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I nodded, rising to my feet. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
He smiled one last time before turning to leave, and I watched him go, my heart pounding. I needed to get to Massimo. We had a lot to discuss… and not much time to plan.
Tonight, we would turn the tables. And Raffaele would never see it coming.
The warehouse at the docks was quiet, the air thick with the scent of saltwater and diesel fumes. The flickering light from the streetlamps cast long dancing shadows across the cracked pavement, and I could hear the sound of waves lapping against the piers.
The eerie quiet made my palms feel clammy.
Massimo stood beside me, his eyes scanning the darkened area with a dark, calculated look.
“We have to make this look real,” Massimo murmured, his voice low and steady. “Raffaele will be watching, waiting for any sign that we’re onto him.”
I nodded, my heart racing. “I know. But if everything goes according to plan, he won’t see what’s coming.”
Massimo turned to me, his expression serious. “Are you sure about this, Sofia? If something goes wrong, it could put you in real danger.”
I met his gaze, my resolve firm. “I’m sure,” I replied. “We need to expose Raffaele for what he is, and this is the only way to doit. If we can gather enough intel tonight, we can blow his whole operation wide open.”
Massimo nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You’ve got guts,la mia bambina. I’ll give you that.”
I smiled back, feeling a surge of confidence. “I’ve learned from the best.”
Massimo leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear. “I’m not losing you tonight,” he whispered.
I nodded, a shiver running down my spine at the heat in his voice. “I’m not going anywhere,” I promised.
Imoved toward the warehouse entrance, my heels clicking softly against the pavement. I could see a few of Raffaele’s men scattered around the area, trying to blend in, but their movements were too deliberate and too calculated. I knew that they were here to watch me, to make sure I went through with the plan. They had no idea they were walking into a trap of their own.
As I reached the door, I paused, glancing around to ensure we hadn’t been followed.
The warehouse was filled with stacks of crates and pallets. I could feel my heart racing in my chest as I moved deeper inside, knowing that every step brought us closer to the end goal.
Massimo’s men were already in position, concealed among the crates, their guns ready. I had to trust that they were as prepared as we were. The plan was simple but risky: draw Raffaele out,make him think he was in control, and then trap him in his own deception.
Massimo wasn’t here—not visibly, at least. He was waiting nearby, hidden with his men, ready to strike if things went sideways. We had planned every detail of the operation, gone over it again and again, making sure there were no loose ends, no mistakes. Everything had to go off without a hitch.
And so far, it had.
I reached the center of the warehouse and stopped, my eyes scanning the area. A few moments later, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I turned to see one of Raffaele’s men, a tall, wiry figure with a sharp gaze, moving toward me.
“Sofia,” he greeted, his voice low. “Raffaele wants an update. Are you ready?”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “I’m ready.”
The man nodded and turned away, pulling out his phone to make the call.
I took a deep breath, raising my voice slightly. “Tell Raffaele I’m ready to proceed,” I called out. “But he should know that I’m not doing this for him. I’m doing this for me.”
The man paused, turning back to look at me with a suspicious expression. “What do you mean?” he asked.
I shrugged, playing my part. “Let’s just say… I’ve realized I need to start looking out for myself. And if that means making a deal with Raffaele, so be it.”
The man narrowed his eyes, but he nodded slowly. “I’ll let him know,” he said, turning back to his phone.
Minutes passed, and then I heard the sound of more footsteps—heavier this time. I turned to see Raffaele himself walking into the warehouse, flanked by two of his men. He looked calm, confident, like a man who thought he was holding all the cards.
“Sofia,” he greeted with a smile, his eyes gleaming. “I see you’ve made the right decision.”