Page 28 of The Mafia's Second Shot

“You stay here,” I say firmly. “You’re safe in this room. I need to?—”

“I’m not hiding while you fight,” she interrupts, her voice trembling but determined. “I can help.”

“Zoey,” I start, but she cuts me off.

“I’ve already been through Liam’s training,” she says, her hands tightening into fists. “I’m not helpless, Cooper. Let me do something.”

Before I can respond, Marco’s voice crackles through my earpiece. “Boss, we’ve got movement near the west wing. They’re trying to breach.”

“Hold them off,” I reply, turning back to Zoey. “Stay here. That’s an order.”

She doesn’t argue, but the defiance in her eyes tells me this isn’t over.

The west wingis chaos when I arrive. My men are pinned down behind overturned furniture, bullets ricocheting off the marble walls. I take cover beside Marco, firing off two shots and hitting one of the attackers.

“We’ve got a problem,” Marco says grimly, nodding toward a figure moving behind the attackers. It’s Dante.

The sight of him sends a surge of rage through me, but I force myself to stay calm. He’s shouting orders to Rossi’s men, his betrayal on full display.

“Take him alive if you can,” I say through gritted teeth. “I want answers.”

Marco nods, and we press forward, clearing the attackers one by one. Dante tries to retreat, but Marco cuts him off, tackling himto the ground. I’m there a second later, my gun trained on his head.

“You picked the wrong side,” I growl.

He sneers up at me, blood dripping from his lip. “You think you’ve won? Rossi’s already got what he came for.”

The words send a chill down my spine. “What the hell does that mean?”

Dante laughs, the sound chilling. “You’ll see.”

I don’t wait for him to elaborate. I knock him out with the butt of my gun and motion for Marco to secure him. Then I run.

The safe roomdoor is ajar when I reach it, the sight stopping me cold. My heart pounds as I push the door open, my worst fear realized.

Zoey is gone.

The trail leadsme to the east garden, where Rossi’s men are loading a struggling Zoey into a black SUV. Her arms are bound, but her eyes meet mine, wide with fear and desperation.

“Cooper!” she screams.

The sound of her voice ignites something primal in me. I take out two of Rossi’s men before they can react, my shots precise and deadly. The driver tries to start the car, but Marco’s men arrive, cutting off their escape.

Rossi steps out from behind the SUV, his gun pressed to Zoey’s temple. “Not another step, Cooper,” he says, his voice calm but deadly. “Or she dies.”

My chest tightens as I lower my weapon, my hands clenching into fists. “Let her go, Rossi. This is between you and me.”

He smirks, his grip tightening on Zoey. “Oh, I know. But she’s leverage, and I’m not giving her up that easily.”

Time slows as I weigh my options, my mind racing. I meet Zoey’s eyes, silently willing her to trust me. Then, in one fluid motion, I drop to my knees, grab a knife from my boot, and hurl it at Rossi.

The blade sinks into his shoulder, and he stumbles, releasing Zoey. I’m on him in an instant, disarming him and pinning him to the ground.

“It’s over,” I growl, pressing the barrel of my gun to his head.

He glares up at me, blood dripping from his mouth. “This is just the beginning.”

I pull the trigger.

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