Page 24 of Crimson Reign

"Stay down!" I shout, breaking cover.

I close the distance, knocking the third man's gun aside and driving my fist into his solar plexus. His face meets my knee with a crunch.

"Who's the mole?" I demand.

He laughs through bloodied teeth. "You're already dead, Bellanti."

Bang!

A shot rings out. He slumps with a hole in his forehead. Elena stands with my backup pistol extended.

"He was reaching," she says simply.

I scan her for injuries. "Are you hurt?"

She shakes her head, but I see the bruise forming and her torn sleeve.

My jaw tightens. This is all my fault.

Tires squeal. A black Escalade speeds away, escorted by motorcycles weaving through containers.

Massimo is escaping. Again.

"Dammit!" I slam my fist against a container. "He's getting away!"

Elena grabs my arm. "We can still track him. The financial trail—"

"Will go cold immediately. Someone warned him, Elena. One of my people."

"Then we'll find the mole and use them to get to Massimo."

On the drive home, the night's failure weighs on me. Massimo escaped. We lost men. They nearly captured Elena.

"This wasn't your fault," Elena says quietly beside me in the car.

"The hell it wasn't," I growl. "I insisted on moving tonight. I let you come. I can't find the mole in my organization."

"Matteo—"

"Don't." My voice comes out sharper than intended. "Just... don't."

The rest of the ride passes in tense silence. By the time we reach the estate, my anger has crystallized into something cold and deadly.

Nico takes charge of the wounded men, conferring with our doctor in hushed tones. I storm past them all, heading for the study.

I need space. I need to think. I need to plan exactly how I'm going to dismantle Massimo Caruso piece by bloody piece.

I don't realize Elena has followed me until the door clicks shut behind her.

"You should get checked out by the doctor," I say without turning, pouring myself a generous measure of whiskey from the decanter on the desk.

"I'm fine." She moves into my line of sight, refusing to be dismissed. "You're not. ”

I laugh, a harsh sound with no humor in it. "What gave it away?"

"Matteo." She steps closer, undeterred by my tone. "Look at me."

I do, against my better judgment.

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