Page 100 of Always A Villain

He came for me.

The hum of power dies, drowning the villa in darkness. I exhale slowly, watching my team vanish into the shadows, weapons raised. My pulse pounds hard, a brutal countdown ticking in my ears.

Creed led us right to her. The sneaky bastard didn’t realize the Range Rover cameras caught everything—him luring Rory to his car. Thought he could play games. That ends tonight. He’s about to learn what real terror feels like. Spencer and I are finally aligned—hate locked on the same target. He wants Creed dead just as much as I do. Almost makes the intitled fuck tolerable.

The DeLuca compound sits on the outskirts of Naples, a fortress of arrogance and money. DeLuca thought his security, his tech, his army of mercs would protect him. Nothing’s stopping me tonight. I’ll leave a trail of bodiesfrom here to hell.

The skull mask is tight against my face, my breath hot against the fabric. Kane shifts beside me, coiled tight, lethal. He knows. He can smell it—blood is coming.

Guards swarm the property, armed to the teeth, nerves twitching. They know something’s coming—just not what. I feel my lips curl, finger resting on the trigger. This is my playground tonight. Anyone who gets in my way dies.

“Griff,” I mutter into the comm. “Light it up.”

A beat of silence. Then, Griffen’s voice: “Fire in the hole.”

The east side of the villa erupts. A shock wave rips through the night, fire swallowing the sky. I don’t wait for the dust to settle.

“Move!”

I charge forward, my team on my heels. Bullets rip through the air, bodies drop fast. My finger pulls the trigger, each shot clean, precise—throats blown out, heads snapping back, blood painting the walls.

Gunpowder and scorched flesh choke the air. Kane’s snarl cuts through, a warning, before he rips into a guard’s throat. The gurgling is brief. Kane yanks back, blood dripping from his fangs.

Good boy.

This is what I do. Unleash hell. Make nightmares real. Every life snuffed out is a message—I’m coming for her.

“We’ve got company!” Arsen shouts, his rifle spitting fire as more of DeLuca’s men spill out.

“Keep ’em busy,” I order. “I’m getting Rory.”

“Go!” Arsen barks back. “We’ll cover you!”

I sprint. Kane’s at my side, growling, ready to kill. Mymask is smeared with blood, sweat slicks my skin. Gunfire roars, bullets slicing past as I tear up the stairs. The villa shakes from the chaos, screams bouncing off marble walls.

Reaching the door, I kick it in. Wood splinters, the impact rattling through my bones.

A guard stares, wide-eyed, gun lifting. Too slow. Kane lunges, teeth sinking deep. The man shrieks and thrashes. Kane rips. A wet, crunching snap.

I don’t stop to watch him die.

Another guard rounds the corner, weapon raised. Kane moves first. Faster. He slams into him, jaws locking onto his throat. A second shot never comes. Crunch. Blood sprays the walls.

I don’t slow. I’ve memorized every inch of this place. My boots slam against marble, gun raised. I’m ready to tear this entire damn villa apart until she’s in my hands.

Ahead, double doors burst open. Guards flood through. I hit the floor, roll, fire. The first two drop, skulls splitting open. The next takes a shot to the throat, gurgling as he crumples. Blood paints the walls, pooling under shattered glass. I push forward, scanning, searching.

Rory, where the fuck are you?

A bullet sears past, grazing my shoulder. White-hot pain. I don’t flinch. Kane moves before I do, jaws locking around a guard’s throat. The bastard doesn’t even get a scream out before he’s done.

And then I see him—Antonio DeLuca. He’s standing at the far end of the room, sneering. My blood fucking boils.

“Where is she?” I growl from behind the mask.

“You’ll never find her.” He grins with a fuckingpunchable face.

My gun answers for me. A warning shot rips into the wall, inches from his head. The smirk falters. Another man lifts his weapon—too slow. I fire. He drops before he even registers he’s dead.