Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty Three

The Last Warning

Nicholas blocked my path before I could step out of the room. His broad shoulders squared, his eyes dark with frustration. His presence alone was enough to remind me why I had to do this.

"You’re not going," he said, his voice firm, unwavering.

I folded my arms, exhaling sharply. "You can’t stop me."

His fingers curled into fists at his sides before he suddenly reached for my wrist. His grip wasn’t painful, but it was tight, desperate. "Damn it, Adrianna, I don’t want to lose you."

Something in my chest tightened, a fleeting moment of hesitation creeping in. I swallowed hard. If only he understood, this wasn’t about wanting to leave. It was about needing to.

"Then trust me," I said, keeping my voice steady.

Nicholas exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around my wrist for a second before slowly letting go. "You’re making a mistake," he muttered.

I stepped back. "Maybe. But it’s mine to make."

For a long moment, he just stared at me, breathing heavily. His expression softened—just for a second—before his gaze turned unreadable. And just as I turned to leave, his voice came again, quieter this time.

"Please come back."

I didn’t answer.

I couldn’t.

The warehouse loomed ahead, an abandoned husk of rusted steel and broken windows. It reeked of dust, oil, and something old, something forgotten. A place where shadows stretched too long, where whispers from the past still lingered in the silence.

Claire was already inside, adjusting the surveillance setup. The glow of her tablet screen reflected in her glasses as she typed away, a concentrated frown creasing her brow.

Roman stood near the far wall, flipping a knife between his fingers, as relaxed as if we were discussing weekend plans instead of walking straight into danger.

"Are you sure about this?" Claire asked without looking up.

I nodded. "Too late to back out now."

Roman smirked, sliding the knife back into its sheath. "That’s what I like to hear."

The plan was simple. Lure them out, get answers, and get out before things got messy. But if I had learned anything in this world, it was that nothing ever went as planned.

A car’s engine rumbled in the distance before headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the cracked pavement outside. My pulse spiked.

"They’re here," Claire murmured, fingers tightening around her tablet.

I took a slow breath, steadying myself. "Showtime."

The metal door groaned as it swung open. Three men stepped inside, their footsteps sharp against the concrete floor.

The man in the lead, Luca , moved with the confidence of someone who knew he was in control. Alessandro’s right-hand man. He was lean, sharp-featured, with a smirk that never quite reached his eyes.

"Brave of you to come alone," he drawled.

I didn’t flinch. "I wasn’t given much choice."

Luca chuckled, shaking his head. "That’s true." He took a step closer, studying me like I was a puzzle he had almost solved. "You don’t belong in this world, Adrianna. You should’ve stayed out of it."

I met his gaze, refusing to back down. "Maybe. But I didn’t."

The smirk vanished from his face. "Then you leave us no choice."

At his signal, two more men entered behind him. Their suits were crisp, but their hands were tightened. They weren’t just backup. They were here for one thing.

To finish this.

Roman tensed beside me, shifting his weight slightly, ready to react. "So, we’re skipping negotiations?"

Luca sighed, almost sounding disappointed. "There’s nothing to negotiate."

I swallowed, my fingers twitching near my concealed weapon. "Then why call me here?"

He studied me, his expression I could not tell. "Because you needed to hear it from me."

"Hear what?"

"That this is your last warning. Walk away, or you won’t get another chance."

I clenched my fists. "And if I don’t?"

Luca’s gaze hardened. "Then you die with them."

A cold wave ran through me, but I refused to show fear.

Roman let out a slow chuckle, shaking his head. "Big talk. Let’s see if you can back it up."

Luca smirked. "I was hoping you’d say that."

He nodded.

Guns were drawn.

Claire’s voice crackled through my earpiece. "We’ve got trouble."

No kidding.

I reached for my weapon.

And then all hell broke loose.

Gunfire exploded, shattering the silence. I dove behind a stack of crates, my heart hammering against my ribs. The sharp scent of gunpowder filled the air as bullets tore through the wooden boxes beside me.

Roman fired back, his movements controlled, precise. He wasn’t panicking, he was calculating.

"Adrianna, move!" Claire’s voice was urgent in my ear.

I rolled to the side just as a bullet splintered the crate behind me, sending wood flying in sharp fragments. My hands were already moving, gripping my gun, steadying my breath.

Luca’s men were spreading out, using the metal pillars as cover. These weren’t common thugs. They were trained, coordinated. This wasn’t just a warning anymore. This was an execution.

Roman crouched beside me, reloading. "We’re outnumbered."

I clenched my jaw. "We expected that."

Claire’s voice came through the earpiece again. "Exit’s blocked. You need a new plan."

Luca’s voice rang out over the chaos. "You should’ve listened, Adrianna!"

I peeked out from cover and saw him standing near the exit, gun raised, watching me. He wasn’t taking cover. He wanted me to see him.

"You think killing me changes anything?" I shouted back.

Luca laughed. "No, but it stops you from getting in the way."

I fired. He dodged, but my bullet grazed his arm. His smile faltered.

"Bad move," he muttered.

The gunfire intensified.

Roman ducked lower, his jaw tight. "We need an out."

I scanned the warehouse. There—a window near the ceiling. Small, but possible.

I pressed my earpiece. "Claire, can you create a distraction?"

"Already on it."

Seconds later, an explosion rocked the building. Smoke filled the air, thick and choking.

"Go!" Roman yelled.

I sprinted toward the crates, climbing fast. Bullets whizzed past me. I smashed the window with the butt of my gun and hauled myself up.

Roman followed, firing a few last shots before pulling himself through.

We dropped onto the pavement outside, breathless.

Claire’s car screeched to a stop.

"Get in!" she shouted.

We didn’t hesitate. Tires screeched as we sped away.

I pressed a hand to my chest, forcing myself to breathe.

Roman grinned, shaking his head. "That was fun."

Claire shot him a glare. "You have a messed-up definition of fun."

I leaned back, exhaustion setting in. "We need to find out who sent that warning."

Claire nodded, gripping the wheel. "And fast. Because next time, we might not be so lucky."

I glanced at my phone. Another message.

Unknown Number: I warned you. Now you’re out of time.