Chapter 94

The cold bite of the early morning air settled over the warehouse as Dominic and his men finalized the plan. The faint hum of engines outside signaled the arrival of more vehicles, but Dominic’s mind was elsewhere, locked on the confrontation ahead. This would be their last move—the strike that would either neutralize Alex and the Vasquez cartel for good or drag them all into oblivion.

Lucas approached, his usual confident stride subdued by the gravity of the situation. “The men are ready. We’ll hit them hard and fast.”

Dominic gave a curt nod, though his focus remained fixed on the map. Every detail of the assault had been carefully mapped out—entry points, exit routes, potential ambush spots. Still, the nagging feeling that something was amiss lingered in the back of his mind. Mateo’s help had been invaluable so far, but it felt too convenient, too easy.

Just as Lucas was about to speak again, the heavy iron door to the warehouse creaked open. The men instinctively reached for their weapons, eyes narrowing in on the figure stepping through the threshold.

Mateo.

Dressed in a sleek black coat, his hands tucked casually in his pockets, Mateo radiated the kind of calm that came from a life spent dancing on the edge of chaos. He offered a slow smile as his gaze swept the room, lingering briefly on Dominic before he stepped forward.

“Well, well. You boys look like you’re ready for a war,” Mateo said, his voice carrying that same unnerving, playful tone.

Dominic remained still, his eyes locked on Mateo. “We are. Question is, are you on our side, or should we be planning for two fronts?”

Mateo chuckled softly and held up his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, Dominic. I told you, I’m done with Alex. He’s a rabid dog, and you know what happens to rabid dogs. They either get put down, or they bite you when you least expect it.”

Lucas shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Dominic. It was clear the men still didn’t trust Mateo, and Dominic’s patience was already wearing thin.

“You didn’t come here just to chat, Mateo,” Dominic said, his voice sharp. “What do you want?”

Mateo’s grin widened, though his eyes remained cold and calculating. “I’ve got something you’ll want to hear. Alex is planning to move. He knows you’re coming, and he’s pulling out his last trick—a backup location. You think you’re hitting his stronghold, but it’s a decoy. By the time you breach those walls, he’ll be gone, and you’ll be left chasing shadows.”

Dominic’s jaw tightened. “And where is this backup location?”

Mateo stepped closer to the table, his fingers tracing the map lightly. “You’ll find him here.” He tapped a spot marked outside the city, a rural estate surrounded by dense forest.

Lucas frowned, stepping forward. “That’s a risk. Open terrain. Too many blind spots.”

Mateo shrugged. “It’s where he’ll be. Trust me or don’t, Dominic, but if you want Alex, that’s your best shot.”

The room fell silent as Dominic studied Mateo, weighing his words. He didn’t trust Mateo—he never had. But if Alex truly had a second location, ignoring the tip could be disastrous. It could mean walking into an ambush, or worse, letting Alex slip away yet again.

“I need more than your word, Mateo,” Dominic said finally. “I need proof.”

Mateo sighed theatrically, as if insulted by the lack of trust, though he clearly anticipated the request. “You’ll have it. Alex’s man—one of his lieutenants—will be at the decoy location. Take him alive, and he’ll lead you right to Alex. Consider it my insurance.”

Dominic exchanged a glance with Lucas, the tension palpable. They had no choice. Mateo had given them valuable information before, and there was no time to second-guess his intentions now. The attack was set to begin at dawn, and every second counted.

“Fine,” Dominic said, his voice firm. “But if you’re playing me, Mateo, I’ll make sure Alex isn’t the only one who gets buried.”

Mateo raised an eyebrow, his smile unshaken. “You wound me, Dominic. I’m just a man trying to help. But don’t worry. I’m done with Alex, and soon you will be too.”

With that, Mateo turned on his heel, heading toward the door. As it creaked shut behind him, Lucas stepped closer to Dominic, his voice low and wary. “Do you believe him?”

“I don’t have a choice,” Dominic muttered, rubbing his chin. “But if Alex is playing his hand, we’ll know soon enough.”

The dark clouds above began to gather as the convoy of black SUVs cut through the desolate roads leading toward Alex’s decoy stronghold. Dominic sat in the front vehicle, his mind racing through every possible scenario. The uncertainty of Mateo’s intel gnawed at him, but the thought of Alex escaping yet again was unacceptable. This would end tonight.

His phone buzzed, and he glanced down at the screen. It was a message from Ava.

"Be careful. Come back to me."

Dominic exhaled slowly, feeling the familiar tug of emotion he rarely let show. Ava’s presence had softened him in ways he hadn’t anticipated. The thought of her—pregnant with their child, waiting for him—drove him forward, but it also fueled the fear that he might not return. He couldn’t let that happen. He had promised her, and Dominic always kept his promises.

The convoy came to a halt just outside the perimeter of the compound. Dominic stepped out, his eyes scanning the area. The decoy stronghold was a fortress, designed to look impenetrable, but if Mateo was right, the real threat lay elsewhere.

Lucas joined him, his expression grim. “Teams are in position. What’s the call?”

Dominic stared at the compound for a long moment before turning to Lucas. “We breach. Hard and fast. Take their lieutenant alive. He’ll lead us to Alex.”

Lucas nodded, signaling to the teams as they prepared for the assault. Within moments, the air was thick with anticipation, the calm before the storm about to shatter.

Dominic’s mind raced as he geared up. This was it—the moment that would decide everything. He thought of Ava, of the life they had built, and the one they were fighting for. No more waiting. No more running.

The order was given.

The assault was swift and brutal. Dominic’s men moved like shadows through the compound, cutting down Alex’s guards with cold precision. The compound was heavily fortified, but Dominic had expected as much. His focus remained razor-sharp, moving through the chaos with the deadly grace of a man who had done this far too many times.

As the battle raged on, Dominic’s eyes locked onto their target—a man trying to flee through a hidden passageway, just as Mateo had predicted. Lucas was on him in an instant, tackling the man to the ground and pinning him with brutal efficiency.

“Don’t kill him!” Dominic ordered, moving swiftly toward them. He knelt beside the man, gripping him by the collar. “Where’s Alex?”

The lieutenant spat blood, his eyes wild with defiance. “Go to hell.”

Dominic’s hand tightened around the man’s throat, his voice a low growl. “You’ll answer me, or I’ll make sure hell feels like a vacation.”

The man coughed, choking as the pressure on his neck increased. Finally, he relented, gasping for breath. “The estate... He’s at the estate.”

Dominic released him, standing up and signaling to Lucas. “Lock him up. We move to the estate now.”

Lucas nodded, dragging the lieutenant away. Dominic watched as the chaos began to settle, his heart pounding in his chest.

They had Alex’s location.

It wasn’t over yet.