Page 54 of Power
At the entrance, there are two guards standing, totally oblivious to their impending fate. Raffaele moves like a shadow and drives his blade across the first man's throat before he even registers the attack. I dispatch the second with a single gunshot muffled by the suppressor. They slump, lifeless, as we step over them.
Inside, the room reeks of ink, paper, and the stink of laundered money. Desks overflow with ledgers, and computers hum, feeding Enzo’s empire.
Raffaele sets the explosives. “This will rattle them.”
I glance at the mess of numbers, the foundation of Enzo’s power.
“No,” I murmur. “This is the fucking funeral.”
As he works, I rifle through the papers, seeking anything that might give us an edge. Names, numbers, accounts—evidence of Enzo's reach. One name stands out: Marco Ricci, a banker with ties to Enzo's operations.
I pocket the document. "Got what we need. Let's finish this."
We exit the warehouse, leaving behind a symphony of destruction set to a timer. And a note, a final taunt to Enzo: "Every move you make brings you closer to your end."
As we retreat to a safe distance, the night is torn asunder by the explosion.
Back in the car, I hand Raffaele the document. "Ricci's our next target."
He glances at it, nodding. "Where do we find him?"
"His office."
We arrive at Ricci's office building, a towering monument to greed. The lobby is deserted, the elevator ride up eerily quiet.
On the top floor, we find Ricci alone and poring over spreadsheets. He looks up, shock evident across his features.
"Who—"
I cut him off, pistol aimed. "Dario Bellini. We need to talk."
Raffaele secures the room, ensuring no interruptions. Ricci's eyes dart between us, fear evident.
"Please, I have a family," he pleads.
"Spare me," I retort. "You're a cog in Enzo's machine. Give me a reason not to end you."
He stammers, "I can help. I have information—accounts, contacts. I can dismantle his network from the inside."
I consider his offer. In this world, trust is a luxury I can't afford.
"Fine," I say finally. "But if you betray me, I won’t just end you—I’ll erase everything you love from this fucking world."
He nods vigorously, sweat beading on his brow. "I understand."
We leave him, a pawn now under our control. As we descend, Raffaele speaks. "You think he'll follow through?"
"He will," I reply, a cold certainty in my voice. "Fear is a powerful motivator."
The night deepens as we step into the street, the city's pulse fast, unaware of the upheaval within its veins. Each move brings me closer to Enzo, but with every step, the abyss beckons.
In this game of shadows, only one truth remains: to destroy the monster, I must become one. So glad I got the memo years ago.
***
Back in my study, I pour a glass of whiskey. Vittoria's intel had been accurate. I had to hold Vigo’s child hostage but at least he made himself available and led us straight to the heart of Enzo's operation. But the cost... the blood on my hands... it's a stain that won't wash away.
I glance at the bloodstains on my cuffs, a stark reminder of the darkness within. In the end, does any of it matter? The power, the control... it's all fleeting, a mirage in the desert of life.
