Page 46 of The Mafia's Second Shot

And I’ll be by Cooper’s side, no matter what happens.

33

COOPER

The moon hangs low in the sky, its faint light filtering through the thick trees as we move silently along the forest path. My men are scattered around me, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. The air is cold and tense, every sound amplified by the stillness of the night.

We’re setting the stage for the final confrontation, planting traps along the routes Rossi’s men are likely to use. It’s not enough to stop him completely, but it’ll slow him down, force him to fight on our terms.

“Hold here,” I whisper, raising a hand. The group halts, and Marco steps up beside me, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead.

“The clearing’s just up ahead,” he says, his voice low. “We’ll set the last charge there.”

I nod, signaling for the others to fan out. As the men move into position, I crouch by the edge of the path, my fingers brushing against the cold steel of the tripwire in my hand. The work is meticulous, but it has to be precise. One mistake could cost us everything.

As I secure the wire,my thoughts drift to Zoey. I left her back at the warehouse with strict orders to stay put, but the memory of her determined expression makes me uneasy. She’s strong, stronger than I ever gave her credit for, but I can’t shake the fear that Rossi will find a way to reach her.

“Cooper,” Marco’s voice pulls me back to the moment. “You good?”

“Fine,” I reply, tightening the wire. “Let’s keep moving.”

We setthe final traps quickly, the men working with quiet efficiency. The plan is simple: force Rossi’s convoy into bottlenecks, isolate his forces, and pick them off before they can reach their target. It’s not a guaranteed win, but it’s our best shot.

As we regroup near the clearing, a rustle in the bushes makes me freeze. My hand moves to my gun instinctively, and I motion for the others to stay quiet. The sound grows louder, closer, until a figure steps into view.

My blood runs cold.

“Tony,” I say, my voice flat.

The man standing before me is one I once trusted—a former lieutenant who vanished months ago. His face is familiar but harder now, his eyes cold as he raises his hands in mock surrender.

“Long time no see, boss,” he says, his tone mocking.

“What are you doing here?” I demand, my grip tightening on the gun.

Tony smirks, taking a step closer. “Rossi sent me to keep an eye on you. Guess he figured you’d try something clever.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. I always knew there were leaks in the organization, but seeing Tony here—standing with Rossi after everything we’ve been through—makes it personal.

“You switched sides,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “Why?”

“Why not?” he replies with a shrug. “Rossi pays better. And let’s be honest—you’ve been slipping, Cooper. You’re too distracted with your girl to run things properly.”

The mention of Zoey sends a surge of anger through me, but I force myself to stay calm. “Where’s the rest of Rossi’s men?”

Tony’s smirk falters, but he doesn’t answer. Instead, he moves toward his belt, his hand brushing against something metallic.

“Don’t,” I warn, my gun trained on him.

But he doesn’t listen. In one fluid motion, he draws a knife and lunges. I sidestep, my instincts kicking in as I knock the blade from his hand and pin him to the ground.

“Traitor,” I growl, pressing the barrel of my gun to his temple.

“You don’t have the guts,” he spits, blood dripping from his lip.

I hesitate, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. This man betrayed me, sold out his brothers, and put Zoey’s life at risk. But as much as I want to pull the trigger, I know there’s a better way to deal with him.

“Marco,” I call over my shoulder. “Tie him up. We’ll take him back with us.”

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