Chapter 25

**Matteo**

“It better be a success.”, I said, as Ennio drove the car to the hiding spot at the port. He nodded. If anyone, he knew exactly how much we needed this to work. Getting these weapons onto the streets was our one chance to get our territories back. It needed to work, failing was not an option.

I checked my watch quickly, it was past 2 AM. Time to go. We got out and walked to the port authorities to get our shipment. I nodded to greet the man, knowing that he was one of us. He led us to the container we wanted to see. As we were inspecting our goods, we heard a skirmish in the background. I didn’t think much of it, but Ennio signaled that he was going to check it out. Before he made it three steps out of the container, one of our lookouts came running.

“Boss, there’s a rat!”, he yelled as quietly as he could. I nodded to Nino and Renzo. They took their place without hesitation. Ennio and I didn’t even have to communicate anymore in fights, we knew what to do. When everyone got to position, I nodded and signaled to go.

Guns were drawn, as Renzo checked the outside of the container. I don’t know what he saw, but started shooting immediately as he looked around the container. Ennio and I exchanged a confused look, wanting to hear from Renzo what was going on, but he was not coming back in. Then the moment he fired his gun empty, he turned back into the container, and Luciano came sliding in with the bullets chasing him, hitting the container. The confusion turned to relief quickly.

I hadn’t known Luciano was even here, he had been assigned to watch the Bruno’s. I threw more ammunition at Renzo, and grabbed some of the weapons in the container, hoping that they were already loaded and ready to go. I threw one to Ennio, who released the safety and nodded. Guess today was my lucky day!

“3 cars, at least 12 guys out there, all Bruno fighters. I came with my men trying to remain incognito, but one recognized me as we split up. They don’t know how many we are, my men are still at their back.”, Luciano described the situation we were up against. “So, how many are we?”, I asked. “5 of us in here, 5 of my men outside.”, Luciano said. I nodded.

“We can take them.”, Ennio said. We should be able to take them, I knew we were the better fighters. But the port is a dangerous place to have a fight, too many hiding places.

“Where are they now?”, I asked. Renzo signaled that he was going to look out, since they knew he was in here anyways. I waved my gun to signal Luciano to back him up. He nodded. The moment Renzo stepped into the line of sight; Luciano fired from around the corner. These new guns were good!

It seemed to last for hours, but in truth it was maximum a minute until Renzo came back in. “They are in a half circle spread out covering the only entrance and exit of this container. It’s too easy for them to come closer.”, he said, still panting. I looked to Luciano, “We need your men to take action.”, I ordered. He nodded, and he whistled out. About ten seconds later the gun fight started, and we took it as our signal to enter the fight. “I need you guys alive.”, I said, and we joined the fight.

I knew Ennio was in my back, as I crept out of the container with my gun drawn. Now we had them surrounded, but they could still hide in too many places. So, we covered container by container. I checked around the corner and saw nothing. Yet the moment I fully turned the corner, I saw the gun firing at me. I moved backwards, but Ennio was already there firing away.

“Fuck!”, I muttered under my breath. From the corners of my eyes, I looked around for hiding places, but I saw none close by. “Matteo…”, I heard Ennio say, knowing by the tone of voice that he was struggling with his enemies. They were closing in on us, getting closer and closer, with no way out for us.

Then, when I was about to say goodbye to Ennio, I heard it. A jam in the gun in front of me. Taking the only opportunity, I charged forward shooting and going for the direction where I heard the jam. Ennio followed in my back, exhaling with relief at some movement.

I moved around the corner and shot the guy struggling to get his gun to fire. “Thank fuck!”, Ennio muttered, and I chuckled. Too close for comfort. I continued to be vigilant, it was not yet safe to lower my guard, and around us guns were still firing. After taking a breath, both Ennio and I threw us back into the fight. Adrenaline was rushing through my body, as I rounded the corner again, firing at one of the Bruno fighters. There is no firing coming back, so it must have been a hit.

