Chapter 15
Backup
Luca woke up to the sound of the door creaking open, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. In an instant, he was out of bed, his hand grabbing the gun he’d tucked beneath his pillow the night before. He swung it toward the intruder, his finger hovering over the trigger, his heart pounding in his chest.
It took him a moment to realize it was Caleb standing in the doorway, his hands raised in surrender, a paper bag of food clutched in one hand. Caleb’s expression was calm, but there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes as he stared down the barrel of Luca’s gun.
“Shit, sorry,” Luca muttered, lowering the gun and running a hand through his disheveled hair. His heart was still racing, his body thrumming with adrenaline, and he felt a flush of embarrassment as he set the gun down on the nightstand.
Caleb nodded, his hands slowly lowering. “No problem,” he said, his voice steady. He stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him, and set the bag of food down on the small, rickety table. The smell of warm bread and something savory drifted from the bag, and Luca’s stomach let out an audible rumble.
His cheeks heated up at the sound, and he quickly looked away, pretending not to notice the small smile that tugged at the corner of Caleb’s mouth. Caleb didn’t comment, though, just started unpacking the food; wrapped sandwiches, a couple of pastries, and two steaming cups of coffee.
Luca hesitated for a moment before joining him at the table, sitting down in one of the mismatched chairs. The silence between them was heavy, the only sounds the rustle of paper and the occasional clink of a cup against the table. Luca kept his eyes on his food, his mind racing as he tried to push away the memory of what he’d done in the shower the night before.
It had been a moment of weakness, a stupid, impulsive thing he’d done to relieve the tension that had been building inside him since the morning he woke up next to Caleb. He’d thought about Caleb’s hands on his skin, the way his breath had hitched when their eyes met, the way Luca’s pulse had raced at the barest touch of Caleb’s fingers. And then, before he could stop himself, he’d let his hand drift lower, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps as he imagined it was Caleb touching him, Caleb’s voice in his ear, Caleb’s...
Luca’s face burned at the memory, and he quickly shoved a bite of sandwich into his mouth, hoping to distract himself. He could feel Caleb’s eyes on him, though, and he kept his gaze firmly fixed on his plate, refusing to look up.
After what felt like an eternity, Caleb broke the silence. “How’s the arm?” he asked, his voice casual but with an undercurrent of concern.
Luca glanced down at his bandaged arm, flexing his fingers slightly. “It’s fine,” he said, his voice rough. “Doesn’t hurt much.”
Caleb nodded, his eyes lingering on Luca’s face for a moment before he looked away. “Good. Just… take it easy for a while. Don’t want it getting infected.”
Luca grunted in response, taking a sip of his coffee to avoid having to say anything else. The silence stretched on, the tension between them thick and unspoken, but neither of them seemed willing to break it.
Once they were done, Caleb stood, gathering up the empty wrappers and tossing them into the trash. “We should get moving soon,” he said, his tone businesslike. “Need to ditch the car and find a new one. And figure out our next move.”
Luca nodded, pushing his chair back and standing up. “Yeah,” he said, his voice quiet. “Let’s get out of here.”
As he grabbed his jacket and followed Caleb out the door, Luca couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. Not for the mission, or the danger, or even the wound in his arm. But for the way things were between him and Caleb; so close, and yet so far away.
And for the first time in a long time, Luca found himself wondering if they’d ever be able to bridge that gap.
???
The sun was high in the sky by the time Caleb and Luca found a new car; a beat-up sedan they bought from a shady lot on the outskirts of town. The transaction was quick and cash-only, no questions asked, and within minutes they were back on the road, heading back toward Diego’s house.
Luca sat in the passenger seat, his arm resting awkwardly in his lap, while Caleb drove, his eyes constantly flicking to the rearview mirror to make sure they weren’t being followed.
The drive was quiet, the tension between them still lingering from the morning. Luca kept stealing glances at Caleb, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn’t quite shake. He wanted to say something, to break the silence, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he focused on the passing landscape, the endless stretch of desert giving way to sparse patches of vegetation as they neared Diego’s property.
