Chapter 88

Dominic woke with the first light of dawn filtering through the curtains, his arms still wrapped protectively around Ava. He took a moment to savor the peacefulness of her sleep, the steady rise and fall of her chest a comforting reminder of her presence. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before carefully slipping out of bed, not wanting to disturb her rest.

He dressed quickly and quietly, his mind already shifting to the day’s daunting tasks. Alex was no longer a threat, but Carlos remained at large, a constant and dangerous presence that needed to be dealt with decisively. The memory of Carlos’s son, CJ, and the years-long feud between their families weighed heavily on Dominic’s mind. This was more than a tactical mission; it was personal.

Dominic made his way to the living room, where Marco and Lucas were already waiting, their faces serious and focused. The air was thick with tension, the unspoken understanding of the gravity of their situation hanging over them.

“We need to take care of Carlos,” Dominic began, his voice steady but filled with resolve. “He’s been a thorn in our side for too long, and now, with Alex out of the picture, it’s time to finish this.”

Marco nodded, leaning forward in his chair. “We’ve gathered intel on Carlos’s current operations. He’s holed up in one of his safe houses, surrounded by his most trusted men. It’s not going to be easy to get to him.”

Lucas crossed his arms over his chest, a thoughtful expression on his face. “We need a solid plan. Rushing in without a strategy will only get more of our men hurt or worse. We need to outsmart him.”

Dominic sat down, rubbing his chin as he considered their options. “We’ll need to use everything we have—our connections, our resources, our skills. We have to hit him where it hurts, dismantle his operations, and leave him with nowhere to run.”

Marco leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. “We can start by cutting off his supply lines. We know where his shipments are coming in. If we disrupt those, it’ll put a significant dent in his operations.”

Lucas nodded in agreement. “And we need to gather more intel on his movements. We have a few informants who might be able to provide us with crucial information. We can’t afford to go in blind.”

Dominic’s eyes hardened with determination. “Then that’s where we start. Marco, I want you to oversee the disruption of his supply lines. Take a team and hit those shipments hard. Lucas, work on gathering intel. Reach out to our informants, bribe whoever you need to. I want to know every move Carlos makes before he makes it.”

Marco and Lucas both nodded, already strategizing in their minds. Dominic continued, “We also need to ensure Ava’s safety. She’s my priority. I want her protected at all costs.”

Marco glanced at Dominic, concern evident in his eyes. “What about the wedding? We’ve increased security, but with Carlos still out there, it’s a risk.”

Dominic’s jaw tightened. “I’m not postponing the wedding. Ava and I deserve that happiness, and I won’t let Carlos take that away from us. We’ll have to be extra vigilant. Double the security, keep a close eye on the guest list, and make sure no one gets in without a thorough vetting.”

Lucas leaned forward, his voice serious. “We need to set a trap. If we can lure Carlos out of hiding, we can end this once and for all. But we’ll need to be careful. He’s not going to fall for something obvious.”

Dominic nodded, a plan forming in his mind. “We’ll use the wedding as bait. Carlos will expect us to be distracted, to have our guard down. We’ll use that to our advantage. Marco, I want you to set up a secondary security team—one that Carlos won’t be expecting. Keep them hidden, ready to move at a moment’s notice.”

Marco nodded, already making mental notes. “Consider it done. We’ll make sure he doesn’t see it coming.”

Dominic looked at Lucas. “Get the word out discreetly. Let it slip that we’re fully focused on the wedding, that security might be lighter than usual. We’ll make it look like we’re vulnerable, but we’ll be ready for anything.”

Lucas smirked. “Carlos won’t know what hit him.”

Dominic stood, his resolve solidified. “Let’s get to work. We don’t have much time. Every second counts.”

The room buzzed with activity as Marco and Lucas began coordinating their teams. Dominic stepped out onto the balcony, needing a moment to clear his mind. The morning air was crisp and refreshing, a stark contrast to the weight of the task ahead.

Ava’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Dominic?”

He turned to see her standing in the doorway, her hair tousled from sleep, a concerned look in her eyes. “Hey,” he said softly, walking over to her. “Did I wake you?”

She shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself. “No, I just... I couldn’t sleep.”

He pulled her into his arms, holding her close. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. “What’s going on?”

Dominic sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We’re finalizing our plan to take down Carlos. It’s going to be dangerous, but it’s something we need to do.”

Ava’s grip tightened on his shirt. “I trust you, Dominic. I know you’ll do whatever it takes to keep us safe. But please, be careful.”

He cupped her face in his hands, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I promise, Ava. I’ll be careful. And we’ll get through this together.”

She nodded, leaning into his touch. “I love you, Dominic.”

“I love you too, Ava,” he whispered, his heart aching with the depth of his feelings for her. “More than anything.”

They stood there for a moment, drawing strength from each other, before Dominic reluctantly pulled away. “I have to go. There’s a lot to do.”

Ava nodded, her eyes filled with understanding and determination. “Just promise me you’ll come back to me.”

“I promise,” he said, his voice filled with conviction. “I’ll always come back to you.”

With a final kiss, Dominic left the penthouse, his mind focused on the task ahead. The next few days would be critical, and he needed to ensure everything went according to plan.

As he drove to their main headquarters, Dominic’s phone buzzed with a message from Marco. “We’ve intercepted one of Carlos’s shipments. It’s a big hit. We’re starting to cripple his resources.”

Dominic replied quickly, “Good work. Keep me updated.”

The next few hours were a whirlwind of activity. Dominic met with his lieutenants, coordinating the disruption of Carlos’s operations. They hit shipment after shipment, each one a blow to Carlos’s empire. Informants were contacted, and valuable intel was gathered, painting a clearer picture of Carlos’s movements.

Lucas approached Dominic, a determined look on his face. “We’ve got a lead on one of Carlos’s safe houses. Our informants say he’s been spotted there recently.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “Gather a team. We’re going to pay him a visit.”

The raid on the safe house was swift and brutal. Dominic’s men moved with precision, taking down guards and securing the area. Inside, they found evidence that Ava had been held there—a piece of fabric from her nightgown, a clear sign that they were on the right track.

But Carlos had already moved on, leaving behind only traces of his presence. Dominic’s frustration grew, but he refused to give up. They were getting closer, and he knew it was only a matter of time before they caught up to him.

Back at the headquarters, Dominic gathered his men. “We’re making progress, but it’s not enough. Carlos is still out there, and he’s getting desperate. We need to be vigilant. Every piece of intel, every lead, could be the one that brings us to him.”

Marco nodded. “We’re hitting him hard. His resources are dwindling. It’s only a matter of time before he slips up.”

Lucas added, “Our informants are still working on getting more information. We’ll keep the pressure on.”

Dominic’s resolve hardened. “Good. Keep at it. We need to end this, once and for all.”

The meeting concluded, and Dominic took a moment to himself, staring out the window at the city below. He thought of Ava, of their love and the future they were building together. He couldn’t let Carlos take that away from them.

As the sun set, casting long shadows across the room, Dominic made a silent vow. He would find Carlos, no matter what it took. And when he did, he would make sure that he could never threaten Ava or their future again.

With a deep breath, Dominic turned back to his men, ready to continue the fight. The battle was far from over, but with Ava by his side and his loyal crew at his back, he knew they would prevail. They had to. There was no other option.