Chapter 5 The Hunt for Carlo

The night was alive with the glow of burning flames and the distant wail of sirens. Adriana sat in the back of the car, her gaze fixed on the casino as it crumbled into a ruin of ash and debris. It was a warning, a declaration of war-but the battle was far from over.

Luca drove in silence, his grip on the wheel steady despite the chaos they'd just left behind. The others followed in separate cars, all heading to their safe house on the outskirts of the city.

Adriana checked her gun, then turned to Luca. "We need to find Carlo Moretti before he finds us."

Luca smirked. "I was hoping you'd say that."

The safe house was a converted warehouse, its exterior looking abandoned, but inside it was a fully equipped war room. Monitors displayed surveillance feeds from their key locations, weapons lined the walls, and a large table at the center was covered in maps and files.

The crew gathered around, their adrenaline still high from the raid. Enzo was pacing, Rocco was loading a fresh clip into his pistol, and Matteo leaned against the table, a cigarette hanging from his lips.

Adriana stood at the head of the room. "Giovanni Russo gave us Carlo's name before I put a bullet in his head. Now, we finish the job."

Enzo slammed a hand on the table. "Carlo's been running Vito's operations while he's away. If we take him out, it leaves Vito vulnerable."

Matteo exhaled smoke. "The problem is, Carlo's not an easy target. He doesn't go anywhere without an army of bodyguards."

Luca pulled out a file and tossed it on the table. "Then we hit him where he feels the safest."

Adriana flipped the file open. Inside were pictures of a sleek, glass-covered high-rise-Carlo Moretti's penthouse.

"He spends most of his nights here," Luca continued. "Security is tight, but it's predictable. Two guards at the front entrance, four on the penthouse floor, and a personal detail of three always near him."

Adriana studied the layout. "We split into two teams. One takes the front, causes a distraction. The other goes in through the rooftop."

Rocco smirked. "Let me guess, we're the distraction?"

Adriana nodded. "Loud and messy. Draw out as many of his men as possible."

Luca glanced at her. "And what about you?"

Adriana's lips curled. "I'm going in from the top."

Hours later, the operation was in motion.

Rocco and Matteo took position outside the building, disguised as maintenance workers. When the time came, they'd make enough noise to pull Carlo's men downstairs.

Meanwhile, Adriana and Luca made their way to the rooftop.

Adriana was dressed in black, her movements swift and silent as she climbed the final ladder to the penthouse level. Luca followed closely behind, his pistol ready.

She crouched by the rooftop access door, pulling out a suppressed pistol. "We move fast and quiet. No alarms, no warnings."

Luca nodded. "Let's get this over with."

She picked the lock within seconds, easing the door open. The penthouse was dimly lit, sleek marble floors reflecting the glow of the city skyline. The air smelled of expensive cigars and whiskey.

Two guards stood near the living room.

Adriana moved first.

She closed the distance between them in seconds, wrapping an arm around one guard's neck and driving her knife into his ribs. The other guard barely had time to react before Luca put a silenced bullet in his skull.

They moved deeper inside.

Carlo's voice drifted from the master suite. He was on the phone, completely unaware of the death creeping toward him.

"...No, Vito, I don't know who hit the casino. I've got my men looking into it," Carlo was saying, his tone frustrated. "Yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it."

A pause. Then Carlo cursed under his breath. "Fine. I'll kill her myself."

Adriana smiled. You can try.

She stepped inside.

Carlo turned, eyes widening in shock. "What the-"

She fired.

The bullet hit his shoulder, sending him crashing back into the glass table. Whiskey spilled across the floor as he groaned in pain.

Luca stood by the door, covering her in case more guards showed up.

Adriana stepped closer, gun aimed at Carlo's head. "You wanted me dead?"

Carlo gritted his teeth, holding his bleeding shoulder. "You don't have the guts, little girl."

She cocked her head. "Let's test that theory."

She pulled the trigger.

The bullet tore through Carlo's skull, painting the floor with blood.

Adriana exhaled slowly, lowering her gun. "That's for my father."

Luca whistled. "Damn. Remind me never to piss you off."

Adriana smirked. "Let's get out of here before his men realize what happened."

They moved swiftly through the penthouse, disappearing back onto the rooftop just as sirens began blaring below.

As they descended the fire escape, Adriana felt the shift in her bones.

She wasn't just avenging her father anymore.

She was becoming something else.

Something ruthless.

Something unstoppable.

And Vito Salerno was next.