Chapter 19: Chapter 19

841 words

<html><head></head><body>(POV: Isabella) Smoke filled the bunker, seeping through every crack and crevice. The explosion had shaken the walls, and the air was thick with panic and tension. I covered my mouth with my arm as I stumbled through the chaos, searching for Enzo. He had been near the entrance moments ago, shouting orders to Vince. Now, I couldn't see him through the haze. "Elena!" I called out, hoping she hadn't been caught in the blast. A shadow moved ahead, and I hurried toward it, only to find Tony clutching his side, blood staining his shirt. "Tony, you're hurt," I said, rushing to support him. "I'm fine," he growled, though his face was pale and drenched in sweat. "Have you seen Vince?" I shook my head, my heart pounding. "No. What's going on? Who set off the explosion?" Tony's jaw clenched as he looked around. "This wasn't an accident. Someone inside triggered it to create a distraction." A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. "The mole" Before Tony could respond, a figure emerged from the smoke-Vince, his face twisted in fury. "What the hell is going on?" Vince demanded, his eyes darting between us. Tony straightened despite his injury. "You tell me. Where were you when the explosion went off?" Vince's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp as a blade. "Are you accusing me?" The tension between them was palpable, and I stepped between them, raising my hands. "Stop it! This isn't the time for this!" But even as I said the words, doubt began to creep into my mind. Someone had betrayed us, and the cracks in our group were growing wider with every passing second. (POV: Enzo) The bunker was a war zone. Smoke and debris clouded the air, but my mind was razor-sharp, cutting through the chaos. "Elena!" I shouted, pushing past fallen debris. I found her crouched in a corner, clutching a small device in her hand. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear-or was it guilt? "What are you doing?" I demanded, grabbing her arm and yanking her to her feet. She stammered, trying to pull away. "I-I was trying to deactivate the traps! I thought-" "Don't lie to me," I snarled, my grip tightening. "What aren't you telling me, Elena?" Before she could answer, Vince and Tony appeared, their faces a mixture of anger and suspicion. "Found her lurking near the surveillance room," Vince said coldly, his gun pointed at Elena. "Care to explain why?" Elena's eyes darted to me, pleading. "Enzo, you have to trust me. The Morettis they're already inside." "Inside?" Tony repeated, his voice dripping with disbelief. "That's impossible. We've been watching the perimeter." "She's lying," Vince spat, his gun steady. But I saw something in Elena's eyes that stopped me. She was terrified, but not of us. "They're already here," she whispered, her voice trembling. "And one of you is helping them." The weight of her words settled like a stone in my chest. "Who?" I demanded, my voice a low growl. Elena hesitated, her gaze flickering to Vince. "Him." Vince's laugh was bitter and sharp. "Of course. Blame me. That's convenient." But the moment he spoke, something shifted. Tony's expression darkened, and I could feel the tension crackling in the air. "Prove it," I said, my voice cold and commanding. Before anyone could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from the corridor. "They're here," Elena whispered, her face pale as a ghost. (POV: Vince) The footsteps grew louder, each one sending a shiver down my spine. I gripped my gun tightly, my mind racing. Elena's accusation lingered in the air, poisoning every glance, every word. I could feel their eyes on me, their distrust suffocating. "You really think I'd sell you out?" I said, my voice low and dangerous. No one answered. The footsteps stopped, and the door to the main room burst open. Moretti soldiers flooded in, their weapons trained on us. "Drop your guns!" one of them barked. I didn't hesitate. I fired, taking down the first soldier, but the others were faster. Chaos erupted as bullets tore through the air. Elena dove for cover, Tony and Isabella following suit. Enzo stood his ground, his aim deadly and precise. But even as I fought, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just an attack-it was a setup. When the dust settled, the room was littered with bodies, but the Morettis had retreated, leaving us battered and breathless. "What the hell was that?" Tony demanded, his voice raw with anger. Elena stepped forward, her face pale but resolute. "I told you. They knew exactly where to find us. And they had help." Her eyes met mine, and for the first time, doubt crept into my mind. "Vince" Enzo began, his voice hesitant. I raised my hands, frustration boiling over. "You really think I'm the mole? After everything we've been through?" No one answered, and the silence was louder than any accusation. As the group exchanged wary glances, a shadow moved in the corridor-a figure watching from the darkness. </body></html>