Page 31 of Vicious Vines

Maria's hold on her soldiers weakens, her authority questioned in hushed tones and sidelong glances. They see a new dawn approaching, one where I stand at the helm, guiding us toward a future painted in shades of blood and gold. And as the first rays of sunlight kiss the horizon, I know that the day ahead will be ours to shape.

"Today was productive," Vince murmurs, his voice low and satisfied. His dark eyes, filled with a newfound fire, meet mine, and I can see the reflection of my own determination mirrored there.

"More than productive," I agree, allowing myself a small smile as I think back on the day's achievements. Each lieutenant who has pledged allegiance to me is another nail in Maria's coffin, another step toward my inevitable ascent. "We've sown chaos in her ranks—she won't know whom to trust."

Vince nods, his gaze lingering on my lips for a moment too long before he refocuses on our shared goal. "Maria's empire is crumbling from within. You have orchestrated this downfall masterfully, Sloane."

I nod,feeling the weight of destiny heavy on my shoulders. But it's a burden I've chosen, one I bear with pride. The steel resolve of a woman who has clawed her way through darkness and is determined to emerge bathed in glory.

Chapter 27

Perched like silent predators, Aldo, Liam, and I settle on the gritty rooftop across from Bella Luna, the restaurant's neon sign flickering in the cool night air. The city pulses around us—a symphony of distant traffic and the murmur of nightlife—but up here, it's our private stage, set for a dance with danger.

I inch forward, peering over the edge, my leather gloves gripping the ledge. The chill in the air bites at my skin, but it's the thrill of the imminent confrontation that sends my heart racing. With every beat, it feels as though my chest might betray me, thumping loud enough to echo through the empty spaces between the buildings.

"Easy," Liam whispers, his breath warm against my ear. Even now, amidst the tension, his proximity stirs a familiar heat within me. But tonight isn't about desire; it's about vengeance, and even Liam's smoldering gaze can't sway my focus.

My eyes are fixed on the entrance of Bella Luna, waiting, watching. Time seems to slow as I anticipate her arrival—the woman who threatens everything I hold dear. And then, she appears—Maria, draped in fur and arrogance, her heels clicking confidently against the pavement. The rival mob leader is all sharp angles and dangerous curves, a sleek panther in a world of unsuspecting prey, the dirty fed already inside waiting for her.

"Patience," Liam mutters from beside me, his voice steady as stone. His dark eyes never waver from the scene below, his body coiled and ready. Liam has always been the calm in our storm, the strategist who sees beyond the fire of our emotions. Tonight, I need his cool head more than ever.

But patience is a threadbare tapestry in my mind, worn thin by the ache for retribution. Watching Maria disappear into the belly of the restaurant, something primal within me yearns to leap across the street and claw back what they've stolen. Yet here I crouch, a viper biding my time, for the strike must be precise, the venom lethal.

And as I watch the door to Bella Luna close behind my nemesis, sealing her fates within, I know the endgame is near. My pulse thrums with the promise of justice, and the night holds its breath, waiting for the final act to unfold.

The night folds around us like a cloak, the hum of the distant city life a mere whisper against the thumping of my heart. From our perch atop this urban eyrie, we are spectral watchers, three shadows veiled by darkness. Aldo's presence is a steady pulse beside me, and Liam, ever the silent sentinel, looms at my other side, his intensity a tangible force.

Minutes stretch into an eternity, the anticipation building in my veins with the potency of a slow-burning fuse. Each tick of the clock is a step closer to the reckoning that awaits within Bella Luna's deceptive warmth.

"Steady, Sloane," Liam's voice is a low growl only I can hear, his words laced with the thrill of danger and an undercurrent of something darker, something forbidden. He understands the fire that rages within me, for it mirrors his own—a blaze that could consume us both if we let it.

And then, the moment fractures.

Five minutes have passed since Maria vanished behind the restaurant's doors when chaos strides onto the stage. A sleek car rolls up, and two men step out, and I catch the faith gleam of badges in the moonlight. Finally.

I spot the discreet array of law enforcement mingling among the shadows. A fleet of dark sedans parked farther down the street, engines idling, a silent testament to the FBI's interest in our affairs. The air hums with surveillance, with the anticipation of a trap set and ready to spring.

"Here we go," Liam breathes out, his tone laced with the satisfaction of a chess master watching the board align according to his grand design.

I feel the electric charge of the scene below, the tension spiraling upward to where we hide, cloaked in the safety of shadows. My fingers itch at the prospect of action, a sweet and savage symphony playing in my mind, every note a promise of retribution. But I am the queen of patience, schooled in the art of the unseen, and so I wait, my body poised with predatory grace.

Before I can revel in the thrill of it, the relative silence is shattered by a cacophony of violence that erupts from within Bella Luna's walls. Gunfire punctuates the stillness, a series of sharp, staccato bursts that tear through the facade of civility. Glass shatters, spilling golden light into the street, and the clamor of chaos follows swiftly after.

I flinch, not out of fear but surprise, as the sounds echo up to us. Around me, the cityscape transforms into a tableau of panic; bystanders scream and scatter, a frenzied mass propelled by the primal urge to survive. The scent of gunpowder wafts up, acrid and pungent, mingling with the salt tang of the nearby sea air.

"Time to move," I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me. We cannot afford to be spectators any longer, not when opportunity unfolds its bloody wings before us.

I move first, my leather boots silent against the gravel rooftop. The night air is a cold caress against my skin, but I am warmth itself, filled with the heat of triumph and anticipation for the future. Liam follows close behind, a silent shadow to my purposeful stride, while Aldo lingers for a heartbeat longer, his gaze locked on the chaos we leave in our wake.

"Let's go," I murmur, more to myself than to them, because there’s power in the words, in the act of leaving when all else rushes to arrive. We descend the fire escape, a metallic symphony accompanying our retreat. Our motions are fluid, more practiced than any dance, as we weave through the alleys, slipping past the frenzied pulse of the scene without a trace.

Chapter 28

Once we're a safe distance away, hidden by the embrace of the city’s darker corners, Aldo reaches out and places a firm hand on my shoulder. His touch is grounding, a reminder of the tangible amidst the intoxicating swirl of success.

"Sloane," he says, and his voice is a low rumble that vibrates through me. “You were magnificent tonight. Without your cunning, none of this would have come together.”

I tilt my head, acknowledging the weight of his words, feeling the truth of them settle within me. "We each played our part, Aldo," I reply, my voice steady despite the pulse of adrenaline still coursing through my veins.

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