Chapter 35

"The Storm Before the Silence"

Valeria's POV

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Several months had passed, and life had settled into something almost unrecognizable. I'd always thought happiness was a myth—something people told themselves to justify their misery. But with Enzo, it felt real. The quiet mornings with his arm draped over me, the way he'd grin at me like I was the best part of his day, and the nights we spent tangled up in each other made me think maybe, just maybe, I could have something good.

But the shadow of my past never faded.

Enzo never pushed me to talk about it, which was both a blessing and a curse. While I was grateful for the space, I couldn't help but feel like a liar every time I smiled at him, knowing I was keeping secrets.

Still, I was making progress. Slowly, quietly, I worked on my revenge plan. Every day, I got closer to uncovering the truth about Raymond and tearing his empire apart.

But today, all of that had to wait.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

We were in the car heading to the docks for a mission. Enzo drove, his knuckles tight on the steering wheel, while Dante lounged in the back seat, humming some godawful pop song.

"Do you ever stop talking?" I asked Dante, giving him my best death glare.

He grinned. "Do you ever stop being short?"

"Oh, you're hilarious," I said, flipping him off. "I'll be sure to remind Lily how mature you are next time she asks."

That shut him up real quick.

Enzo smirked, his eyes flicking to me briefly. "Play nice, Ria."

"Always," I said innocently.

When we arrived at the docks, the air was thick with salt and tension. A rival gang had been stepping on Moretti territory, and Enzo wasn't having it.

We stepped out of the car, the cool night air biting at my skin. I adjusted my jacket, my hand instinctively brushing over the gun holstered at my side.

"Stay close," Enzo said, his voice low.

"I'm not a damsel, Moretti," I replied, earning a chuckle from Dante.

The docks were eerily quiet as we moved in. I could hear the faint lapping of water against the boats and the creak of metal as the wind swayed the cargo containers.

And then it all went to hell.

A gunshot rang out, shattering the silence.

"Cover!" Enzo barked, grabbing my arm and pulling me behind a stack of crates.

The air exploded with the sound of bullets, shouts, and the unmistakable clang of metal ricochets. My heart pounded in my chest, but adrenaline took over.

I pulled my gun, peeking around the crate to take aim. I fired twice, dropping one of the guys trying to flank us.

"Nice shot," Dante called from somewhere to my left.

"Keep your head down, dumbass!" I shouted back.

Enzo was a force of nature, moving with precision and ruthlessness. Watching him work was like watching art in motion—lethal, calculated, and terrifyingly beautiful.

But I didn't have time to admire him. Another guy rounded the corner, and I barely ducked in time to avoid his swing. I kicked out, catching him in the knee, and followed it up with a punch to the throat.

"Don't mess with me," I muttered, stepping over his crumpled form.

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The fight dragged on, and by the time the dust settled, the dock was littered with bodies. I wiped the sweat from my brow, my breathing heavy as I surveyed the damage.

"Everyone good?" Enzo called, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Peachy," I replied, though my shoulder ached from a nasty hit I'd taken earlier.

"Let's wrap this up," he said, his eyes scanning the area.

I nodded, holstering my gun as we started to regroup. But something felt off.

Suddenly, Enzo's phone buzzed, and the tension in his body snapped like a live wire. "Fuck!" he shouted, his voice sharp and filled with rage.

"What is it?" I asked, already running toward him, my heart pounding.

"They've hit two other docks," he hissed, his teeth clenched. "Goddamn bastards."

"Then go!" I snapped, grabbing his arm to get his attention. "Get Dante to handle the other. I've got this covered."

His jaw tightened as he looked at me, conflict flashing in his eyes. "Ria—"

"Enzo, just go!" I cut him off, my voice firm. "I can handle myself."

Enzo hesitated, his gun still raised, his sharp gaze scanning the chaotic dockyard. The air reeked of smoke and salt, and the sounds of gunfire ricocheted off the metal shipping containers.

"I don't like leaving you here," he growled, his jaw tight.

I reloaded my gun with a confidence I barely felt and smirked at him. "I'll be fine, Enzo. This isn't my first rodeo. Go handle the other docks before they torch everything."

Dante, crouched nearby, gave me a half-amused, half-worried look. "You sure you don't need a babysitter, Shorty?"

I rolled my eyes. "Please, you'd just slow me down."

"She's got this," Dante said, clapping Enzo on the shoulder. "We'll regroup once we've handled the shitshow over there."

Enzo's eyes locked with mine, dark and full of concern. He didn't say anything, but the tension in his posture screamed louder than words.

"Enzo," I said softly, stepping closer. "I'll be okay. I promise."

His jaw worked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he leaned in, his lips brushing against my forehead. "Be careful, Ria," he murmured, low enough that only I could hear.

"I will," I said, pretending the heat in my chest wasn't from that small, tender moment.

With a reluctant glance over his shoulder, Enzo motioned for Dante, and they disappeared into the night, heading toward the other docks under attack.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

The second they were gone, the weight of the situation settled on me.

I was alone.

Well, not entirely. A handful of Moretti men were still with me, but the enemy wasn't exactly backing down. Gunfire lit up the darkness like fireworks, and the sharp crack of bullets echoed in my ears.

"Focus, Vee," I muttered to myself, ducking behind a stack of crates as another volley of shots flew past.

I took a deep breath, my fingers tightening around the gun in my hand. This wasn't the time to let my mind wander.

Two men rounded the corner of the container I was hiding behind. I didn't give them a chance to react. I dropped to one knee, firing twice. Both went down, their bodies hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

"Nice," one of the Moretti men muttered, but I ignored him.

Something still didn't feel right.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

The fight dragged on, but eventually, the gunfire started to die down. I took the brief moment of quiet to reload, my hands moving on autopilot.

That's when I heard it—a faint shuffle behind me.

I spun around, but I wasn't fast enough.

A cloth was pressed over my face, and the sickly sweet smell of chemicals filled my nose.

Chloroform.

"Shit," I gasped, struggling against the strong arms holding me.

I lashed out, my elbow connecting with someone's ribs. They grunted, their grip loosening just enough for me to twist free.

But before I could grab my gun, another man stepped out of the shadows, his fist slamming into my stomach.

The air left my lungs in a rush, and I doubled over, coughing and wheezing.

"Feisty little thing," one of them said, grabbing me by the hair and yanking me upright.

"Go to hell," I spat, kicking out blindly. My boot caught him in the shin, and he cursed, but the other man was already behind me, locking my arms behind my back.

"Let's go," one of them barked.

I fought with everything I had, twisting and kicking, but there were too many of them.

"Enzo!" I screamed, even though I knew he wasn't there.

A sharp pain exploded in the side of my head, and the world blurred.

"Nighty-night, darling," one of them sneered as my legs gave out.

The last thing I saw was the dark, churning water of the docks as they dragged me toward a waiting van.

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˗ˏˋ Author's note ˎˊ˗

Heyy (✿◡‿◡)

*hides*

Please Vote and comment to make another insignificant human happy (^◕.◕^)

Question of chapter:

Introvert / Extrovert or Ambivert?

Introvert (❁'◡'❁)

Keep calm <3

Byeeee

Izel

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