Chapter 20
Gali
I stood at the edge of the warehouse roof, gazing out over the city skyline. The neon lights of New Haven twinkled below, an illusion of normalcy amidst the criminal underworld that thrived beneath its surface. My heart pounded in my chest as I considered what I was about to do, the gravity of my decision settling heavily upon me.
El Lobo had to die. There could be no other way forward for us - for Norri and Orion, and the future we hoped to build together. As long as the Black Wolf lived, breathed, and commanded the cartel, we would never be free from the shadow of fear and violence he cast over our lives. Even if he ceased actively pursuing us, the constant knowledge of his presence, the possibility of another attempt on our lives...it was a burden too heavy to bear.
My mind drifted to Norri, back in our house with Orion. The love in his eyes when he looked at me, the trust he placed in me even now after all we'd endured...I couldn't fail him again. Couldn't allow my past sins to define our future. El Lobo had made it impossible for us to simply walk away unscathed; there was only one path left open to us, one means of ensuring a life truly free of danger and oppression.
I thought of Raze then, my former second-in-command who'd betrayed me so brutally. He was dead, as he should be. Before betraying me, Raze had unwittingly given me the key to ending everything. By revealing the location of the abandoned warehouse where the cartel used to store illicit goods, he'd provided me with the perfect stage for the final act in this bloody drama.
The warehouse sat unused, far removed from the prying eyes of the law and civilians alike. Its layout was still fresh in my mind, every alcove, every potential hiding place memorized from countless clandestine meetings held within those decaying walls. It was a fitting place to bring matters to a head, a ghost town where the specter of El Lobo could finally be laid to rest.
I pulled out my phone, dialing a number I knew all too well. The line rang twice before it was picked up. I thought he wasn't going to."Who is this?"The voice on the other end growled.
"Gali,"I replied succinctly. No need for pleasantries or preamble."Tell El Lobo I have information on a new threat moving into his territory. Tell him it's urgent, even though it's from me."
A pause followed, the sound of rustling papers and hushed voices. Then,"He'll meet you tomorrow night at the old warehouse on the docks. Come alone."Click. The call disconnected.
I smiled grimly, tucking my phone back into my pocket. El Lobo would come, drawn in by the tantalizing promise of new enemies ripe for conquest. His arrogance would be his undoing, just as it always had been. He'd think himself safe, invincible, secure in the belief that no one dared challenge his dominion over New Haven.
But I wasn't 'no one'. I was Gali, his right-hand man turned renegade, the alpha he should have killed long ago instead of exiling me. And tomorrow night, I would show him the folly of sparing my life once more. This time, I wouldn't miss.
Over the next several hours, I meticulously prepared the warehouse for my confrontation with El Lobo. Using old blueprints I'd managed to procure through a shady contact, I mapped out the best routes for setting traps and rigging explosives. Not to destroy the structure entirely — I needed somewhere to finish things with El Lobo — but rather to control his movements once inside.
With careful precision, I installed trip wires and motion sensors, rigged up smoke grenades and flash bangs. Anything to disorient and confuse, to give me the advantage in close quarters. I even went so far as to plant small diversions around the perimeter of the building, loud noises, and simple obstacles designed to scatter any backup El Lobo might bring.
Let them try to reach him. By the time they realized their mistake, it would be far too late.
As night fell over the city, I stood once more at the edge of the rooftop, gazing down at the warehouse entrance. Anticipation thrummed through my veins. This was it, the moment of truth. Everything hinged on what transpired within these crumbling walls.
I closed my eyes, picturing Norri's face, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine as I held him close. For him, for our son, for the chance at a future without fear, I would do whatever it took. I would become the monster I once served, the specter that haunted the streets of New Haven.
And then I would slay the beast myself, once and for all.
Taking a deep breath, I descended into the shadows below. I crept through the dimly lit corridors of the warehouse, senses heightened, ready for anything. My footsteps echoed off the bare concrete, each step deliberate and calculated. The air was hard to breathe with dust and the faint scent of decay, making me wonder how long the place had been abandoned.
As I reached the main storage area, I paused, listening intently. Nothing stirred beyond the occasional skittering of rats in the rafters overhead. Satisfied I was alone, I began laying the final touches to my trap.
Carefully, I arranged crates and barrels to create a makeshift maze, a labyrinth of twists and turns that would force El Lobo and his men into tight, confined spaces. There, I could use my size and strength to my advantage, negating their superior numbers.
In strategic locations along the path, I placed small explosive charges connected by thin wires almost invisible to the naked eye. They were powerful enough to stun and disorient, giving me precious seconds to gain an upper hand, but not so destructive as to collapse the entire structure.
Once satisfied with the setup, I moved to the central chamber, the spot where I would face El Lobo head-on. Here, I had left the floor clear save for a few overturned crates, creating a small arena. In the far corner, a single window allowed in a thin shaft of moonlight, illuminating a patch of cracked concrete.
It was here that I would end this, under the cold light of the moon itself. A fitting place for an ending.
As the last preparations fell into place, I found myself reflecting on the path that led me to this point. From loyal enforcer to betrayed second-in-command to a man determined to break free of the cartel's stranglehold, it seemed like a lifetime ago that I first pledged myself to El Lobo's service.
I'd been young, ambitious, hungry for power and prestige. Under his tutelage, I'd risen quickly through the ranks until I was his most trusted lieutenant. But with each passing year, the toll of that lifestyle grew heavier. The blood on my hands, the lives destroyed in the name of the cartel... It ate away at me bit by bit until I couldn't bear it anymore — until I met Norri.
