So dangerously close to the end of this book. My last update in the year 2023. Or maybe I will post one just before the new year. can you believe it, the year is going to end in two days.

Sandy's POV:

These bastards had a house near the docks in case anything went wrong. boss is going to kill them soon.

As we split up, my heart pounded in my chest, the weight of the mission heavy on my shoulders. I knew that capturing Ivan, Adrian, and Sergey was crucial, but little did I anticipate the shocking turn of events that awaited us.

Scanning the area, my eyes darted from one hiding spot to another, searching for any sign of our targets. The tension in the air was palpable as we navigated the deserted alleyways.

I whispered to the team, my voice filled with urgency, "Keep your eyes peeled, everyone. We need to find them quickly."

With bated breath, I continued my search, hope and anxiety wrestling within me. And then, Sylvie's voice broke through the silence, her tone barely above a whisper.

"I've got eyes on Adrian! He's over there, by the abandoned warehouse."

A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I turned my gaze towards the indicated location. Adrian, one of our targets, was within reach. But there was still more to be done.

Kathy, known for her resourcefulness, chimed in, providing valuable information.

"Sergey is behind those crates. We can't let them escape!"

Her words fueled my determination. Sergey, another key player, was close by. We were getting closer to achieving our goal.

Albert clashed with Adrian in a furious exchange of blows, each strike reverberating through the halls.

"Take this, Adrian!" Albert grunted, determination etched on his face.

Adrian, smirking in response, parried the blows effortlessly. "You think you can defeat me?"

Noah engaged in a relentless struggle with Sergey, their movements a blur of strikes and dodges. "You're not as tough as you think, Sergey!" Noah taunted, trying to get under Sergey's skin.

"You'll regret those words!" Sergey growled, retaliating with fierce determination.

Amidst the chaos, Kathy swiftly manoeuvred through the bloodshed, her daggers finding their mark with deadly precision. "Blink, and you miss," she smirked, revelling in her agile attacks.

But there was still one missing piece in the puzzle. Ivan, the mastermind behind it all, remained elusive. The thought of facing him sent shivers down my spine, but I couldn't let fear consume me. We had a job to do.

As we continued our search, I strained my senses, my eyes scanning every nook and cranny. And then, a chilling realization struck me. Ivan was nowhere to be found. He must be hiding, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

But just as uncertainty threatened to overwhelm me, a glimmer of opportunity emerged in the chaos. A commotion erupted nearby, drawing my attention. The sound of fists colliding filled the air.

Instinct guided me towards the source of the disturbance. Pushing through the crowd, I saw Ivan engaged in a fierce fight with another member of our gang. Without hesitation, I joined the fight, determination fueling every blow.

As the battle raged on, Ivan's resistance began to wane. With one final strike, I managed to disarm him, pinning him to the ground. Victory was within our grasp.

"It ends here, Ivan," I declared with grim determination. everything stopped as I placed my gun on his forehead- all his men kneeled and surrendered. Oh well.

"It doesn't matter. You're too late," Ivan taunted, coughing as I dealt a decisive blow.

Breathing heavily, I demanded, "Now, tell me where Isabella is!"

But Ivan, smirking through his pain, replied cryptically, "It doesn't matter. You're too late."

"I shot her. She's dying," he gasped, his voice laced with malice. Shock and disbelief coursed through me like a lightning bolt. Gritting my teeth, I tightened my grip on Ivan, my resolve solidifying. Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention towards our gang's base, where Ivan would face the consequences of his heinous actions.

His defiant smirk remained, but I couldn't let him revel in his arrogance. "You shot Isabella," I spat, fury burning in my chest. "Tell me the truth!"

Suddenly, Liam stormed into the scene, his eyes blazing with fury. The stench of gunpowder lingered as he brandished his bloodied weapon, surveying the aftermath of the chaotic battle. What use was informing him? It was still too late. Even though I betrayed my gang- I told Liam about Isabella's plan hoping that he would be able to keep her safe but..

"What the hell is going on here?" Liam bellowed, his voice cutting through the tense air. His gaze shifted between the fallen adversaries and his comrades.

Ivan's laughter filled the room, but before he could respond, Liam intervened. The room fell silent as Liam, with a gun pointed at Ivan, demanded an explanation.

"We were trying to capture him, Liam. He shot Isabella," I explained, my voice strained from the intense confrontation.

Liam's eyes locked onto Ivan, his fury evident. "You son of a..." he began, the promise of retribution hanging in the air.

Ivan, still smirking defiantly, spat out, "Go ahead. End me."

Ivan's defiant laughter echoed in the room, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Isabella is dying, you know," he sneered, revelling in the shock that rippled through our ranks. "Three bullets, each one a testament to the consequences of crossing me."

Sylvie clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing with fury. "You won't get away with this, Ivan."

Kathy, fueled by anger, raised her weapon. "she never did you any harm but all you did was torture her"

Noah, his face a mask of determination, stepped forward. "You've underestimated us, Ivan. Our leader's sacrifice won't be in vain."

Albert, wiping blood from his lip, spoke through gritted teeth. "We'll make sure you pay for what you've done."

I struggled to contain my rage, my hands trembling with the desire to wipe that smug grin off Ivan's face. Liam's expression darkened, the weight of Isabella's condition fueling his anger.

Ivan continued to taunt us, his words cutting through the air like a poisoned blade. "You think you can defy me? Isabella's fate is sealed, and there's nothing any of you can do to change that. You're all just pawns in a game that I control."

Sylvie lunged at him, but I held her back, knowing that succumbing to Ivan's provocations would only play into his hands.

"Save your energy," Ivan mocked. "You're going to need it when you realize that the game is already over. Isabella made her choice, and now she's paying the price."

Liam's gaze bore into Ivan, his finger tightening on the trigger. But I lashed out in frustration, accusing Liam amidst the turmoil. I couldn't hold back my accusation against him even if he was our boss.

"Don forgive me for saying this but if you hadn't informed the Don of the American Mafia that Isabella was his long-lost sister, If you hadn't done that when she never cared for her biological family, all this wouldn't have happened—she wouldn't have died."The air was thick with tension as I couldn't hold back my frustration.

Albert stepped forward, his expression stern, "Sandy, he's the Don. You can't just accuse him like that."

Kathy added, "We need to focus on the enemies right now. We can deal with this later."

Noah, occupied with surveying the aftermath, chimed in, "Save it for after we're done here. Right now, Ivan and his goons are our priority."

Sylvie, cleaning her dagger, said, "Sandy, accusing Liam won't help Isabella. Let's finish this fight first."

But I couldn't let it go. The frustration boiled within me. "He's the reason she's in this mess. He exposed her to a world that was never hers."

Liam responded with a calm but firm demeanour. "I did what I believed was necessary to protect the family. Let's address the captured enemies first. We can discuss personal matters later."

"He's been captured. We need to take him to our gang's base for questioning." Noah said breaking the awkward and tense atmosphere.

"Take care of all this mess I am going to the hospital- no need to come" he commanded before leaving.

"I hope she is fine," Sylvie said thoughtfully.

" She always pulls through- always, "I said sighing. Even this time she will, she has to.

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