Chapter 22
Just then a deafening crash shattered the tension as the warehouse wall exploded inward. Through the debris, I glimpsed Marco’s familiar figure, his gun already trained on Joey. The shot rang out before Joey could react, the weapon flying from his grip.
“BOSS!” Marco’s voice echoed through the warehouse. Something small and cylindrical arced through the air. ‘
The smoke bomb hit the ground with a metallic clank. White smoke erupted, filling my lungs. Shouts and curses pierced. the haze. Bodies collided in the chaos – the thud of fists meeting flesh, grunts of pain, the scrape of boots on concrete.
“Where are they?” Joey’s voice cut through the mayhem.
“Find them!” Thomas screamed, his voice cracking with panic.
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My heart pounded against my ribs as I struggled against my restraints. Through the thick smoke, I could barely see my own. hands.
A warm palm pressed against my mouth, making me jump. Hot breath tickled my
ear.
“Shh,” a voice whispered. “Don’t make a sound.”
It was Vincent.
Strong hands worked at the ropes around my wrists. Vincent’s fingers brushed against my skin as the bindings fell away.
“Are you okay?” His voice was low, urgent.
I nodded, rubbing my raw wrists. “I’m fine. We need to run-”
Vincent’s lips curved into a smile that sent chills down my spine. “No.”
“What? But-”
He squeezed my shoulder, keeping me in
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the chair. The smoke swirled around us, thick and disorienting. Marco materialized beside us like a ghost, his gun trained on the chaos beyond.
Shouts and curses filled the warehouse as Joey’s men stumbled through the haze. Thomas’s panicked voice rose above the din, calling for backup.
1
The smoke began to thin, revealing the warehouse piece by piece. Joey emerged first, his face twisting into recognition as he spotted us. His laughter bounced off the concrete walls.
“Well, well.” Joey spread his arms wide. “Looks like you’re not going anywhere after all.”
Thomas appeared at Joey’s shoulder, his designer suit covered in dust. His eyes widened when he saw Vincent standing calmly beside my chair.
Armed men stepped out of the shadows, forming a circle around us. Their guns
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gleamed in the dim light, every barrel aimed at our heads.
“Surrounded by my best men.” Joey’s smile widened. “What now, Viper?”
Marco didn’t flinch, his stance steady as he covered Vincent’s back. The warehouse fell silent except for the echo of footsteps as Joey’s men closed in.
I gripped the arms of the chair, my knuckles white.
Vincent’s laugh echoed through the warehouse, bouncing off the walls with an eerie resonance that made my skin crawl. Marco stepped forward, pulled out a cigar, and held it out. The flame from his lighter
cast shadows across Vincent’s face as he took a long drag.
My heart pounded as Vincent strode past the armed men, claiming an empty chair like it was a throne. His posture remained relaxed, almost bored, as smoke curled around him.
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“What are you waiting for?” Thomas’s voice cracked. “Shoot him!”
Joey’s hand whipped through the air,
catching Thomas across the face. The
sharp crack made me flinch.
“Shut up,” Joey snarled, shoving Thomas
aside.
Blood trickled from Thomas’s split lip as he stumbled backward. His eyes darted between Joey and Vincent, confusion written across his features.
Joey turned to Vincent, a smile spreading across his face. “Have you lost your mind, Viper? Death’s knocking at your door and you’re sitting there smoking?”
Vincent took another drag of his cigar, the ember glowing bright orange in the dim warehouse. He tilted his head back and released a perfect ring of smoke that drifted toward the ceiling. His silence spoke volumes, filling the space with a tension that made it hard to breathe.
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I gripped the arms of my chair tighter, watching Vincent’s calm demeanor. He hadn’t moved, hadn’t spoken, just sat there smoking like he had all the time in the
world.
Vincent’s voice cut through the silence, smooth and deadly as a blade. “You know, Joey, I’ve been counting your mistakes.” He took another drag of his cigar, the smoke wreathing around him. “Would you like to
hear them?”
My pulse quickened as Joey’s face
darkened. The armed men shifted uneasily, their weapons still trained on us.
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