I couldn’t stop.
Because behind him, movement cut through the dim light.
Two shadows slipped forward, controlled and silent, closingthe distance with a precision that made my pulse spike for an entirely different reason.
Luca didn’t notice. His focus stayed locked on me, drawn tighter with every second my laughter continued.
His hand lifted again, fury sharpening his features as he leaned in, ready to strike—
The metallic click of a gun being cocked sounded beside his head.
It was quiet.
But it might as well have been deafening.
Luca froze.
“Do it,” Silas said, his voice low and lethal, right at Luca’s ear. “And I willfucking end you.”
Luca went completely still.
Knox moved the second Silas’ threat landed, stepping behind me and working quickly at undoing my restraints. His hands were steady, efficient, untying every knot with ease, as if he’d done it a hundred times before.
“You’re alright,” he said in my ear, calm and grounding. “We’ve got you.”
The ropes loosened, slipping away from my wrists, and sensation rushed back to my hands in tingling waves. My lungs drew a shaky breath.
“Where am I?” I managed to ask him.
“Industrial District,” Knox answered, not slowing his movements. “South side, storage facility.”
I sighed, “Of course.”
Knox’s eyes flicked to mine, something impressed passing through them.
“We thought like you,” he said.
Behind us, the tension snapped.
Silas didn’t wait.
The gun lowered just enough, and his fist drove forward, connecting with Luca’s face with a sickening crack that bounced off the walls. Luca staggered back, barely catching himself before another hit followed, then another, each one controlled but brutal, fueled by rage.
Luca tried to recover, to raise his hands, but he was already too late. Silas stayed on him, relentless, every strike precise, leaving no room for retaliation.
It wasn’t a fight.
It was a punishment.
“Marco said he was on his—” I reminded him.
“Ten minutes,” Silas cut in, voice grunting with strain. “We heard. It’s just enough time.”
Luca made a broken sound, something between a cough and a plea, his body already failing under the weight of the blows. Silas didn’t slow, didn’t hesitate, driving him down until he collapsed face-first onto the concrete, barely conscious.
“Please…” Luca rasped weakly.
Silas stilled.
