42

The basement felt unusually cold as I leaned against the wall, watching Anthony closely monitor Luca.

I needed a plan, and I needed one quickly.

I took out my phone and dialed Leonel ’s number. It rang twice before he answered.

“Vincent ,” Leonel said, his voice laced with concern. “What’s happening?”

“I need your help, Leonel . We need to expose Rico ’s real operations and clear my name. Can you get me everything you can on his current location and activities? We need solid evidence to turn this around.”

I needed everything to corroborate Luca’s story. I had to gather all available information before making any moves. I had learned the hard way not to act without knowing all the facts.

“I’ll see what I can find,” Leonel replied, the sound of keys tapping in the background. “But this won’t be easy. Rico ’s been careful. If he’s really involved with North Korean operatives, we’re dealing with international matters, and that complicates things.”

“I know,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “But we don’t have time. We need to act before Rico solidifies his position. I can’t let him win, Leonel . Not with everything on the line.”

“I’ll get started right away,” Leonel assured me. “It’ll take a few hours, but I’ll uncover something. In the meantime, you need to stay low. If the FBI’s already tracking you, making any sudden moves could make things worse.”

“I understand,” I replied. “But we can’t just sit back. We need to gather our own evidence and stay ahead of Rico .”

“Agreed. I’ll send you everything I find as soon as I have it,” Leonel said. “Be careful, Vincent . You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“Thanks, Leonel ,” I said.

“Just make sure you come out of this in one piece,” he responded before hanging up.

I tucked my phone back into my pocket, already planning my next steps. The constant tug-of-war between my duty to deal with Rico and my concern for Jennifer weighed heavily on me, but I couldn’t let emotions cloud my judgment.

There was too much at stake. Especially now.

I turned to Anthony , still keeping watch over Luca. “Leonel ’s on it. He’s going to dig up everything he can on Rico . We need to be ready to move once we have the info.”

Anthony nodded, his expression grim. “We’ll get him, boss. Rico won’t know what hit him.”

I glanced over at Luca, who was watching us with a mix of fear and resignation. “Keep an eye on him,” I told Anthony . “We can’t afford any surprises.”

Anthony nodded sharply. “Got it.”

I headed upstairs, my mind racing with the gravity of the situation. I wanted to check on Jennifer and make sure she was safe.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I paused and took a deep breath. I opened the door to my bedroom and froze.

Jennifer was gone.

Then my phone rang.

There was a brief silence before Rico ’s voice dripped with a malicious satisfaction. My instincts flared immediately.

“Jennifer Clayton .”

A chill ran through me, and my heart froze. Every muscle tensed, and a fierce anger surged from deep inside me. I almost growled into the phone.

“What have you done to her?” I demanded, my voice trembling with barely contained rage.

If he were standing in front of me, I would tear him apart with my bare hands.

Rico chuckled, savoring the moment. “Ah, so she means something to you.” His voice turned darker. “You should have been more honest with me, Jennifer .”

I could hear Jennifer ’s muffled cries in the background, and it took every ounce of control not to lose my composure. I had to stay calm for her. Her life was at stake. One wrong move, and Rico could kill her—then I’d never get her back.

“If you hurt her, I swear I will kill you,” I hissed. “This is between you and me, Rico . Let her go. If you touch her, there won’t be a place on this earth where you can hide from me. I will hunt you down and make you pay.”

Rico ’s laugh was cold, unfeeling. “I’d like to see you try.”

Then, the line went dead.

I stared at my phone, a mix of fury and fear rising inside me. I had to find her—and fast.

I stormed back into the basement, already thinking through the next steps. Anthony was there, waiting, his face grim.

“It’s Rico ,” I said, my voice tight with anger. “He has Jennifer . We need to move now.”

“Damn it. What’s the plan?” Anthony asked, his concern evident.

“Leonel ’s tracking down Rico ’s location,” I said, pulling out my phone to call Leonel . “But we don’t have time to wait. We need to strike before Rico knows we’re coming.”

As the phone rang, I turned to Anthony , my resolve hardening. “We’re ending this, once and for all.”

Anthony gave a sharp nod. “Let’s do it.”

When Leonel picked up, I quickly filled him in. “Leonel , we need everything on Rico ’s current location. Right now.”

“Give me a few more minutes,” Leonel ’s voice was urgent. “I’ll get you what you need.”

I ended the call and turned back to Anthony . “Get the men ready. We’re going in as soon as we have the location.”

A few tense minutes passed before my phone buzzed again. I answered immediately, seeing Leonel ’s name on the screen.

“Leonel , do you have something?” I asked quickly.

“I traced the number Rico used,” Leonel replied, his voice steady despite the tension. “It’s coming from a warehouse in the industrial district—523 Carson Street. I’m sending you the coordinates now.”

My heart raced as I committed the address to memory. “Got it. Thanks, Leonel .”