When they finally arrived, Diego was waiting for them on the porch, his arms crossed and his expression grim. He didn’t say much, just nodded and gestured for them to come inside. The house was quiet, the air heavy with the scent of coffee and something cooking on the stove. Diego handed them each a cup of coffee and motioned for them to sit at the kitchen table.
Caleb’s phone rang just as they sat down, the sound sharp and sudden in the quiet room. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen before answering. “Sarah,” he said, his voice tense but relieved. “What do you have?”
Luca watched him closely, his coffee cup halfway to his lips, as Caleb listened to whatever Sarah was saying on the other end of the line. His expression shifted from cautious to hopeful, and Luca felt a flicker of unease. He didn’t trust Sarah, didn’t trust anyone in the DEA, not after everything that had happened. But Caleb’s face lit up as he nodded along to whatever she was saying, and Luca knew there was no talking him out of whatever this was.
“Alright,” Caleb said finally, his voice firm. “We’ll meet you there. Just… be careful.” He hung up and turned to Luca, his eyes bright with determination. “Sarah’s got intel. She says she’s found something that could help us take down Castillo and the mole. We’re meeting her in Texas.”
Luca frowned, setting his coffee cup down on the table. “Texas? How do we know this isn’t a trap? For all we know, she’s working with the mole.”
Caleb shook his head, his expression hardening. “Sarah’s not like that. She’s one of the good ones. I trust her.”
Luca wanted to argue, to point out that Caleb’s trust had already gotten them into trouble once, but he bit his tongue. Instead, he nodded slowly, his mind already racing with contingency plans. “Alright,” he said finally. “But any sign of trouble we bail.”
Caleb nodded, his expression softening slightly. “Agreed.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon planning their route to Texas, Diego chiming in with suggestions and warnings about areas to avoid. Luca listened quietly, his mind only half on the conversation. The other half was already working on a backup plan; one that didn’t involve trusting Sarah or anyone else in the DEA.
Later that evening, after Caleb had gone to bed, Luca slipped outside and pulled out his phone. He hesitated for a moment, his finger hovering over the screen, before finally dialing a number he knew by heart.
Enzo answered on the second ring, his voice sharp and furious. “Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? I thought you were dead, Luca!”
Luca winced, holding the phone away from his ear slightly. “I’m fine, Enzo. I’m sorry. Things got… complicated.”
“Complicated?” Enzo snapped. “You disappear for days without a word, and all you can say is ‘things got complicated’? Do you have any idea what Matteo and I have been going through? We thought...”
“I know,” Luca interrupted, his voice quiet but firm. “I’m sorry. I should’ve called sooner. But I need your help.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and Luca could practically hear Enzo’s anger simmering. Finally, Enzo sighed, his voice softer but still edged with frustration. “What’s going on, Luca?”
Luca filled him in quickly, keeping his voice low so as not to be overheard. He told him about the ambush, about the DEA mole, about Castillo and the human trafficking operation. He told him about Caleb, about the plan to meet Sarah in Texas, and about his own suspicions.
Enzo listened in silence, and when Luca finished, he let out a long breath. “You’re in deep, little brother,” he said finally. “But you’re not alone. I’ll make some calls, see what I can find out. And I’ll be in Texas by morning. But you need to be careful, and do not trust anyone.”
Luca nodded, even though Enzo couldn’t see him. “I know. And… thank you, Enzo. I mean it.”
Enzo sighed again, his voice softening. “Just… don’t disappear on me again, alright? I can’t lose you.”
Luca’s chest tightened at the words, and he swallowed hard. “I won’t. I promise.”
???
The sun was setting as Caleb and Luca arrived in Texas, the sky streaked with fading shades of orange and pink. They’d crossed the border with Diego’s help, avoiding checkpoints and staying off the radar. Now, they were parked a few blocks away from the park where they were supposed to meet Sarah. Caleb was practically buzzing with anticipation, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel as he glanced at the clock on the dashboard.
“She’s going to have the intel we need,” Caleb said, his voice tight with excitement. “This could be it, Luca. The break we’ve been waiting for.”
Luca didn’t respond, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared out the window. A deep, gnawing unease settled in his gut, one he couldn’t shake no matter how hard he tried. He didn’t trust Sarah, didn’t trust anyone in the DEA, not after everything that had happened. But Caleb was so sure, so hopeful, and Luca couldn’t bring himself to crush that.
