The Devil’s Move

The air in the room was thick with tension. The kind that seeped into the bones, making it hard to breathe. Luca tightened his grip on his gun, his mind spinning through every possible scenario.

They were going after Vincenzo tonight.

He turned to Enzo. "How many men does he have?"

"Too many," Enzo replied. "And he's expecting you. If we do this, there's no going back."

Luca's jaw tensed. There was never going to be a way back. Not after what Vincenzo had done.

He walked over to Evelyn. Her skin was still pale, her breathing slow, but she was awake now, watching him with those tired yet defiant eyes.

"You're leaving," she murmured.

Luca crouched beside her, brushing his fingers across her cheek. "I have to."

She exhaled shakily. "I know."

Dante shifted uncomfortably in the background. "Luca, we don't have time for this."

Luca ignored him. His world had narrowed to Evelyn—the only thing that mattered. "You stay here. No matter what happens, you don't move."

Evelyn shook her head weakly. "And if you don't come back?"

His grip on her tightened. "Then you'll never forgive me."

Her lips trembled. "Luca—"

He kissed her. Hard. Deep. Like it was the last thing he'd ever do.

And maybe it was.

Then he pulled away, his forehead resting against hers. "I love you."

Evelyn's breath hitched. "Then stay."

Luca swallowed the lump in his throat. "I can't."

She knew it, too. Knew that this wasn't just about revenge anymore. It was about ending this once and for all.

He stood, turning to Dante and Enzo. "Let's go."

---

The Ambush

The warehouse was quiet when they arrived, too quiet.

Luca's gut twisted. He knew a trap when he saw one.

Dante adjusted the strap on his rifle. "This doesn't feel right."

"It's not," Luca muttered. "He's waiting for us."

Enzo pulled out his phone. "I can call in backup."

"No time," Luca said. His eyes scanned the shadows. "We do this now."

A single gunshot rang out, shattering the silence.

Luca barely had time to react before bullets started flying. He dove behind a stack of crates, cursing under his breath.

"MOVE!" Dante shouted, returning fire.

Luca popped up, firing off shots with deadly precision. One man went down. Then another.

But there were too many.

Vincenzo's men were everywhere, pushing them back, closing in.

And then—

A familiar voice echoed through the warehouse.

"Well, well, well," Vincenzo drawled, stepping into the light.

He was smiling.

And he wasn't alone.

Luca's blood turned to ice when he saw who he had.

Evelyn.

She was on her knees, a gun to her temple.

Vincenzo smirked. "Drop your weapons, Luca. Or she dies."

Luca's world shattered.

His fingers tightened around his gun, every fiber of his being screaming at him to pull the trigger—

But he couldn't.

Not with her life on the line.

Dante cursed. "Luca, don't—"

But Luca was already lowering his gun.

Because Evelyn was worth more than revenge.

She was worth everything.

---

Next Chapter: The Price of Love