Page 50 of His Ruthless Obsession

Within the hour, my most trusted soldiers fill the back room of Carmine's. The ancient brick walls and lack of windows make it perfect for private conversations.

"Here's what we know." I pace the length of the wooden table. "The Mantiones are probing our defenses, but they're using expendables. No made men, no one who can trace back to them if caught."

Marco nods along. "You think we give them something to focus on?"

"Exactly. We give them exactly what they want - a weak spot." I pull out a map of the city, spreading it across the table. "See this warehouse district? Perfect staging ground for an ambush."

"That's awful close to their territory," Tony says, scratching his stubble.

"Exactly. We'll leak information about a major shipment coming through. Something too tempting to ignore." My finger traces the route. "But we control all the access points, every rooftop, every alley."

Ray shifts in his chair. "What makes you think they'll bite?"

"Because we're going to make it look like we're scrambling to keep it quiet. Nothing draws attention like trying to hide something." I tap the map where three streets intersect. "We'll have teams here, here, and here. When they move in-"

"We close the trap." Marco's eyes light up with understanding.

"First, we need eyes on their operation." I grab my keys. "Marco, Tony - you're with me. Time to do some recon."

We take separate cars, meeting up again in a rundown neighborhood on the edge of Mantione territory. The streets here are narrow, buildings pressed tight together like rotting teeth.

"Their main base of operations is that old mechanic shop." Marco points to a weathered building with peeling paint. "They've got lookouts on the corner stores, probably more we can't see."

I study the layout, mentally mapping escape routes and choke points. "Those rooftops will give us perfect sight lines. And that alley-" I nod toward a narrow passage between buildings that lead into my territory. "Perfect for herding them exactly where we want them."

Tony pulls his collar up against the wind. "This could work, boss. But one wrong move..."

"That's why we plan for everything." I memorize every detail of their setup. "We make them think they're the hunters, when really-"

"They're walking right into our crosshairs," Marco finishes.

"That's right."

We do another hour of looking and planning, eventually deciding what to leak and who we'll have come out here to close the trap. Once everything is finalized, I decide I'm ready to go home.

My addiction has only been growing, and I'm itching to see Jazz.

She's still up when I get home, curled up on my leather couch, legs tucked beneath her, wearing one of my shirts that drowns her small frame. The city lights sparkle through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft glow across her features.

"So you were out late." She takes a slow sip of the whiskey I hand her, those dark eyes studying me over the rim of her glass.

"Business." I loosen my tie, sink into the cushions beside her.

"I take it not the kind at The Vault?" Her eyebrow arches. "Have there been anymore… problems?"

"Always some cropping up." I trace my thumb along her jaw, feeling her lean into my touch. The tension from earlier melts away at the contact. "But nothing I can't handle."

"I hate not knowing if you're safe." The words slip out soft, vulnerable. She catches herself, straightens her spine. "I mean, who else is gonna sign my paychecks?"

I smirk at her attempted deflection. "Still worried about me, little dove?"

"I don't know how to stop." The confession sounds like she would rather keep it in, but her hand finds mine, fingersintertwining. "Just seems like there's been more... incidents lately."

"Nothing I can't handle." I pull her closer, breathe in the jasmine scent of her hair. "Though I like knowing you care."

"I don't." She pokes my chest. Even though we both know it's not true. "You're just convenient to have around. Tall enough to reach the high shelves."

"Is that all?" I toy with her hair, loving how light my chest feels as I sit here with her.

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