MATTEO’s POV
I sat behind my desk, sipping my coffee and going over the latest financial reports for Marino Industries. It’s a typical Monday morning, until suddenly, my office door bursts open, and Carter rushes in.
“Boss, I have a lead on Anthonio,” he said, out of breath.
My eyes snapped up from the papers in front of me. “What kind of lead?”
Carter hesitated, his eyes darting around the room. “I’m not entirely sure, but I have a source that says he’s hiding in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town.”
I set my coffee down, my mind racing. Anthonio has been a thorn in my flesh for months now, evading me at every turn. But if Carter’s lead is real…
“Tell me more,” I said, my voice low and even.
Carter nodded, pulling out his phone.
“My source says Anthonio is hiding with a small group of loyalists. They’re armed and dangerous, but if we move quickly, we might be able to catch them off guard.”
I nodded, my mind already racing with strategies. “Get the team together. We’ll move out in an hour.”
Carter nodded and turned to leave, but I stopped him. “Wait.” He turned back to me, his eyes questioning.
“Be careful, Carter. Anthonio is not to be underestimated. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants.”
Carter smiled, his face set in a determined expression. “I understand, Matteo. We’ll be careful.”
I smirked, my mind already turning to the task at hand. I will finally get my revenge on Anthonio, and no one will stand in my way.
I dismissed Carter. “Go, get the team ready. I’ll meet you at the warehouse in an hour.”
“Yes boss”
Carter hurried out of my office, leaving me to my thoughts. I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing with strategies and possibilities. I could finally put an end to Anthonio’s betrayal and make him pay for what he’s done.
As I sat there, my thoughts drifted back to Aria. She’s been quiet lately, too quiet. I know she’s plotting another escape, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was. I made a mental note to keep a closer eye on her, to make sure she doesn’t get any ideas about escaping or betraying me.
But for now, my focus was on Anthonio. I stood up, my eyes scanning the room as I mentally prepared myself for the battle ahead. I will not rest until Anthonio is dead, and I have taken down all the men working for him.
I grabbed my gun and shoved it into my holster, my mind racing in anticipation. I couldn’t believe I finally had a lead on Anthonio’s whereabouts. Without hesitation, I sprinted to my car, not waiting for the hour I had set out. I flung open the door, slid into the driver’s seat, and fired up the engine. The tires screeched as I drove out of the parking lot, leaving a cloud of dust in my wake.
I sped through the streets, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel my adrenaline surging, my senses on high alert. I was alone, without backup, but I didn’t care. I was determined to take down Anthonio, no matter what. Anthonio. Anthonio. Oh, how I hated that name. I wanted to meet him and show him how much I hated him.
As I approached the warehouse, I could feel my gut tightening. This is it the moment of truth. I pulled into the parking lot, my eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. The warehouse loomed before me, its walls towering and imposing. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the car.
The silence was oppressive, the only sound of the creaking of the old building in the wind. I drew my gun, my hand steady, and moved towards the entrance. My heart was racing, my senses on high alert. I was ready for anything.
I creeped through the underbrush, my gun in my hand, my eyes fixed on my surroundings. I hated him so much that I wanted to tear him apart fiber for fiber slowly as he screamed uncontrollably.
As I got closer, I saw him. Anthonio. Surrounded by his loyal guards, their guns drawn, their eyes scanning the surroundings with a mixture of fear and paranoia. Anthonio himself looked calm, collected, his eyes fixed on me with a cold, calculating gaze. I gasped. It looked like he was expecting me. Was this all a trap?
I could feel my anger rising, my finger tightening on the trigger. This is it, the moment I’ve been waiting for. I took a step forward, my gun trained on Anthonio, my eyes locked on his.
“You’re a hard man to find, Anthonio,” I said, my voice low and even.
Anthonio smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Matteo,” he says, his voice dripping with contempt. “I’ve been expecting you.”
The guards moved closer, their guns raised, forming a tight circle around Anthonio. I could feel my hands shaking, my body fidgeting slightly. I knew i was outnumbered, outgunned. But I didn’t care. I was here for one reason, and one reason only: to take down Anthonio.
Anthonio’s smirk grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Matteo, Matteo, Matteo,” he says, his voice dripping with malice. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. But, alas, I don’t want you dead just yet.”
He paused, his gaze lingering on me .”You see, Matteo, you’re far too valuable to me alive. Your… persistence, your determination, it’s quite impressive, really. And I have a feeling that you’ll be much more useful to me as a pawn in my game, rather than a corpse at my feet.”
His eyes seemed to bore into my soul, as if he’s searching for something hidden deep within me. “No, Matteo, I have far greater plans for you. Plans that involve pain, suffering, and…”. I zoned out. Everything about him screamed animalistic. No one frightened me ever, but this man before me did. “You see, I know your secrets, Matteo. I know what drives you, what motivates you. And I’ll use that knowledge to destroy everything you hold dear.”
His guards moved closer, their guns still trained on me, as Anthonio took a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re going to beg for mercy, Matteo. You’re going to plead for your life. And I’ll enjoy every moment of it.”
The sound of screeching tires and revving engines echoed through the air, growing louder by the second. Anthonio’s eyes flicker towards the entrance, a hint of surprise and annoyance flashing across his face.
“Ah, it seems our little reunion has been interrupted,” he says, his voice dripping with irritation.
Without another word, his men sprung into action, creating a diversion as they quickly scatter and disappear into the shadows. Anthonio himself turned to me, a cold smile spreading across his face.
“Until next time, Matteo,” he says, his voice low and menacing. “Until next time.” He shouted, and I pulled my trigger till all the bullets were out. I screamed at the top of my voice when he vanished into the chaos, leaving me standing alone and frustrated as Carter and his team burst into the warehouse, guns drawn.
“What the hell happened?” Carter demands, his eyes scanning the empty space.
I shook my head, my anger and frustration boiling over. “Anthonio was here,” I growled. ” He got away.”
Carter’s face turned sour. “We’ll get him next time,” he says. “We won’t let him slip away again.”
But I knew better. Anthonio always seemed to be one step ahead, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was playing a far more sinister game than I could ever imagine.