Then I see Luciano walking towards me, pushing forward one of Bruno’s people. The fighter groans in pain, trips over his feet and falls to his knees. His wrists are bound by tie-rips on his back, and he is bleeding from his nose and side. Luciano is still making sure he keeps his gun to his head.

“How many were you?”, he asked. The man doesn’t answer, as expected, so Luciano backhands him. “Huh?! How many were you?”, Luciano shouted in his face. The man looks him in the eyes and spits out blood to the ground, but no answer still. Luciano grabbed a fistful of hair and kicked him in the stomach. “We’ll make you talk.”, Luciano concluded.

“We counted 11 men down, and this scum over here. My men are securing the perimeter now to be sure.”, he briefed. I nodded.

“Take him back and make him talk. I’ll be in later to catch up.”, I said to Luciano, who nodded and dragged the guy back up to push him roughly to the car.

“Boss, all is good now.”, Renzo stated. I walked back to one of our containers, knowing that my men followed me. “Renzo, make sure that the shipment is delivered according to agreements.”, I ordered and walked back to my car, knowing that Ennio was by my side.

The sun was rising again when we entered our house again, and I was tired to the bone. I was ready to go to bed. Now that the adrenaline was gone from my body, I started to feel the ache. Luckily, no bullet hit my body, but there were enough scratches, cuts, and bruises. I yawned, and I dragged myself up the stairs when I ran into Vita. I groaned. I loved my sister, but I just wanted to crash in my bed.

“Matteo, you look like shit.”, she said, not holding any punches. I rubbed my face and looked at her.

“When was the last time you saw Lily?”, she asked. I groaned, this was really not the discussion I wanted to have right now, and not with her. Even though we were close, I really tried to keep the private part of my life just that, private. I should have known that she would take me stepping in the mission as a free pass to butt into my private life.

I continued to walk to my room, but Vita followed me. She obviously wanted to share her news with me, and it couldn’t wait until I had a bit of sleep.

“Guilia and I were in her office this week. Tommaso was there, and he was getting very cozy with Lily.”, she stated. I stopped abruptly, and turned around, surprising Vita because she bumped into me.

“What do you mean, getting cozy?”, I asked.

“They seemed very familiar with each other. He was in their office to meet with Noah, so there is definitely something there, but he did seek Lily out afterwards. I couldn’t hear what he whispered to her. I did see Lily blush furiously though.”, she said.

I did not like the sound of that. At all, but I kept telling myself that it was purely because it would ruin the mission and everything we had been working for.

“So, Matteo, when was the last time you saw Lily?”, Vita asked again. I was still not going to answer her.

“I got the message Vita. I’m going to bed now.”, I said and walked away to close the discussion. Vita did not pay attention to that though.

“Matteo, don’t you dare to walk away from me! You need to see Lily fast!”, she yelled at me, frustrated that I was not acting immediately.

“Vita! Stop it! I heard you. Now, I’m going to sleep.”, I ordered, and walked into my room and closed the door in her face. She was not what I needed now.

I took a quick shower, washing away all the dirt from the cuts, and got into my bed. Quickly, I looked over the messages on my phone. Luciano told me that the prisoner was set, and they were working on getting him to speak. Vico gave me a quick update on where he was finding out why Lily was cooperating with Noah, and Valeria was asking me to meet with her asap because she found something important.

I laid down on my pillow, looking at my phone. Before I knew it, I had written a message to Lily. What Vita said about Tommaso getting close to Lily bothered me more than I was ready to admit. It gave me a desire to reach out to her, to make sure she wouldn’t forget about me.

I put my phone down and was ready to go to sleep when I heard my phone buzz. I picked it up with the giddiness of a teenager having his first crush. *‘Why would you be thinking about me this early in the morning?’*, she answered. I grinned.

*‘Why wouldn’t I? Laying in bed, alone. Just thinking about some good times.’*, I typed back, and I put my phone away, ready to really go to sleep now.

But then that buzz came within seconds. *‘What good times come to your mind?’*

I grinned, there were many. *‘When can I see you again? I want to show you the good times that I have in mind.’*

I put my phone down, but then no buzz came fast enough for me to stay awake. I just fell asleep after the night I had.