Chapter 8 - The Price of Loyalty
The warehouse exploded into chaos.
Victor panicked, turning his weapon toward Alessandro, but Alessandro was faster. He drew his hidden pistol and fired a single, perfect shot, hitting Victor directly in the chest.
At the same moment, Marco and Leo's men opened fire on the Lucchese guards. The deafening roar of gunfire filled the cavernous room as concrete chipped and metal sparks flew in the dark.
Alessandro didn't care about the shootout. His only focus was the little girl in the pink dress.
He ran through the crossfire, throwing himself over Mia and Elena as bullets tore through the wooden crates behind them. He used his own body as a shield, feeling the hot impact of a bullet grazing his shoulder, but he didn't care.
"I got you," he whispered, untying Elena’s ropes with his knife. "Get the kid and run!"
Elena grabbed Mia, clutching her tight as Alessandro guided them toward the back exit.
"Mr. Monster!" Mia cried out, clinging to his neck as they reached the door.
"Go with your mommy, Mia," Alessandro said, his voice filled with an unexpected warmth. "I'll be right behind you."
He pushed them out into the safety of the foggy night, then turned back to the warehouse to finish the fight.
The battle was brief but brutal. The Lucchese guards, realizing they were outnumbered and outgunned, quickly surrendered or were eliminated.
When the smoke cleared, Victor Lucchese lay dead on the floor.
Carlo was kneeling in the center of the room, his clothes covered in dirt and blood, his face a mask of pure terror as Alessandro walked toward him.
"Alessandro... please," Carlo begged, his voice cracking. "We’re family. I raised you. Your father would not want this."
"My father is dead because of you, Carlo," Alessandro said, his grey eyes completely devoid of mercy. "You threw away fifteen years of loyalty for a dream of power that was never yours to hold."
He handed his weapon to Marco.
"Take him to the river, Marco," Alessandro ordered, his voice flat. "Let him swim with the Sabatinis."
"With pleasure, boss," Marco said, dragging a screaming, weeping Carlo out of the warehouse.
Alessandro stood alone in the quiet of the warehouse, his shoulder bleeding, his body exhausted. But as he walked out into the cool morning air, he saw Elena and Mia waiting by one of the SUVs.
The little girl saw him and immediately ran toward him, her tiny arms outstretched.
Alessandro knelt down, ignoring the pain in his shoulder as he caught her in his arms, lifting her high into the air.
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"You're safe now, Mia," he whispered, burying his face in her soft brown curls. "I pinky promised, didn't I?"
Mia nodded happily, placing her tiny hand over his heart. "Pinky promised."