Leaving had seemed impossible, a death sentence. Yet when Norri entered my life, everything changed. His innocence, his pure love... It awakened something in me, a desire to build a different kind of future. One free from violence, where Orion could grow up safe and loved.
But El Lobo refused to let me go. His paranoia, his obsession with crushing perceived threats... He couldn't stand the thought of losing his prized enforcer, his most effective tool of destruction.
So, he'd come after us, relentless, driven by rage and the need to assert dominance. Marcus' deal meant nothing; El Lobo only ever listened to himself. He would stop at nothing short of our total annihilation.
With a final check of my weapons, I settled into position, waiting for the inevitable arrival of El Lobo and his entourage. My heart raced, adrenaline already coursing through my system. Every muscle coiled, poised for action. The weight of the gun in my hand was both comforting and terrifying.
Would I walk out of here alive? Would Norri and Orion know peace?
Only one way to find out. Only one thing mattered now: seeing this through to the bitter end, no matter what it took.
I was ready for war. Bring it on, Black Wolf. Your reign of terror ends tonight.
Later, the sound of tires screeching to a halt outside snapped me back to the present. Engines died, doors slammed open and shut. Footsteps, many of them, echoing off the asphalt.
They were coming. It began now.
Showtime.
I crouched low behind a stack of crates, senses straining to catch any hint of movement or sound from the approaching figures. Their footsteps echoed through the cavernous space, growing louder as they drew nearer. The clink of metal — weapons being drawn. Low voices barking orders. Tension crackled in the air.
Suddenly, a spotlight pierced the darkness, its beam sweeping across the room. I pressed back into the shadow cast by my cover, hardly daring to breathe. The light danced over the room before settling on the center stage I had set up for the confrontation.
A deep, familiar voice cut through the tense silence."Gali!"El Lobo called out, his tone equal parts amusement and menace."You wanted to talk about a threat to my territory? Let's hear it."
I didn't immediately respond, letting the anticipation build. Let him think I was afraid and hesitant. In reality, I was steeling myself for the moment when our eyes would meet again.
"Gali,"El Lobo snarled impatiently."Get your ass out here and start talking!"
Slowly, deliberately, I rose from my hiding spot. I stepped into the light, allowing it to illuminate my face fully. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The tension stretched taut between us, the air even harder to breathe now.
Then El Lobo laughed, a harsh, grating sound devoid of mirth."Well, well,"he drawled, circling around the center of the room, his guards fanning out behind him."Look who decided to show up. Gali, the great renegade alpha. You really thought you could leave me, take my prisoner, and run? That I wouldn't come looking?"
"I don't owe you anything, El Lobo,"I replied coolly, my stance relaxed yet poised."Not my loyalty, nor explanations. You lost that right the day you came after my family."
El Lobo snorted derisively."Family? Is that what that little omega slut means to you? Don't fool yourself, Gali. You belong to the cartel. To ME. And I'll be damned if I let you run off to play house with some whore while my empire crumbles."
I smiled then, slow and dangerous."Ah, but you see, that's exactly what will happen. Because I'm done playing your games, boss. Done being your lackey and assassin."I spread my arms wide, taking in the warehouse around us."This ends tonight. Here."
El Lobo stilled, suspicion narrowing his eyes. Around us, his men shifted uneasily, their grips tightening on their weapons."What are you playing at, Gali?"He demanded.
"Just making sure you understand the stakes,"I said simply. Then I moved. Quick as a flash, I rolled behind the nearest stack of crates just as bullets began to fly, pinging off metal and concrete.
Shouts erupted around me as confusion reigned supreme. Explosions detonated, disorienting and forcing El Lobo's men into a panic. Smoke grenades sent up clouds of acrid smoke. Chaos erupted in an instant, giving me precious seconds to regroup.
I burst from my cover and dove at the nearest guard, tackling him to the ground. We grappled briefly before my fist connected with his jaw and he went limp beneath me.
Around us, El Lobo screamed for order even as the smoke thickened, reducing visibility to near zero. I used it to my advantage, striking and retreating like a ghost among them. Blood sprayed and bones shattered. One by one, I tore through his personal guard until only El Lobo remained standing alone amid the carnage.
He turned to face me slowly, a look of shock and disbelief etched upon his features. His eyes darted around at the fallen bodies of his men, the blood pooling black against the cracked concrete floor. The fight ended as quickly as it began, as intended.
"How..."He shook his head as if to clear it."How did you...?"
"You never saw me coming, boss,"I said softly, stalking towards him, a cruel smile playing about my lips."Your arrogance blinded you. Thought you could control everything, everyone. Even me."
El Lobo bared his teeth, a feral snarl twisting his mouth."We'll see about that,"he spat. His hand shot to the gun at his hip, drawing it out in a swift motion.
But I was faster still. My blade flashed in the moonlight and sank home before he could bring his weapon to bear, burying itself deep in his chest.
El Lobo gasped, staring down at the knife protruding from his sternum in shocked disbelief. Crimson bloomed across the front of his shirt as he staggered back.
"Should've killed me when you had the chance,"I taunted, advancing inexorably."Now it's too late."
With a final cry, I lunged forward, wrenching my blade free even as I drove it up under his ribs, piercing his heart.
El Lobo convulsed once, twice, then crumpled to the floor in a spreading pool of his own blood. I stood over him, chest heaving, covered in gore and grime.
It was over. Finally, after so many years of fear and pain, and bloodshed, it was finished. The Black Wolf lay slain at my feet.