“Be careful, Vincent ,” Leonel warned. “Rico ’s expecting you. This won’t be easy.”

“I know,” I replied, my voice resolute. “But he has no idea what’s coming for him. Stay close. We might need backup.”

“Got it,” Leonel replied, hanging up.

I turned to Anthony , fury mirrored in his eyes.

“523 Carson Street. Rico ’s hiding out in a warehouse there. Call the men. We’re moving out—now.”

We stood at the edge of the industrial district, staring at the imposing warehouse ahead. My thoughts were consumed by Jennifer . I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what was to come. Her life depended on every decision I made from here on out. I couldn’t afford to make a mistake—I had to stay sharp.

“Stay quiet and move fast,” I whispered to Anthony . “We can’t afford any slip-ups.”

Anthony gave a grim nod. “Got it. Let’s end this.”

Sticking to the shadows, we advanced toward the warehouse. The massive building loomed ahead, its exterior dimly lit by flickering lights. Two guards patrolled lazily near the entrance, their lack of attention working in our favor.

Perfect.

Anthony and I split up, each taking a different side of the warehouse. My pulse quickened as I crept closer to one of the guards. His gun was holstered at his side, but his guard was down. I waited for the perfect moment before striking, wrapping my arm around his neck and pulling him into the shadows. He struggled briefly before slumping unconscious in my grasp.

I dragged his body out of sight, took his weapon, and motioned to Anthony , who had just neutralized the second guard. We regrouped at the entrance, exchanging a quick nod before slipping inside.

The warehouse was a labyrinth of crates, machinery, and dimly lit corridors. We moved cautiously, every sound magnified in the oppressive silence. Faint voices echoed from somewhere deep inside, and we followed them carefully.

Along the way, we encountered more guards. Each one was taken down with swift, silent precision. My focus remained razor-sharp, fixed on one goal: getting Jennifer back safely.

As we turned down a narrow hallway, I motioned for Anthony to stop. Around the corner, a group of guards stood talking, their backs to us. I signaled Anthony to follow as we moved closer, ready to strike. But just as we were about to attack, one of the guards turned, his eyes widening in alarm.

“Shit!” he shouted, reaching for his gun.

Before he could act, Anthony and I sprang into action. A flurry of punches and kicks brought the guards down, the sound of the scuffle echoing in the hallway. There was no time to hide the bodies—we had to keep moving before reinforcements arrived.

“Go!” I urged Anthony , and he darted ahead while I followed close behind.

The warehouse felt endless, but the voices grew louder as we approached the center. Finally, we reached a large open area. Anthony signaled for me to stop, and I froze, my eyes locking onto the scene before me.

Rico stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by a handful of guards. His back was turned as he spoke to one of his men. My heart clenched when I saw Jennifer tied to a chair nearby. Her head hung low, her hair obscuring her face. She appeared unharmed, but I couldn’t be sure.

Rage surged through me, but I forced it down. This wasn’t the time to lose control—I needed to stay focused for Jennifer .

I signaled to Anthony , and we moved into position. One by one, we took out the guards silently. But it didn’t take long for the remaining men to notice, and chaos erupted. The room filled with the sounds of fists, grunts, and crashing furniture as the fight broke out. My gaze never left Jennifer as I fought my way toward her.

Just as I reached her, a guard blindsided me, tackling me to the ground. We rolled across the floor, grappling for dominance. He landed a punch to my ribs, knocking the air out of me, but I retaliated with an elbow to his face. Blood sprayed from his nose as he crumpled, and I scrambled to my feet.

Anthony was engaged in his own battle, taking on two guards at once with brutal efficiency. I turned back to Jennifer , but Rico had already noticed the commotion.

Before I could react, he crouched behind her and yanked her up, using her as a human shield. Fury ignited in my chest as I gritted my teeth, my hands trembling with rage.

“Vincent !” Rico called out mockingly. “I was hoping you’d show up.”

“Let her go, Rico !” I growled, my gun aimed directly at him.

He smirked, his voice cold and taunting. “Not a chance, old friend.”

Jennifer ’s eyes met mine, wide with fear. I swore to myself I’d save her, no matter what it took.

Suddenly, more guards stormed into the room, and the fight resumed with renewed intensity. I traded blows with another of Rico ’s men, disarming him before being tackled into a stack of crates. The impact rattled through me, but I forced myself to recover quickly.

Anthony was still fighting, but the odds weren’t in our favor. He took a hit to the head, stumbling back as blood trickled down his face. We were badly outnumbered, and the situation spiraled further out of control.

A sharp blow to the back of my head sent me sprawling to the floor. My vision blurred, and the world spun. Desperately, I tried to stay conscious, my thoughts consumed by Jennifer .

Through my fading vision, I saw Rico standing over her, a sinister grin on his face. He raised a gun, and it was the last thing I saw before the darkness consumed me.