Prior to the explosion...

"Sniper on top of the west side of the building!"

"More guards heading toward the breached gate. I can count at least seven trucks around the perimeter."

The calls kept coming in as Julian sped through the property, a squad of cars following ours and ready for Xavier's command. I held my gun steady, waiting for my time to strike.

Xavier started barking orders.

"I need someone to take out that damned sniper. Josh, you're up. No explosions and be careful when firing at the warehouse– we don't know where they're keeping the girls!" Xavier said before turning on the radio. "Everyone spread out. We need to take out their defense to get in."

The warehouse was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees and empty streets. It was mostly dark, with few street lights along the roads. The sky was clear for the full moon to shine our surroundings.

It was a private property, so we wouldn't have to worry about collateral damage or civilians passing by.

Which meant I wouldn't feel an ounce of guilt on what we were about to do.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Josh began moving around beside me, grabbing a large bag that carried his weapon. "I need to get to higher ground. Drop me off so I can climb one of the trees. I'll take out any snipers on the roof and meet you there."

Julian stopped the car so his twin could hop out. Josh quickly blended into the shadows, out of sight.

"Park here. We're going on foot with some of the men. We'll leave the car here and one of the men will watch it. The other cars will be the big offense while we pick them off. Let's go." Xavier instructed.

I held my gun up, went into the shadows, and stealthily maneuvered through the darkness.

Hearing shouting and gunfire, I knew we entered the battlefield.

I kept my eye on any guards, effectively getting rid of the threat. Those fuckers were nothing but objects in the way.

I quickly hid behind a tree to block the bullets fired in my direction. Xavier moved to another tree before returning fire, taking three men down quickly. The sounds of gunfire echoed through as our backup kept shooting. The familiar battle adrenaline filled my veins as I shot another person.

"Do you have eyes on Julian?" Xavier asked as he reloaded his gun.

I checked my surroundings before letting out a curse when a bullet made some bark on the tree explode. I felt it rain down my head, but I brushed the fragments off.

I quickly looked out again and spotted Julian slice a man's throat and then drop him like a sack of potatoes. He attacked his next unsuspecting victim, who screamed in agony as he too fell to Julian's knives.

"Found him." I muttered before taking aim at a person behind Julian.

"Sniper down. Clear above ground but I see men on the ground. Most are hiding around the warehouse. The cars are about two minutes out from the entrance." Josh updated in my earpiece.

"All right, move in. We're about half a mile away. Josh, meet us down here to back your brother. The other men can surround them around the warehouse. Send a group to see if they can find the location of the girls." Xavier spoke and made a gesture for everyone to move forward.

We kept moving. I didn't hesitate to fire at anyone that wasn't a part of my team. The blood didn't faze me as I continued toward my goal.

We just spotted the warehouse when one of the men called through the comms.

"Sir, an unidentified vehicle has been spotted going to a gate on the east. It seems to be a black Land Cruiser. I spot four men in the vehicle, including Lorenzo Diablo. They were heading towards the warehouse and now seem to be turning around. Do we take it down?"

I perked at the mention of that name, my entire body tensing. Xavier noticed my reaction.

"Stop the car and make sure they don't escape. Do not eliminate Diablo and await orders," Xavier said before facing me. We stayed back while the others kept moving. "Do you want to take him out? I won't blame you if you did."

I was torn, wanting to hunt Lorenzo down and finding Rosaline. My need for vengeance was fighting against my protective instincts.

"I need to make sure she's safe–"

"We can handle that. You two go." Josh and Julian appeared, splatters of blood all over them. "We'll get the girls out, trust us on that. We'll tell you when we're safe." Josh reassured me.

"Make sure the son of a bitch dies." Julian growled, holding his blood-covered knife. "Make him suffer."

I gauged the twins' expressions and nodded. They would do whatever it took to get Jasmine and Rosaline back. If we didn't go after Lorenzo now, he'd disappear and we may not be able to find him again. Gritting my teeth, I prayed to whoever was listening that Rosaline was going to come out of this safe.

"Take them to the car and drive. Don't stop for anyone, got it?" I ground out.

The cocoon of numbness that I had built around myself was beginning to crack.

Tick, tick, tick, tick.

Xavier clapped me on the back.

"We haven't done a solo mission together in quite a while. Let's take down the bastard." he said with a laugh, trying to help lessen the chaos inside me.

But that wouldn't happen until Lorenzo was six feet under.

"Go!" I barked at the twins and they quickly advanced toward the warehouse.

Xavier and I ran east. We stayed in the shadows, not encountering anyone since we'd forced Lorenzo's men to fall back. If we ran into any trouble, we still had men at the perimeter who could easily neutralize the threat.

I ran with Xavier on my tail, but I didn't let it deter me. It was only a few minutes later when I began to hear gunshots.

"They're coming this way," Xavier muttered and gestured at me to remain unseen. "Those tailing Diablo, what's the situation?"

"Sir, we took out the vehicle but Diablo got away and had two men behind him. One of them is down from the crash, but still alive. They shot one of our men and he's critical. We sent him out with another group. Pursuing targets now to the east." an agent said through the earpiece. I heard ruffles from them running.

