Page 40 of The Mafia's Second Shot

I force myself to take a deep breath, gripping the phone tightly. I need to stay calm. Panicking won’t help. But the thought of being here alone, with no way to contact Cooper, makes my stomach churn.

I glance around the room,my eyes falling on the heavy wooden chest by the fireplace. It contains the weapons Cooper left behind—a small arsenal of pistols, ammunition, and a hunting knife. My hands shake as I open it, grabbing the knife and one of the smaller guns. I’ve never been comfortable with weapons, but right now, they’re the only thing standing between me and whatever’s out there.

I double-check the locks on the doors and windows, my breath coming in shallow bursts. Outside, the forest is eerily quiet, the shadows stretching long and dark. Every creak of the cabin feels amplified, every sound sending my pulse racing.

I retreatto the corner of the living room, clutching the gun tightly. My mind is a whirlwind of fear and worst-case scenarios. I try to focus on Cooper’s voice, on the promises he made. He’ll come back. He has to.

But as the hours drag on and the shadows deepen, doubt begins to creep in. What if this is it? What if Rossi’s men find me before Cooper can stop them?

I close my eyes, forcing myself to breathe. For now, all I can do is wait.

And pray.

29

COOPER

The warehouse is cold, the damp air clinging to my skin as I study the maps spread out on the table. Marco and a few of my men flank me, their expressions grim as we discuss the strike against Rossi’s network. It’s a straightforward plan on paper, but we all know that Rossi won’t make it easy.

“We take out the depot first,” Marco says, tapping a marked location on the map. “It’s their primary hub for weapons. If we cripple that, they’ll lose their ability to arm their men.”

I nod, my eyes scanning the map. “And the supply routes?”

“Still active,” Marco replies. “If we hit those simultaneously, we can cut off their funds and resources. But it’ll spread us thin.”

“We don’t have a choice,” I say. “We need to move quickly before Rossi tightens his grip.”

The men continue discussing logistics,but my mind keeps drifting to Zoey. She’s alone at the cabin, and while I’ve done everything I can to secure it, the thought of Rossi’s men getting anywhere near her makes my stomach churn. I can’t afford tobe distracted, but the weight of her safety hangs over me like a shadow.

“Cooper,” Marco says, his voice cutting through my thoughts. “You still with us?”

I blink, forcing my focus back to the table. “Yeah. Keep going.”

Marco narrows his eyes, studying me. “You’re distracted.”

“I’m fine,” I reply, my tone sharper than I intend.

“No, you’re not,” Marco counters. “You’re thinking about her.”

“Of course I am,” I snap. “She’s alone up there. You think I’m not going to worry?”

Marco exhales, his tone softening. “I get it. But you can’t let it cloud your judgment. If we screw this up, it won’t just be her in danger—it’ll be all of us.”

His words hit harder than I want to admit, and I nod reluctantly. “You’re right. Let’s focus.”

The meeting lasts longerthan I’d like, every detail of the plan dissected and debated until it feels airtight. By the time we finish, I’m ready to leave, my thoughts already on the drive back to Zoey. But just as I’m packing up, my phone buzzes on the table.

The number flashing on the screen is unfamiliar but coded—a secure line tied to the safe house. My chest tightens as I answer. “Cooper.”

“It’s Liam,” comes the voice on the other end, low and urgent. “We’ve got a problem.”

My grip tightens on the phone. “What kind of problem?”

“Rossi’s men,” he says. “Zoey got a coded message about a possible sighting near the perimeter. We’ve been trying to confirm, but...”

“But what?” I demand, my voice sharp.

“She hasn’t responded to the follow-up check,” Liam says. “We’re monitoring, but the lines are quiet.”

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