Page 27 of The Mafia's Second Shot

We’re halfway there when a group of men rounds the corner, guns raised. Cooper shoves me behind him, firing off three quickshots. Two of the men drop, but the third keeps coming, his aim set on Cooper.

Time slows as I act on instinct, grabbing a heavy vase from a nearby table and hurling it at the attacker. It hits him square in the head, and he crumples to the floor, unconscious.

Cooper glances back at me, his expression equal parts shock and admiration. “Nice throw.”

“Thanks,” I manage, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

He doesn’t waste time, pulling me along as the sounds of gunfire grow louder. The estate feels like a war zone, and for the first time, I understand just how dangerous Cooper’s world really is.

We reach the safe room,but before Cooper can open the door, another explosion rocks the building, sending both of us to the floor. My ears ring as I push myself up, my vision blurry from the impact.

“Zoey,” Cooper’s voice cuts through the haze, sharp and urgent. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” I say, though my voice is shaky. “I’m okay.”

His relief is short-lived as another wave of attackers descends on us. Cooper raises his gun, his movements swift and precise as he takes them down one by one. I press myself against the wall, my heart pounding as I try to make sense of the chaos.

This is his life—constant danger, constant risk. And now it’s mine, too.

As the last of the attackers falls, Cooper turns to me, his expression fierce. “This isn’t over,” he says. “Stay close. No matter what.”

I nod, my hands trembling as I follow him into the safe room, the sound of gunfire echoing in my ears.

20

COOPER

The air smells like smoke and blood, the sounds of chaos echoing through the estate. Explosions have left sections of the house in ruins, and the attackers are moving with precision, their goal clear: to eliminate me and take Zoey.

I crouch behind a wall near the main hall, my Glock held steady in my hands. Marco is beside me, his face a mask of focus.

“They’re more organized this time,” he mutters, reloading his weapon. “This isn’t just Rossi throwing bodies at us. He planned this.”

“Because he knows he’s running out of time,” I reply, peeking around the corner. Three men in tactical gear are moving through the corridor, their guns sweeping for targets.

I signal to Marco. He nods, and we move as one. Two clean shots take out the first two men, and Marco drops the third with a well-placed bullet before the attacker can react.

“We need to push them back toward the perimeter,” I say, my voice calm despite the storm inside me. “If they reach the safe room?—”

“They won’t,” Marco interrupts, his tone firm. “We’ll stop them.”

But his confidence doesn’t quell the dread pooling in my chest. This attack isn’t just about territory or revenge—it’s about Zoey. Rossi wants her because he knows what she means to me, and he won’t stop until he has her.

And that’s what terrifies me the most.

We move through the estate,clearing rooms and securing choke points. My men are holding the line, but the attackers keep coming, their tactics methodical. They know this house, know our defenses, and it’s becoming clear why.

Someone told them. Someone close.

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut, and I clench my jaw as fury surges through me. I’ll deal with the traitor when this is over—if we make it through the night.

The safe roomis quiet when I arrive, the heavy steel door sealed shut. Relief washes over me as I knock three times in the agreed signal. A moment later, the door opens, and Zoey is there, her eyes wide with fear but resolute.

“Cooper,” she breathes, pulling me inside. “What’s happening?”

“Rossi’s men,” I say, scanning the room quickly to ensure it’s secure. “They’re pushing harder this time.”

Her hands tremble as she clutches the edge of the table, but there’s fire in her eyes. “What can I do?”

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