Page 121 of DeLucas After Dark

Fate had other plans. Romeo slowed the vehicle just as a sudden eruption of gunfire shattered the silence, the deafening sound echoing through the deserted streets. Ishmael and I dove for cover, our hearts pounding in our chests as we scrambled for our weapons. I expected Marcello to do the same, but he didn’t move.

"Marcello!" I shouted, desperately trying to reach him while also firing back at the car riding beside us. "Are you alright? Answer me!"

"Vito... they got us." His voice was barely audible, choked with fear.

"Marcello, stay calm," I said, my own voice wavering. "You’re going to be fine. You’re going to make it.”

As I looked into Marcello's eyes, I saw my own fear mirrored there. The stakes had never been higher, but surrender was not an option. I would save Marcello, or die trying.

Romeo slowed to a creep and then stopped the car altogether, making us sitting ducks. It just so happened that luck was on our side, and an eighteen-wheeler came down the road causing the car that was beside us on the road to have to speed ahead and get into the correct lane. They overcorrected and crashed into a row of Christmas pines on the side of the road.

I could hear gunshots ringing out behind us and realized it was Prosper, Casper and Teddy exchanging fire with men in another vehicle.

"Let's move," I ordered, leading Ishmael and Marcello out of the car and into the night with the main objective of finding and taking down the men who’d ambushed us.

Driving away and leaving Prosper, Casper, and Teddy alone in battle wasn’t an option, and leaving the men behind who had shot my brother also wasn’t an option. Where they brought the fight to us was where our battle would ensue.

Marcello had sustained a gunshot to his shoulder and leg, but not once did Romeo try to help him. I pulled my brother out of the car, but he was determined to walk on his own.

“Why did you stop the car like that? You could have gotten us all killed if they had not crashed,” Marcello asked, glaring at his right-hand man.

“I was trying to get away from them,” Romeo replied with a look of terror in his eyes, making it hard to determine if he wasn’t built for this life or if he was being deceitful.

Ishmael and I crept forward toward the Christmas tree lot, our weapons at the ready as we scanned the rows of trees for any sign of the men. Snowflakes drifted down from the inky sky, settling on the fragrant branches like a dusting of powdered sugar.

"Jack! So, you heard I was coming for you. I am!" I shouted into the crisp air, my voice echoing through the lot. "We know you’re behind this! Stop being a pussy and show your face."

"Or what?" A sinister laugh rang out from behind a nearby tree, sending shivers down my spine. "You think you can take us on?"

"Damn right, we can," Marcello growled, raising his gun.

I shook my head, silently asking him to let me take the lead on this one.

“Hurry up.”He growled but acquiesced.

“Now, Jack. Why would we be coming for a stock market analyst? You have no business out here pretending to be a gangster,” I mocked. “But oh, that’s right, you come from a family of criminals. The analyst is what you’re pretending to be.”

"Bold words, DeLuca," Jack sneered, stepping into view with his weapon drawn. "But can you back them up?"

The man matched the images Prosper had shared with the team earlier that night. He was definitely Jack Dunner.

"Try me," I challenged.

"Vito, now!" Ishmael yelled, launching himself at Jack.

I took aim at the man stepping up to stand beside Jack, my heart pounding in my ears. At that moment, it was kill or be killed, and I knew which side I had to choose.

"Vito!" Marcello's voice strained against the cold air. Desperation seeped through his tone, urging me to act quickly.

The sound of gunfire filled the air as adrenaline coursed through my veins. I took down Jack’s man with a well-placed bullet. The thud of his body hitting the ground seemed to echo through the Christmas tree lot.

Ishmael finally wrestled Jack into submission, pressing his weapon firmly against the man's temple. His breath came in ragged gasps, but his eyes burned with determination. "Got him," he said, a grim satisfaction in his voice.

"Good work," I replied, adrenaline still coursing through me.

Shot in the shoulder and leg, Marcello ambled over to where Ishmael held Jack down. "This one is mine," Marcello groaned. “He has caused me and my woman too many problems, and it ends today.”

Jack laughed. “Do you really think this ends with me? If you kill me, more men will come for you and Safia. She is a billion-dollar payout that’s marketed on the black web. People worse than me, including the men her family owed, will never let this go.”

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