Chapter 13: The Warehouse Trap

Glass exploded as Valentina jumped through the window. Rico followed behind her, cringing as his wounded leg hit the ground.

"This way!" she shouted, clutching the box of proof against her chest.

They ran through alleys filled with smoke. The Glass Tower burned against the night sky like a giant light. Somewhere inside that inferno were Alessio and Dante, facing Marco and the strange Blackwoods.

Sirens wailed in the distance. The city was falling apart around them.

"We need to hurry," Valentina gasped, her lungs burning from smoke and fatigue.

Rico pointed ahead. "The old warehouse district. That's where the note said they'd be."

As they reached the edge of the area, Valentina's phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: Alessio and Dante going to Warehouse 17. Marco waiting. TRAP.

"Who sent this?" Rico asked, looking over her shoulder.

"I don't know," Valentina said. "But we need to warn them."

She tried calling Alessio, then Dante. Nothing.

"We're on our own," she said.

The warehouse area was like a maze. Numbers painted on rusty doors led them until they found Warehouse 17. It stood dark and quiet, but Valentina could feel something was wrong.

"I don't like this," Rico whispered.

They crept to a side door. Through a dirty window, Valentina could see shadowy forms moving inside. She recognized her brother's tall form and Dante's broad shoulders. They were sneaking through the building, guns drawn.

"They're walking into a trap," she whispered.

Before Rico could stop her, Valentina slipped around the corner to another entry. She had to get to them first.

Inside the building, metal catwalks crisscrossed overhead. Huge shipping containers formed a maze on the floor. Perfect for a surprise.

Valentina moved silently through the shadows. She spotted Alessio and Dante ahead, backs together, moving carefully. Alessio's hurt shoulder was wrapped in bloody bandages.

She was about to call out when she saw movement above them. Men with guns were positioned on the catwalks.

"Above you!" she screamed.

Gunfire erupted instantly. Bullets pinged off metal containers as Alessio and Dante dived for cover. Valentina crouched behind a crate, heart racing.

"Valentina?" Alessio yelled. "Get out of here!"

"I told you not to come!" Dante yelled over the gunshots.

"I found it!" she called back. "The box! The evidence!"

A strange silence fell over the building. Then slow clapping echoed through the vast space.

"How touching," Marco's voice rang out. "A family reunion."

He stepped into view on a catwalk above them, smiling that cruel smile Valentina had always hated.

"The Castello siblings and the Wolf, all trapped like rats," Marco said. "Helena would have enjoyed this."

"This ends tonight, Marco," Dante growled, his gun aiming upward.

Marco laughed. "You think this is just about me? The Blackwoods have been pulling our strings for years. All of us—Morettis, Russos, Vegas—we're just puppets."

"Then why are you burning the city?" Alessio demanded, his face pale from blood loss.

"Clean slate," Marco said. "That's what they want. And I'm going to give it to them."

He snapped his fingers. Dozens of men emerged from hiding places around the warehouse, guns pointed at them.

"Drop your weapons," Marco ordered.

Valentina looked at Alessio, then at Dante. They had no choice. Their guns clattered to the floor.

Marco fell from the catwalk. "The box, Valentina. Give it to me."

She clutched it tighter. "No."

Marco sighed and pointed his gun at Alessio's head. "The box, or your brother dies."

"Don't give it to him," Alessio said. "It's the only proof we have."

Marco cocked his gun. "Three seconds. One..."

"Wait!" Valentina yelled. "I'll give you the box."

She stepped forward slowly, the metal box heavy in her hands. As she reached Marco, she saw Rico moving silently behind some crates, positioning himself.

"Good girl," Marco said, going for the box.

In that instant, Rico fired. Marco's men returned fire. Chaos occurred.

Valentina threw the box at Marco's face. He stumbled backward, and she lunged for his gun.

Across the warehouse, Alessio and Dante were fighting Marco's men hand-to-hand. Despite his wounded shoulder, Alessio moved with deadly accuracy. Dante fought like the wolf he was named for, fierce and unstoppable.

Valentina fought with Marco, her fingers clawing at his face. He slammed her against a container, but she kicked him hard and broke free.

"Rico! The box!" she shouted.

Rico scooped up the fallen box and tossed it to her. As she caught it, she saw Marco pointing his gun—not at her, but at Alessio.

"NO!" she screamed.

But it was Dante who saw the danger first. He threw himself in front of Alessio as Marco fired.

Dante fell, blood spreading across his chest.

"DANTE!" Alessio's anguished cry rang through the warehouse.

Marco laughed. "How sweet. The Wolf dies for the Viper."

Valentina ran to Dante, who was gasping for breath on the warehouse floor. Alessio knelt beside him, pressing his hands over the cut.

"Stay with me," Alessio whispered, his voice breaking.

Dante's eyes fluttered. "Always knew... I'd take a bullet for you... someday..."

Marco approached slowly, his gun pointed at them. "The Blackwoods will be pleased. Three birds with one stone."

"You won't get away with this," Valentina said, standing up to face him.

Marco smirked. "I already have. By dawn, both your families will be destroyed, and this city will belong to the Blackwoods—with me as their right hand."

"You're just another puppet," Alessio spat, not leaving Dante's side.

"Maybe," Marco admitted. "But at least I'll be alive."

He pointed his gun at Valentina's heart. "Any last words, Valentina Castello?"

She looked at the box in her hands, then at Rico, who had positioned himself behind Marco.

"Just one," she said, meeting Marco's eyes. "Now."

Rico lunged, but one of Marco's men saw him and fired. Rico fell with a cry of pain.

In the split second Marco was distracted, Valentina threw herself forward, slamming the metal box into his face with all her strength. She heard something crack. Marco stumbled back, blood pouring from his nose.

Before she could move again, the warehouse doors burst open. Bright lights filled the space.

"POLICE! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"

Valentina froze. Dozens of cops swarmed in, guns raised.

Her heart sank. The police were working with Helena Vega. With the Blackwoods.

A tall figure stepped through the doors. Not a police person. A woman in an expensive suit, her cold eyes surveying the scene.

"Well, well," the woman said. "The Castellos. Your parents were difficult to silence. I hope you won't be."

Valentina looked at Alessio, who was still cradling Dante's bloody body. Rico lay hurt nearby. They were trapped.

The woman smiled, a chilling sight. "I'm Eleanor Blackwood. And this little drama ends now."

She raised her gun and pointed it straight at Valentina's head.