Alexander's POV
The safe house was eerily quiet, the silence pressing down on us as we prepared for the next step. The more I thought about the attack on the warehouse, the more something didn't add up. Wales wasn't acting alone. I had to find out who else was pulling the strings.
Marcus was at my side, his expression as grim as my own. "We've got him in the basement. He's not talking, though."
I nodded, my jaw tightening. "He'll talk. One way or another."
We descended into the dimly lit basement, the air cool and damp. Wales was tied to a chair in the centre of the room, his face bruised and bloody from our initial confrontation. His eyes followed us as we approached, a mix of fear and defiance in his gaze.
"Sterling," he spat, blood flecking his lips. "You think this is over?"
I crouched down in front of him, my voice low and dangerous. "I know you weren't working alone, Wales. Who are you working with?"
He laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "You'll never find out."
I leaned closer, my eyes boring into his. "We'll see about that."
Marcus handed me a small vial of clear liquid, and I held it up for Wales to see. "This is a truth serum. It's not pleasant, but it gets the job done."
Wales's eyes widened, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of real fear. "You wouldn't dare."
I didn't respond, just nodded to Marcus. He moved forward, administering the serum with practised precision. Wales struggled, but he couldn't resist for long. Within minutes, his defiance melted away, replaced by a glazed look of compliance.
"Who are you working with?" I asked again, my voice calm but insistent.
Wales refused to speak as he insisted on keeping who he works for secret
I smirked turning to Marcus to pass me the pins he had lying on a table as I drove each of them into the back of his palm to the chair where he was tied to leaving him to bleed out.
The evening of that day I returned to question him, looking at him where he was seated he looked drained which was my aim.
Who are you working with?" I asked again, this time my voice calm and less insistent.
Wales's lips trembled as he tried to resist, but the serum I injected into his body the previous day was too strong as well as the pin stuck at the back of his palm. "The Moretti family," he finally muttered. "They hired me to kidnap Eleanor. They wanted leverage against you."
A cold rage settled over me. The Morettis. Of course. They had always been a thorn in my side, but this was a new level of audacity. "Why? What do they want?"
"They want to control the docks," Wales said, his words slurring slightly. "Your supply lines. They knew you'd do anything to get her back."
I stood, my mind racing. The Morettis had made their move, and now it was time to make mine. "Marcus, get the team ready. We're going to visit the Morettis."
********
Eleanor's POV
I waited anxiously in the safe house, my thoughts a whirlwind of fear and determination. Alexander had gone to interrogate Wales, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen. When he finally returned, his expression was set with grim resolve.
"We know who's behind this," he said, his voice tight. "The Moretti family. They used Wales to get to us."
My heart skipped a beat. The Morettis were notorious, their reputation for ruthlessness well-known. "What are we going to do?"
"We're going to end this," Alexander replied, his eyes burning with determination. "Once and for all."
The next few hours were a blur of preparation. The team was ready, their faces set with steely resolve. We moved quickly and quietly, the weight of our mission pressing down on us. As we drove towards the Moretti estate, I couldn't help but feel a mix of fear and anticipation.
******
Alexander's POV
The Moretti estate loomed ahead, a sprawling mansion surrounded by high walls and armed guards. We parked a short distance away, using the cover of darkness to our advantage. I gathered the team, outlining the plan with precise detail.
"We go in, neutralize the guards, and find their leader. This ends tonight."
The team nodded, their expressions hard. We moved swiftly, taking out the guards with silent efficiency. The front door of the mansion was heavily fortified, but we had planned for that. Marcus set a small charge, and with a muted explosion, the door was breached.
Inside, the mansion was a maze of corridors and rooms. We moved methodically, clearing each room as we went. The sound of our approach alerted the Morettis, and soon we were engaged in a fierce firefight. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the sound of gunfire echoed through the halls.
*******
Eleanor's POV
I stayed close to Alexander, my heart pounding with fear and adrenaline. The chaos around us was overwhelming, but I focused on staying calm and following his lead. As we moved deeper into the mansion, the resistance grew stronger. The Morettis were fighting back with everything they had.
In the midst of the battle, we reached a large room. At the far end, surrounded by his men, was Giovanni Moretti, the head of the family. He looked at us with a mixture of anger and contempt.
"Sterling," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "I knew you'd come. But you're too late."
Alexander levelled his gun at him, his voice cold and unwavering. "This ends now, Moretti. Call off your men and surrender."
Moretti laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "You think you can just walk in here and make demands? You're in my house now."
The tension in the room was much, the air thick with danger. I could feel Alexander's resolve beside me, his determination to end this once and for all. The standoff seemed to stretch on forever, each side waiting for the other to make a move.
Finally, with a nod from Alexander, our team moved in. The fight was brutal and swift, the sound of gunfire deafening in the enclosed space. Moretti's men were well-trained, but we had the element of surprise and a fierce determination driving us.
*******
Alexander's POV
The battle was chaotic, but we fought with a precision born of desperation. Moretti's men fell one by one, their resistance crumbling under our assault. I kept my eyes on Moretti, determined to bring him down.
In the midst of the chaos, Moretti made a desperate move, drawing a hidden gun. But before he could fire, a single shot rang out, and he fell to the ground, clutching his chest. I turned to see Eleanor standing beside me, her hands shaking but her eyes filled with determination.
"It's over," she said softly, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands.
I pulled her into my arms, relief flooding through me. "Yes, it's over."
*******
Eleanor's POV
The aftermath of the battle was a blur of activity. Our team secured the mansion, ensuring that there were no remaining threats. The Moretti family's reign of terror had come to an end, and with it, the immediate danger to us.
As we made our way back to the safe house, I felt a sense of relief and exhaustion. We had faced the darkness and come out the other side, but the scars of the ordeal would take time to heal.
Back at the safe house, Alexander and I sat together, the weight of the past days pressing down on us. He held my hand, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and determination.
"We did it," he said softly. "We ended it."
I nodded, my heart filled with gratitude and love. "Yes, we did. Together."
As the first light of dawn broke through the windows, I felt a sense of hope. The nightmare was over, and we could finally look forward to a future free from the shadows of our past.
I was about to get up from my bed that morning Alexander's phone pinged as he was in the shower taking his bath.
Out of Curiosity, I picked it up to see the message he got and what I saw broke me in half.