rest of us, her gaze piercing. “Russo’s not some idiot we’re dealing with. He knows how to cover his tracks, and he won’t be alone.”

Lucky clenches his fists at his sides, but he nods, more to her than anyone else. “Fine. But I’ll be the one to drive the stake through his heart.”

Scar’s eyes narrow as he processes the situation. “Rafi, get Jayson to reach out to our contacts, see if anyone’s seen or heard anything about Russo’s movements.”

Lucky stands up again, pacing the room as he runs his hands through his hair. The rage still simmers beneath the surface, but he’s trying to keep it contained.

Jacklyn steps forward, her gaze softening as she watches him, like she’s willing him to calm down. She reaches for him again, a small gesture, but it’s enough to remind him that he’s not alone.

“Lucky,” she says softly, “don’t let him pull you back into the hell we were in before.”

For a moment, Lucky just stands there, his face a mask of conflict. Then, slowly, he looks at her, his expression softening just the slightest bit. “I’m not going to let him hurt you again, Jack. I can’t. Not after everything.”

She nods, her eyes filled with understanding, though there’s an edge of sadness in them too. “We’ll find him. I just can’t lose you in the process.”

Lucky takes a deep breath, then nods. His shoulders seem to relax, just a little.

Scar’s voice cuts through the silence. “Okay, all hands on deck. Everybody back to work.”

There’s a finality in Lucky’s tone as he glances at the rest of us. “This ends with one of us standing over the other. I want this over and done with for good - Russo’s not walking away from this a second time.”

I watch as Lucky steps to the window, his mind working overtime, already thinking five moves ahead. His anger hasn’t dissipated—it’s just been channeled into something more calculated. More dangerous.

And as much as I want to tell him to slow down, to think this through, I know he won’t. Russo has hurt too many people, and for Lucky, that’s enough reason to burn everything to the ground to make him pay.

29

RAFI

Igor Aslanov and Daniel Russo. The combination settles like a stone in my gut. It’s not just unsettling—it’s infuriating. Every move we’ve made, every step we thought was calculated, they’ve been a few paces ahead, pulling strings from the shadows. They’re not just playing a game; they’re collaborating on a masterpiece of chaos.

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