Page 88 of The Silence Lies

“Find Matteo,” I order him. “He needs to get that girl.”

With that command, Marco pushes off the wall, darting off in the direction Matteo ran after the girl. Luckily, there are more shadows he can hide in, more coverage so I won’t need to worry about him being seen. When I’m sure he’s far enough away, I push forward.

My pulse pounds excitedly in my ears. This is what I live for, this is what I was raised by my father to do. Enforce and protect.

Bullets are still firing in all directions, a cacophony of gunfire that pierces the air as more men drop. Whoever is taking them out is an expert, but I’m not one to shy away from assistance. If they were here for us, we’d be dead already.

“On your left!” Levi shouts out to me.

I spin around, gun already aimed out. But before I can fire, the guard drops.

I look to my left, but Greco’s guard to my right is down too. Dead.

Cazzo.

I aim my weapon just as another guard comes into view.

My finger squeezes lightly. One shot to the left leg.

The man falls, writhing on the ground in agony. I take the second shot. Between the eyes.

I swing around, gun aimed as more bullets fly past me—some belonging to our mystery sniper, more belonging to Verdi’s guards. Whatever they’re guarding, the girl is no longer their concern.

I line up my sight just as another asshole pokes his head out from behind a vehicle.

On one breath, I pull the trigger. It’s effortless and streamlined, hitting the guy right between the eyes. He doesn’t even see it coming.

Blood sprays, splattering crimson all over the guy beside him. I take him out next, aiming once more. He drops to the ground, and then we march forward. It’s almost synchronized as Levi and I sneak further towards the warehouse, using the shadows as cover.

A guy comes out from my right. I go to pull the trigger, but it malfunctions. I swing my arm out before the guy can aim, pushing his own gun away. It fires, the sound slamming into my eardrums. With the gun in my other hand, I punch my hand forward, slamming the back of the barrel into his throat.

He clutches his neck with his free hand, staggering backwards. I kick his legs out from under him, his weight crashing to the ground. I don’t waste a second re-cocking my weapon. A stray bullet flies out sideways. Damn thing always jamming.

Another whistle glides past me.

Another thud follows.

Not wasting time, I slam my foot into my assailant's face.

Once. Twice. Then I pull my knife out, grabbing the guy by his hair and slicing his throat.

I spin around again, adrenaline surging through me. I’m on a high. Action like this always brings me greater satisfaction than anything else, especially when assholes like the Verdis are at the end of my gun or knife.

Another guard comes into my sight, but Levi takes him out, a bullet going through the man’s neck. Blood spurts out as he slips sideways, landing with a thud in the dirt.

More gunfire rains down around us, but the odds are better—thanks to our sniper. Judging from the amount of men we’ve collectively taken down so far, I’d say we’re almost there. I dart behind the next vehicle.

“Luca?” Sera’s worried voice floats through my ear.

“I’m here,” I reply, just as I watch Levi slip around the side of a vehicle.

“Levi?”

Cazzo.

Someone quickly disarms him, his gun flying to the ground beside me.

I lunge forward, slamming my body to the ground and twisting over to take aim.

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