Luca's POV
I stood outside the club, leaning against the black SUV, eyes darting from the street to the entrance of Velvet Crown. My assignment tonight was simple watch over Carlo. He had taken the business order downtown, but the guy had a habit of lingering too long. Always had to do things his own way.
I pulled my jacket tighter against the night air and squinted down the street. Every car that slowed caught my attention. Every pedestrian felt like a potential problem. But my real focus wasn't just Carlo it was Mitchell. I couldn't help it.
Something about the way he was with that new girl… I didn't trust it. He looked calm, in control, as usual, but that didn't mean trouble wouldn't follow. And that girl Sophie, she called herself made my instincts tingle. I'd seen too many situations spiral out of control because of a distraction.
My phone vibrated. Carlo. I knew something was off before I even picked it up. "Hello?" I hissed, holding the phone to my ear. Nothing. Just static. My stomach sank. That wasn't normal. Carlo wasn't the type to go silent unless he was in trouble.
I gritted my teeth. "Carlo?" I said again, but still nothing. My mind raced. Somewhere, something had gone wrong. I couldn't waste time. I reached into my pocket and dialed a number I only used in emergencies. Sergeant Mikel. He was one of Mitchell's contacts in the force, one of the few men I trusted to handle messy situations quietly.
"Luca," Mikel answered immediately, his tone serious.
"Sergeant, it's Carlo. He's in trouble. I don't know exactly where, but he's gone silent. I think they got him," I said, my voice tightening with urgency.
"Stay put. Don't move," Mikel snapped. "I've got a squad on it. Give me the last location you saw him."
I rattled off the street name, my eyes scanning the shadows like something might crawl out of them. Mikel confirmed the coordinates. "He's not going down tonight, Luca. Squad's on the move." The line went dead. Silence pressed in but not for long. A sharp crack split the air.
Gunshots.
One...Two...Then a burst rapid, violent, echoing through the alleyways like thunder trapped between buildings. My heart slammed against my ribs as I ducked behind a parked car, instincts taking over.
"Damn it…" I muttered, peeking over the hood.
More shots rang out closer now. Sparks flew as bullets kissed metal, a trash can clattering loudly as it took a hit. Someone shouted from deep within the alley, followed by the screech of tires and the heavy thud of footsteps scrambling for cover.
Carlo. "Hold on…" I whispered under my breath. Then, headlights tore through the darkness. Fast and aggressive.
Mikel and his squad. Their vehicles swerved into the alley with precision, tires screaming against asphalt. Doors flung open before the engines even died. Armed officers spilled out, moving like a single, coordinated force.
"Police! Drop your weapons!"
Another volley of gunfire answered them. The night exploded, flashes lit up the alley in violent bursts orange and white flickers revealing silhouettes ducking, running, firing. The sharp smell of gunpowder filled the air, thick and choking. One of Mikel's men returned fire, controlled and steady, forcing the attackers back.
"Push forward!" Mikel barked.
Then, silence.
Sudden. Heavy. Unnatural. A figure stumbled out of the darkness.
Carlo.
He staggered forward, breathing hard, his shirt torn, his face pale and slick with sweat. His hands trembled as he tried to steady himself against the wall.
The squad closed in instantly, weapons still raised, scanning for any remaining threat.
"Clear!" someone shouted.
I didn't wait. "Carlo!" I rushed to him, grabbing his shoulders before he could collapse. "What happened?" He struggled to speak, his voice shaky. "They… they tried to take the shipment… I didn't " He winced, glancing back at the alley like it might swallow him again.
I tightened my grip. "You're okay now. You hear me? You're okay."
But even as I said it, my eyes drifted past him… back toward the club in my head the music still thumped faintly through the distance, like nothing had happened. Like the world hadn't just cracked open a few meters away.