45

Anthony stepped forward, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. “It’s over, Rico . You’re outnumbered and outgunned. Surrender now.”

Rico ’s sneer faltered for the first time, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes.

“You really think this changes anything?” Rico growled, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.

Vincent stepped up beside Anthony , his grip firm on my hand. “It changes everything,” he said coldly, his words carrying an air of finality.

Rico ’s gaze darted around, assessing his dwindling options. His eyes briefly met mine, and I could see the desperation etched across his face. With a frustrated growl, he raised his gun again.

And chaos erupted.

Anthony ’s men unleashed a barrage of gunfire, the sharp crack of semi-automatics tearing through the night. Bullets whizzed past, and Rico ’s men fired back in a futile attempt to hold their ground. The bikers moved with practiced precision, taking cover behind their motorcycles and returning fire with deadly accuracy.

Vincent pulled me behind him, shielding me as the battle raged on.

“Stay down!” he yelled over the cacophony.

I crouched low, my hands trembling as I clung to him. Peering over his shoulder, I caught glimpses of the fierce, chaotic fight. Rico ’s men fought with desperation, but they were no match for the bikers’ calculated assault.

The man with the mohawk who had freed us earlier charged into the fray, taking down two of Rico ’s men in quick succession. He ducked behind a motorcycle, reloading his weapon with fluid efficiency before returning fire. Nearby, a fiery-haired woman with sharp eyes and a steely demeanor held her ground, each of her shots hitting its mark with precision.

It was terrifying to witness. I couldn’t help but feel relieved they were on our side. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t stand a chance.

Just when it seemed like the fight was tipping in our favor, Rico suddenly bolted toward a fallen rifle. Grabbing it, he spun around and aimed it directly at me, his eyes burning with pure hatred. My breath caught in my throat—I knew there was no way he’d miss at this range.

Before I could react, Vincent threw himself at Rico , tackling him to the ground. The two men rolled across the dirt, locked in a vicious struggle for dominance. Rico swung the rifle like a club, but Vincent managed to block it and landed a solid punch to Rico ’s jaw, staggering him.

Seizing the moment, Vincent wrenched the rifle from Rico ’s hands and flung it into the woods, far out of reach. Rico scrambled to his feet, his hand darting to his boot where he pulled out a gleaming knife. He lunged, slashing at Vincent , but Vincent sidestepped just in time. The blade grazed his arm, drawing a shallow line of blood, but it could’ve been much worse.

Fueled by adrenaline, Vincent struck back with a rapid series of punches, each one hitting with brutal precision. Rico reeled, blood pouring from his nose and mouth as he staggered backward. With one final, devastating blow, Vincent sent Rico sprawling to the ground.

The chaos of the fight continued around us, but all I could see was Vincent . He loomed over Rico , his expression deadly as he grabbed the man by the collar and hauled him upright.

“It’s over, Rico ,” Vincent said, his voice low and menacing.

Rico spat blood onto the ground, his sneer faltering. “You think this is the end?”

“No,” Vincent replied coldly, his grip tightening. “But you need to learn when to stay down.” With that, he shoved Rico back to the ground, hard. Rico stayed down, groaning in defeat.

Anthony stepped forward, his tone calm but sharp. “What’s the plan, boss?”

“Secure him,” Vincent ordered without hesitation.

A biker with a shaved head and a face full of scars approached, carrying a length of rope. With practiced efficiency, he bound Rico ’s hands tightly behind his back. Rico tried to resist, but a swift punch from the biker silenced him, leaving him compliant.

Vincent and Anthony moved a few steps away to talk in hushed tones. Though the immediate danger seemed to have passed, I could see the tension etched into Vincent ’s posture. The fight might be over, but the war wasn’t.

“We can’t involve the FBI,” Vincent said, his voice steady but firm. “Not yet. If we do, every rival and bottom-feeder out there will label us as snitches. I need to rebuild my reputation, prove I’m still untouchable.”

Anthony nodded grimly. “Agreed. We need to send a message—but how do we do it?”

Vincent glanced at the bikers who had fought alongside us. Their battle-hardened expressions and unshakable loyalty spoke volumes.

“Your crew,” Vincent said thoughtfully. “They’re ex-SEALs, right? No mafia ties, just soldiers who know how to handle business.”

Anthony smirked. “That’s right. They’re tough, disciplined, and they get the job done.”

A cold smile spread across Vincent ’s face. “I’ll pay them well to take care of Rico . I don’t want it quiet—I want it loud and unforgettable. This has to send a clear message to everyone who’s watching.”

Anthony arched a brow. “You’re sure about this?”

“Completely,” Vincent said, his voice resolute. “We’re making an example out of him.”

Anthony nodded and turned to his men, relaying the plan in quick, precise instructions. The bikers exchanged excited grins, clearly eager for the task ahead.

Vincent turned to me then, his expression softening as he reached for my hand.

“This is going to get ugly,” he said quietly.

I nodded, my heart still pounding in my chest.

The bikers wasted no time. They secured Rico tightly before loading him into the back of one of their vehicles. Anthony and Vincent shared a brief, knowing look before Vincent stepped forward.

He stood tall, his gaze icy as he addressed Rico . “You thought you could take me down. You were wrong.”

Rico ’s bravado crumbled as fear flashed across his face.

“You’re making a mistake,” he stammered, his voice trembling. “This won’t end well for you. You don’t know what you’re starting.”

Vincent didn’t flinch. His voice was calm and final as he replied, “I know exactly what I’m finishing.”

Vincent ’s smile was sharp and lethal. “This ends now, Rico . And it ends with you.”

Anthony gave a quick signal to his men, and the bikers moved into formation, ready to strike.

“Do it,” Vincent commanded, his tone as cold as steel.

Anthony raised his hand, and in an instant, the night erupted with the thunderous roar of gunfire. The bikers unleashed a relentless barrage from their semi-automatic weapons, the flashing muzzles lighting up the darkness. Bullets tore through the air, shredding the car and everything inside it.

Rico ’s screams were swallowed by the chaos, muffled by the deafening sound of gunfire. I turned away, grateful not to hear them clearly.

The onslaught didn’t stop until every clip was emptied, leaving the night filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder. Then, as if the carnage wasn’t enough, the biker with the mohawk stepped forward, pulling out a rocket launcher as if it had materialized from nowhere.

He took aim, and with a sharp whoosh, the rocket flew straight into the car. The vehicle erupted in a fiery explosion, a massive ball of flames and shrapnel lighting up the sky.

When the smoke began to clear, all that remained of the car was a smoldering, twisted heap of metal, engulfed in flames. By the time the fire consumed it entirely, there would be nothing left of Rico .

Standing tall amidst the devastation, Vincent ’s expression remained unyielding. He turned to his men, his voice calm yet commanding as it carried over the crackling of the fire. “Let this serve as a warning to anyone foolish enough to cross us. We are untouchable. We are unstoppable.”

A triumphant cheer erupted from the bikers, their faces reflecting both relief and savage satisfaction. Any of Rico ’s remaining men who had survived the chaos took off running, disappearing into the dense woods under cover of darkness.

Anthony stepped up beside Vincent , clapping him on the back with a wide, victorious grin. “You did it, boss. You showed them exactly who they’re dealing with.”

Vincent gave him a curt nod, his expression still serious. Then his gaze softened as it shifted to me. He reached for my hand, his grip steady and reassuring.

“Let’s go home, Jennifer ,” he said quietly, his voice firm but carrying a touch of warmth.