"You're heading in our direction. Pull back. Stay in the area in case we need backup, but those three are ours." Xavier instructed them.

"Yes, sir." The agent responded, not questioning that we could handle them on our own.

The gunfire stopped as the agents pulled back. I pulled out my silencer from one of my pockets and attached it to my gun, not wanting Lorenzo to figure out which direction I was firing from.

At the first glimpse of movement, I pulled the trigger. One of the men fell, clutching their shoulder, as another person began firing in the wrong direction.

Xavier, who didn't have his silencer on, proceeded in the opposite direction to distract them. I searched for Lorenzo, wondering where he was when someone tugged on my shoulder and punched me in the jaw.

I grunted when Lorenzo grabbed my wrist and twisted it, making me drop my gun. I kneed him in the gut, causing him to stumble back. I quickly looked down to find my weapon, but it was too dark to see anything.

Lorenzo kicked me in the ribs and I doubled over. I could make him out in the moonlight, a crazed look in his eye.

"I was hoping you would be here. I'm not surprised that you survived those men I sent earlier. It was more of a test to see your skills. The more I learn about you, the more interesting you become." Lorenzo clicked his tongue, examining me with a strange fascination. I was like I was being dissected piece by piece.

I stood up straight and glared at the man who caused pain and suffering to not only Rosaline but thousands of people.

He didn't care that he sent men to their deaths when they came after us earlier today. Lorenzo just wanted to see who he was really up against.

He wanted to see how interesting I was.

Tick, tick, tick, tick...

"You're done, Lorenzo. Your empire, your power and position– it's all crumbling. You are not getting out of this. By the end of the night, your blood will be soaking the ground. How's that for interesting?"

Lorenzo tilted his head, stalking around me. I didn't see him holding any weapons, but that didn't mean he wasn't armed.

"You truly believe that, have the confidence and power to think that? I have some suspicions about you and your work Mr. Cohen. You're not some VP of a security agency that sits behind a desk. You have just as many resources and power as we do. There is no way you would have found this location without it.

"It's very impressive. Who do you work for? The Mafia? The government?"

I chuckled darkly. "Neither. But you'll never know the full extent of it. You are just a blip on our radar that I need to take out."

Lorenzo gave me a chilling smile. "You convince me more and more that we are alike in a way. We will do whatever it takes to get what we want. And do you know what I want?"

Lorenzo pulled out a small remote.

"A worthy challenger to tear to pieces. Hearing people plead and beg can be thrilling...but also get boring. I want to break you, just like I want to break those girls, especially Ms. Sinclair. I was eager to torture her and listen to her screams of agony, but you are the bigger and more worthy threat that I need to attend to.

"Breaking you–" Lorenzo's finger hovered over the button. "–will be a lot more satisfying."

Lorenzo pressed the button and suddenly my earpiece was filled with reports of an explosion in the warehouse.

"A room has just been destroyed, along with the prisoners inside of it. How unfortunate," Lorenzo shrugged casually as he dropped the remote on the ground. "Now the real fun begins."

Boom.

I lunged at Lorenzo and he was ready.

Lorenzo Diablo was a skilled fighter, able to match my moves and counter them. But while he was cold and detached, I was filled with anger and purpose. I wanted him to hurt.

I was able to get really good hits in, getting Lorenzo's face to swell and bruise and hitting his ribs hard enough to fracture them. However, Lorenzo was able to create a split lip and did something painful to my torso that flared with agony whenever I turned the upper part of my body.

I whipped my military knife out and slashed his wrist, making him hiss.

"Ah, bringing weapons. Exciting." Lorenzo swiftly brought out his own knife and struck. I ducked to avoid him cutting my throat and groaned when he caught me behind the left shoulder.

He pulled back, and I knew that he created a deep cut as pain flared. I gripped my shoulder while I dodged another strike, moving on to defense.

Blood streamed down my body from the wound as I maneuvered myself out of range. Lorenzo pounced, swinging again when a shot was fired. A flood of blood washed down his arm that was holding the knife. He dropped the blade and clapped a hand on his own shoulder.

"Seemed fair to shoot you in the shoulder since you wounded Damon in the same spot," Xavier stated casually, holding his gun steady. Lorenzo charged at him, but Xavier shot both of his kneecaps, and he fell with a scream.

"That's enough running around for you. Damon, I have the gun you carelessly dropped on the ground, Asshole."

"Fuck you." I spoke through the searing pain, relieved Xavier was there to have my back. Xavier came over to look at the wound on my shoulder.

"It looks deep. We're going to need to get that looked at soon. I can wrap it up to slow the bleeding." Xavier offered but I waved him off.

"In a moment. I have to deal with some scum first. He caused the explosion." I gestured to the man trying to crawl away. I ignored my pain and walked over to stomp my foot on the back of his knee, putting pressure on his wound and hearing a crack.

I felt a sick sense of satisfaction when Lorenzo cried out again. "Where in the hell do you think you are going?"

Xavier stayed back, letting me have this moment that I needed and keeping an eye on my injuries.

Lorenzo turned to look at me. His face held no fear, only pain, defiance, and...amusement?

