Chapter 33

“How the hell did this happen?”

I slam my palm against the wall, my voice a harsh growl echoing through the otherwise silent halls of the mansion. Anger and fear churn inside me, a lethal mix that threatens to boil over.

Elena matches my pace stride for stride, her usually calm face now etched with urgency. “We missed the jammer because it was low-key, running on a frequency we didn’t expect. But the moment I saw the glitch in our system, I knew something was wrong. Fucker got the motion sensors, too.”

Lev speaks next, his voice a low rumble. “We caught him on the security footage before he scrambled it. We ran facial recognition—it’s Connor Murphy. Luk, that’s Rory’s brother.”

We burst into the garage, a cavern of my achievements, but only one beast catches my eye now—the black Audi R8. It’s more than just a car; it’s a predator on wheels, sleek and powerful, every inch designed for speed and precision. I snatch the keys from the hook, my mind racing faster than any engine.

Elena and Lev are right behind me. “Gear up,” I command. I had already instructed the guards to prepare the vehicle, our arsenal lying inside the trunk, a small army’s worth of firepower—silenced pistols, submachine guns, and extra ammo—all for Connor, all for taking back what’s mine.

I grab my weapon, and Elena and Lev follow suit. We’re not just going to save Maura; we’re going to end this nightmare once and for all.

I slam the trunk closed, the sound echoing throughout the garage. Sliding into the driver’s seat, the leather feels cool and comfortable against my skin. Elena and Lev climb in; their facial expressions are tight and serious. I ignite the engine, and the car roars to life, a beast awakened.

“Let’s move,” I declare, my voice a deadly promise. I shift into gear, pulling out of the garage, the car cutting through the night. Every fiber of my being is focused on getting Maura back, no matter the cost. Connor has taken the most precious thing from me, and I won’t rest until she’s safe in my arms again.

The car slices through the night like a blade, its engine a growl that mirrors the retribution I seek. I race through the streets, downtown Chicago soon unfolding before us, a maze of light and shadow.

My focus narrows to one object just ahead—Connor’s van. Elena had picked it up by hacking into traffic cameras, and we were able to narrow it down quickly and lose it even quicker.

Her brows furrow as her fingers fly across her tablet, working feverishly to track the faint signal from Maura’s phone. “The jammer’s messing everything up,” she snaps, frustration evident. We’re hanging on by a thread here.”

Lev checks his weapon. “We need to end this tonight,” he says, a deadly determination in his voice.

I push the accelerator harder, weaving through late-night traffic with a precision that comes from years of evading the law and rivals alike. “There it is,” I announce, spotting the bulky shape of the van a few blocks ahead. The sight of it ignites a fury in me, a blazing fire that demands vengeance.

“We can’t lose him again,” I say, flooring the accelerator. The car responds instantly, closing the distance between us and the van within seconds.

Elena braces herself against the dashboard, her eyes locked on her tablet. “We’ve got one shot at this, Luk.”

As we draw nearer to the van, Lev readies his weapon, his eyes cold and focused. “I’ll take the front; you two cover the sides.” Elena and I nod a silent agreement.

The van seems oblivious to our pursuit, and its driver is focused on the road ahead. It’s a mistake I intend to capitalize on.

“Get ready,” I say, my voice low. The car’s engine roars louder as I prepare to make my move.

In a split second, I swing the car alongside the van, the suddenness of the maneuver catching Connor’s men off guard. Lev rolls down his window, his weapon ready. Without a moment’s hesitation, he fires, the sound of gunshots ripping through the night.

Chaos erupts. The van swerves, its driver thrown off by the unexpected assault.

I edge the car closer to the van, my eyes flicking between the road ahead and Connor, who’s leaning out of the passenger’s side, firing wildly at us. Bullets ping off the car’s reinforced frame. “Careful,” I say, acutely aware of the precious cargo inside.

Lev returns fire, steady and calm. I keep the car parallel, matching the van’s speed, desperate to find an opening, any type of advantage. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot the barrel of a gun sneaking in between the front seats of the van. It’s pointed straight at Connor’s head. Confusion wars with opportunity in my mind, but there’s no time to ponder the implications. I act on instinct, seizing the chance.

With a sharp turn of the wheel, I ram the car into the side of the van, metal screeching against metal, the impact jarring but calculated. The van veers off the road, scraping along the guardrail before coming to a stop. I brake hard, skidding to a stop a short distance away, my heart pounding with adrenaline.

Lev and Elena are already out of the car, weapons drawn, as I kick my door open and step out into the cool night air. My hand tightens around my gun, the weight of it both a burden and a comfort. “Maura!” I call out. “I’m here!”

We approach the van cautiously, aware of the potential for an ambush. But the silence that greets us is broken only by the sound of our footsteps crunching on the asphalt. Elena and Lev are flanking me, their guns at the ready. We are a silent, deadly trio, ready to take back what’s ours.

The back door of the van is slightly ajar, a sliver of darkness that holds unknown danger. I slowly approach, with Lev covering me while Elena keeps watch in the front.

Without warning, the door kicks open, and time seems to slow down as Maura stands there, a vision of defiance and strength, the gun that had been menacingly pointed at Connor now firmly in her grasp. My heart leaps at the sight of her, unharmed and combative. She was fighting them, and I can’t help but feel a tremendous amount of pride.

Before I can savor the moment for too long, two guards emerge from the shadows behind her, their intentions clear in their stance. “Maura, get down!” I shout, a command laced with fear for her safety. She doesn’t hesitate, dropping to the ground and making herself small.

In the span of a heartbeat, Lev and Elena spring into action; their training and instincts are taking over. Shots ring out, quick and precise, the guards crumbling to the ground, the threat neutralized in the blink of an eye. Silence falls over us once more, save for the heavy breaths of those still standing.

Maura runs to me, a blur of motion fueled by adrenaline and relief. I catch her in my arms, holding her close. The warmth of her body against mine calms the cold dread that had settled in my heart. Her presence, solid and real, anchors me.

But even as we embrace, I know it’s not over yet. Connor’s threat still looms large, a shadow that has yet to be dispelled.

I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes, finding there the same fierce determination that matches my own. “We need to end this,” I state, my tone firm and final, leaving no room for doubt. “Once and for all.”

Rounding the side of the van, a quick glance confirms the driver is unconscious, slumped over the wheel, no longer a danger. It’s Connor who commands my focus, the true threat lurking within the shadowed interior.

As I edge closer, Connor emerges from the van. He’s armed, of course, the resignation in his stance doesn’t quite mask the undercurrent of menace. “You might have won this round, Luk,” he spits out, his voice a serrated edge of bitterness and hate. “But there’s no peace at the top. You, of all people, should know that.”

“Lucky for me, I’m built for war.”

Connor’s hand twitches, a subtle shift that signals his intent.

It’s all I need.

Time slows, every sense heightened, as I make the split-second decision. My finger tightens on the trigger, and I take aim at Connor’s forehead, precisely hitting my target.

It’s over.