Page 102 of Mafia King's Forbidden Obsession

I nod, my mind already calculating my next steps. “The mansion’s our best shot, but we won’t take any chances. Dispatch men to all three locations. We have less than eleven hours to nail Matteo.”

Elio nods once again and marches out of the office. I get off the couch, dragging the IV pole alongside me before grabbing my gun from the drawer and then holstering it at my side.

The door opens up again, and I raise my eyes to meet Elio’s determined ones. “The men are ready, so we are going to move now, Boss,” he informs me, and I nod.

I look down at the needle stuck into my hand and immediately rip it out.

“Capo, vieni anche tu(Boss, you’re coming, too)?” I hear Elio’s alarmed voice.

“Certo, che lo sono(Of course, I am). We’re going to the mansion,” I scoff. “And don’t you dare say a word about it,” I warn, narrowing my eyes at him.

He stares at me for a few seconds, then heaves a sigh of defeat. “Possiamo andare adesso(We can go now).”

He hands me a walkie-talkie, which I fit into my pocket, and we head out.

The sky darkens as I step out of the mansion with Elio and climb into the SUV, tension knotting in my chest. I’m walking into danger, a warzone, with the element of surprise as my only advantage.

However, that doesn’t bother me. What gnaws at me is getting to Raven in time. I know Matteo will not keep to his end of the bargain, no matter what I give him. And if I’m too late…

I shove the gruesome images to the back of my mind. I can’t let that happen. Not again.

We reach the mansion’s grounds quickly. The dark, weathered stone facade looms ahead, hidden behind tall trees. The isolated, secure ground is the perfect spot for Matteo.

We pull over to a concealed spot that overlooks the property.

“We’ll take them out quietly,” I say, eyes sweeping through the property once more. “Entriamo senza problemi(We go in clean).”

Elio nods once and steps out to address the men filing out of the van behind us.

My eyes sweep across the property once more. Then I pull out my gun, screw on a silencer and get out of the SUV.

The men get into position. Using the darkness and tall trees to our advantage, we approach the mansion, moving swiftly and silently.

As we near the area where the mansion is fully visible, I spot them—armed men patrolling the perimeter, unaware of what’s coming.

I take cover behind a nearby shrub, scanning the area. Shadows flicker in the dim light, and I spot the remaining guards positioned in a loose formation around the entrance. Their eyes dart nervously.

I lead the way while Elio and the men fan out behind me, hiding behind low shrubs and walls, effectively surrounding the building.

The bell from the church tolls in the distance, as if confirming we’re in the right place but also reminding me that time’s running out.

My gun finds its mark. A single shot—clean, silent—and the first guard’s body crumples without a sound. Elio does the same with the next. The path to the mansion opens up, and we jog toward the entrance, the bell still echoing faintly as if urging us forward. There’s no turning back now.

I’m suddenly grateful for silencers. Moving like shadows, we eliminate each guard without a sound until we finally reach the main door.

“Elio,” I whisper. I point to five men from the team, signaling with two fingers that he takes them to the side entrance on the left. “Go!” I command, and he nods, disappearing into the night.

I approach the front door slowly, the rest of the team following me closely. My fingers tighten around the gun, adrenaline coursing through me. This is it— Matteo’s lair. I’m going to tear it apart, brick by brick, if that’s what it takes to find Raven.

I gesture for two men to take a stance on either side of the door. My finger hovers over the trigger, ready for anything. We’ve got one shot at this. If we blow it, Matteo might disappear, and I’ll lose everything.

I nod at them, and they drive their shoulders through the double doors. The brown piece of wood groans open, and the instant it does, the hair on the back of my neck rises. The mansion is cloaked in darkness, and the crunch of our boots bounces off the walls.

Too quiet. My instincts scream at me, my senses on high alert, but I edge on.

Raven is all that matters.

I take out my emergency torchlight and place it on top of my gun; my men follow my lead. With a flick of my finger, I motion each man to every room, and every corner— the living room, halls, the bedrooms on all three floors. But the emptiness only grows as we make our way back to the ground floor.

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