It was strange seeing the emotion behind his usual mask. But I saw everything that I needed to know. He had no remorse for his actions or the damage that he had caused. He cared for no one but himself, and he was revealing the depths of lunacy.

"And you say we're not alike? You're willing to beat a man into nothing and enjoy it. Do it." Lorenzo spat out some blood before giving me a demonic smile.

The eagerness in his tone made me hesitate. I stared at him when Julian spoke into my earpiece.

"They're secure and heading home. Do your worst, boss."

Relief filled me, knowing Rosaline was safe and Lorenzo's explosion hadn't worked. But the tension wouldn't leave my shoulders, not until the job was done. I gave Diablo a smile, something occurring to me.

"It seemed you failed, Lorenzo. Rosaline is safe. I was planning on making you suffer, but I realize now that you would prefer it. You're used to being feared and seen as a dark god. The memory of your gruesome death would live on and the legacy of how you were taken down would bring fear to your enemies.

"In your fucking twisted mind, this is a perfect ending for you– but I won't give it to you. You never cared for your victims and treated them like garbage. What better way to end you than to kill you in an insignificant way? No one will fear you again because the world will see the weak man that you truly are. Just as human and flawed."

That seemed to strike a nerve. Fury and fear entered Lorenzo's eyes.

There it was.

"Ah, we've got ourselves an extreme masochist," Xavier inputted and I couldn't help but smile at the comment. "A man who basks in pain to others and himself. I guess he chose you to inflict his punishment, Damon."

What a clusterfuck of a man. Absolutely psychotic.

"No. I know you want to hurt me. I can see it in your eyes, the amount of anger and violence. I see myself in you. There is blood on your hands and destruction. You will always remember me and you will live in regret for letting me die quickly." Lorenzo said with a sneer, not believing that I would let him off so easily.

But I wasn't. I was ruining his reputation and his control over his empire, his pleasure at creating suffering for those around him.

I raised my gun, pointing it steadily at him.

"That's where you're wrong. I am nothing like you...and I'll never give a shit about you again. But I want you to know that this is for Angelo De Luca, the man you killed and who was your downfall. Angelo is the one helping me pull this trigger."

"Wait–"

The sound of the gunshot echoed in the air and then all was silent.

Lorenzo Diablo and his reign of terror were over.

~*~

"I knew I should've wrapped you up before." Xavier grumbled as he supported my weight. "Now I have to drag your stupid ass in the dark."

Pain overtook my body after I dealt with Lorenzo. My shoulder was throbbing and was beginning to get light headed from the blood loss.

Xavier called for backup as we walked away from Lorenzo's body. He also was able to wrap my shoulder, which he claimed was the worst of my injuries.

"You're lucky that we have medics. You are probably going to need stitches and a blood transfusion."

I just grunted, not even bothering with a response when we spotted one of our large trucks. I just wanted to go home to Rosaline, to see she was safe with my own eyes.

A middle-aged woman jumped out of the car and ushered me inside. She was also wearing gear, her vest number saying she was Thirty.

The truck was large, holding a gurney and lots of shelves full of supplies. Xavier told her about some of my injuries and Thirty nodded, instructing me to sit on the stretcher. She took out some bandages and antiseptic wipes to start cleaning my wounds, starting with my hands.

I didn't fight her. There was a reason she was in our group and on this mission, so I trusted her that she was doing the best she could to patch me up.

Xavier patted me gently on the back. "I'm going to give orders on the cleanup. I'll be right back and we can leave. I have to confirm the twins relocated to the right place since our home is being watched."

I nodded and let Xavier do his part to lead our group. Thirty finished wrapping my wounds before inspecting my shoulder.

"The bleeding has stopped, but you lost a lot of blood. We have the supplies for a transfusion. Let me set that up." Thirty swiftly prepped me, helping me take off my vest and putting the needle into the crook of my elbow. The woman then grabbed scissors to cut my shirt open.

"I'm about to inject some lidocaine. This will help numb the area so I can start cleaning and stitching." Thirty said and got to work.

Distantly, I heard Xavier talking to the men still here.

"Bring a team to clean up. Dump all the bodies that aren't ours in the building and burn it down. Take our fallen men and women home. We'll hold a service for them."

I heard an echo of agreement before Xavier jumped back into the truck and closed the doors. A few moments later we began driving away. Using my good arm, I pulled out my earpiece.

"Well, that went well." I grunted and Xavier let out a snort before nodding.

"Not the messiest thing we've ever done. It's almost over. For now, let's get back and rest. We've earned it. Good job, Asshole. You may have killed Lorenzo quickly, but you made a disgrace of him. Brilliant." Xavier praised me, and I shook my head, looking out the window at the door.

"He doesn't deserve even us talking about him now. He was nothing but a monster, and doesn't deserve any form of recognition– which will be impossible when the news of his death and crimes come out. I just wanted to show him how insignificant he is to me and my future."

As we drove away from the property, I saw an 'O' spray-painted over the large gate. Xavier let out a smirk at the sight of the Organization logo.

I closed my eyes and gripped my rose charm, eager to see my Flower's face again.