Chapter 5 AMBUSH IN THE ALLEY.

Bella's world tilts. Detective Chang, a supposed officer of the law, is pointing a gun at her. It makes no sense. The betrayal stings more than the ropes binding her wrists. "Chang? What are you doing?" she manages, her voice trembling despite her efforts. He doesn't flinch. "Cleaning up loose ends, Doctor. You got too close. You saw too much. Moretti offered a better deal." Moretti chuckles a low, guttural sound. "Loyalty is a rare commodity these days, Doctor. Especially when money is involved." Chang raises the gun, his finger tightening on the trigger.

Bella closes her eyes, bracing for the inevitable. Suddenly, a deafening crash echoes through the warehouse. The single light bulb shatters, plunging the room into darkness. Gunfire erupts, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder. Chaos. Vince. He has found her. Vince storms into the warehouse, a whirlwind of fury and vengeance. He moves with a speed and precision that belies his size, his gun barking, his targets falling. Marco and the rest of his men follow close behind, a wall of steel and determination. They are outnumbered, but they are fighting for their Don, for the woman he loves. Moretti's men return fire, the warehouse transformed into a deadly shooting gallery. Bullets ricochet off metal walls, the air filled with screams and the dying gasps of the fallen. In the darkness, Bella struggles against her bonds, desperate to escape. She has to get out of the line of fire. Chang, momentarily distracted by the chaos, stumbles backward. Bella seizes the opportunity, kicking out with all her might, connecting with his shin. He cries out in pain, dropping the gun. She scrambles for the weapon, her fingers brushing against the cold steel. But before she can grab it, a hand clamps down on hers. Moretti. He yanks her to her feet, shoving the knife against her throat. "One more step, Romano," he yells above the din of gunfire, "and the doctor dies." Vince freezes, his eyes locking onto Bella's. He sees the fear in her eyes, but also the defiance. He knows he can't risk her life. "Let her go, Moretti," he says, his voice low and dangerous. Moretti laughs. "You think I'm going to let her go? She's my insurance policy. You drop your weapon, Romano. Now." Vince hesitates, his hand tightening on the grip of his gun. He knows this is a trap. But he has no choice. Slowly, deliberately, he lowers his weapon, letting it clatter to the concrete floor. "Good," Moretti sneers. "Now, get out of here, Romano. Leave her to me." Vince takes a step forward, his eyes never leaving Bella's. "I'm not leaving without her." Suddenly, a figure emerges from the shadows behind Moretti. A figure that makes Bella's blood run cold. It is Marco. And he has a gun pointed directly at Vince's back. "I'm sorry, Don Romano," Marco says, his voice filled with regret. "But I have my own family to protect."