chapter 24

The night reeked of blood and betrayal.

Valentina's grip on her gun tightened as Moretti's men surrounded them, their weapons locked, their expressions taunting.

Lorenzo was breathing hard beside her, his body tense, his dark eyes burning with the kind of rage that turned men into monsters.

They were cornered.

Outnumbered.

And Moretti was smiling.

"You should've brought more men," Lorenzo said, his voice like a blade cutting through the tension.

Moretti chuckled. "Oh, I did."

And then—

Lights.

Blinding floodlights exploded from the surrounding shipping containers, illuminating the entire dock.

Moretti wasn't bluffing.

Dozens more of his men stepped out of the shadows, guns aimed, their fingers resting against the triggers.

The realization hit like a gunshot to the chest.

They weren't just outnumbered.

They were fucked.

---

The Devil's Gambit

Valentina's pulse hammered, but she refused to let fear take root. Think.

There was always a way out.

Always.

She turned her head slightly, just enough to meet Lorenzo's gaze.

A silent conversation passed between them.

They'd either die here.

Or they'd take these fuckers down with them.

Moretti stepped forward, his hands in his pockets like he wasn't standing in the middle of a war zone.

"You know," he mused, "I never understood the obsession you two have with each other. You should be tearing each other apart."

His gaze flickered between them.

"But look at you," he smirked. "Standing together. Fighting together. Bleeding together."

Lorenzo's jaw clenched. "If you're waiting for a thank-you, you'll die disappointed."

Moretti laughed. "Oh, no. I'm not waiting for gratitude." His smirk darkened. "I'm waiting for her."

Valentina stilled.

Her?

Before she could react, the sharp snap of a gun being cocked sounded behind her.

A woman's voice followed.

"Drop the gun, Rossi."

Cold. Calculated. Familiar.

Catarina De Luca.

Lorenzo's cousin.

Valentina turned her head slightly, enough to see the deadly brunette standing just behind her, a gun pressed to her back.

Fucking hell.

---

A Dance with Death

Lorenzo's entire body turned to stone. His voice was lethal.

"Catarina."

Catarina smiled, her expression deceptively sweet.

"Hello, cousin," she purred.

Lorenzo's grip on his gun didn't waver.

"Step aside."

Catarina tilted her head. "I don't think so."

Valentina's mind worked at lightning speed. Catarina hadn't shot her yet. Which meant she wanted something.

She needed time. A distraction. A chance.

Valentina's fingers flexed around her weapon.

"I'm guessing you didn't come for a family reunion," she said smoothly.

Catarina's smile widened. "Oh, I came for you, darling."

Valentina barely had a second to react before Catarina's free hand snapped out, gripping her wrist.

In a blur of movement, she wrenched the gun from Valentina's grasp and twisted her arm behind her back.

A sharp, brutal pain shot up Valentina's spine.

FUCK.

Lorenzo moved—but Moretti's men immediately aimed their weapons higher, ready to fire.

"Careful, cousin," Catarina sang. "One wrong move and I break her."

Valentina clenched her teeth. She could feel Catarina's breath against her neck, feel the sharp press of her nails against her skin.

Moretti watched, amused.

"This is quite the show," he mused.

Lorenzo's voice was a warning, low and guttural. "Catarina, let her go."

Catarina laughed.

"Oh, Lorenzo," she sighed. "I think you've forgotten how this works." She tightened her grip. "I give the orders now."

The air crackled.

Valentina's muscles tensed. If she was going to make a move, it had to be now.

She slammed her head backward.

The sharp crack of impact sent Catarina stumbling.

In that split second—

Lorenzo fired.

Chaos erupted.

---

No Turning Back

Gunfire exploded through the docks.

Valentina wrenched free, grabbing the knife strapped to her thigh and spinning—

Catarina dodged, but not fast enough.

The blade sliced across her shoulder, and she hissed in pain.

"Bitch."

Valentina smirked.

Lorenzo was a storm of destruction, cutting through Moretti's men with terrifying efficiency.

But they were still outnumbered.

Moretti was gone.

Catarina was bleeding.

And sirens were wailing in the distance.

Fuck.

Time was running out.

"Lorenzo—"

"I see it."

They were trapped.

Catarina grinned, despite the blood dripping down her arm.

"This isn't over," she said.

Then—

A flash grenade exploded.

White light.

Blinding pain.

Then—

Nothing.