Chapter 23
“Run, Tessa!” Gabe fought for the weapon. Tessa did not freeze. The survival instinct that had kept her alive in those streets took over. She grabbed the box and envelope and ran for the living room. She made it only 2 steps into the hallway before the front door flew open. 2 more men entered. Young. Adrenalized. Malicious. Tessa stopped. She backed away. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Gabe was fighting for his life behind her. Thomas was dead. 1 of the men smiled. “Look at this.” His crooked teeth showed. “The boss’s new pet.” He stepped toward her. “Grab her. We take her. Rossi gives us the port.” He lunged. Tessa swung the heavy wooden jewelry box with every ounce of strength she possessed. It struck his nose. The box splintered. The man howled and staggered backward while blood poured down his face. The second man cursed and drew his weapon. He did not aim to kill her. He aimed toward her legs.
They needed her alive. Tessa squeezed her eyes closed. She thought about Mia. The little girl sitting at the oak table, counting on her fingers. I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. The gunshot never came. Instead, the apartment wall exploded inward. A heavy matte-black battering ram, carried by 2 Rossi enforcers, tore through the front door frame and half the surrounding drywall. The Moretti men spun around. Zo stepped through the wreckage. He was not wearing a suit. A dark tactical vest covered a black shirt. A Sig Sauer P226 was in his hand. The cold corporate architect of the syndicate had disappeared. The monster remained. He did not hesitate. He did not warn them. Zo raised the pistol and fired twice. The man aiming at Tessa collapsed. 2 rounds struck his chest. The man with the broken nose reached toward his weapon and lifted his hands. “Wait. Wait—” Zo fired into his throat.