He should’ve left by now. He should’ve dipped the moment they crossed the border back into the U.S. He was home, or close enough to it. By this evening he could’ve been back in New York, back to his family, back to the life he’d built away from all this chaos. Caleb’s mess wasn’t his problem. Not really. The man had made his choices years ago, and Luca had no obligation to clean up after him.
But here he was, sitting in a beat-up sedan in some backwater Texas town, about to walk into what was almost certainly an ambush. Because he couldn’t leave Caleb to face this alone. Because, despite everything, he still cared. And that made him an idiot.
“You don’t have to come,” Caleb said suddenly, his voice softer now. “I know you don’t trust her. If you want to sit this one out, I get it.”
Luca shot him a look, his jaw tightening. “I’m not letting you go alone. If this is a trap, you’ll need backup.”
Caleb hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. But stay close, okay? If something feels off, we bail.”
Luca grunted in response, his hand already resting on the gun tucked into his waistband. He didn’t need Caleb to tell him to be careful; he’d been in enough situations like this to know when things were about to go sideways.
They got out of the car and made their way to the park, the air warm and heavy with the scent of grass and distant barbecue. The park was empty, the evening slowly creeping in, but Luca’s eyes scanned the area constantly, looking for anything out of place. His nerves were on edge, his instincts screaming at him that something was wrong. The stillness of the park felt unnatural, like the calm before a storm.
They reached the designated meeting spot near a cluster of trees, but Sarah was nowhere to be seen. Caleb checked his watch, his expression growing more anxious with each passing minute. “She should be here by now,” he muttered, his eyes scanning the park.
Luca’s hand tightened on his gun, his instincts screaming at him to get out of there. “We should go,” he said sharply. “Something isn’t right.”
Caleb shook his head, his voice firm. “Just a few more minutes. She’s probably just running late.”
Luca’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. He kept his eyes on the park, his senses on high alert as they waited.
He glanced at Caleb, who was still scanning the park, his expression a mix of hope and frustration. Luca wanted to shake him, to make him see the danger they were in, but he knew it wouldn’t do any good. Caleb trusted Sarah, even after everything that had happened. And that trust was going to get them both killed.
Luca’s hand tightened on his gun, his resolve hardening. He’d give it a few more minutes, but if Sarah didn’t show, they were out of here. He didn’t care what Caleb said.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, something caught Luca’s eye; a faint glint of metal under the glow of a nearby streetlight. His gaze snapped to the source, his body tensing as his mind processed what he was seeing. The glint came from the shadows across the park, where the light reflected off something smooth and metallic.
It took him a fraction of a second to realize what it was: the barrel of a rifle, partially obscured by the darkness but unmistakable to someone who knew what to look for.
“Down!” Luca shouted, his voice sharp and urgent. He didn’t wait for Caleb to react, he lunged sideways, crashing into him with enough force to send them both sprawling to the ground. A split second later, the sharp crack of a gunshot split the air, the bullet whizzing over their heads and slamming into the tree behind them.
“Shit!” Luca cursed, rolling to his feet and yanking Caleb up by his jacket. “Move!”
Caleb didn’t need to be told twice. He scrambled to his feet, his gun already in hand as more shots rang out, the sound echoing through the park like thunder. The agents were emerging from the shadows now, at least a dozen of them in full tactical gear, their rifles trained on Caleb and Luca as they advanced.
Luca didn’t hesitate. He fired off two quick shots, forcing the nearest agent to duck behind a park bench. “We’re pinned down!” he shouted over the noise, his voice sharp and urgent. “We need cover!”
Caleb nodded, his face pale but his movements steady. He returned fire, his shots precise and deliberate, forcing another agent to retreat behind a tree. “Over there!” he yelled, gesturing toward a cluster of large boulders near the edge of the park. “Go!”
They ran, dodging bullets as they zigzagged across the open ground. Luca could feel the heat of a bullet grazing his shoulder, but he didn’t stop, didn’t slow down. He reached the boulders first, diving behind them and turning to cover Caleb as he sprinted the last few yards. A bullet ricocheted off the rock just inches from Luca’s head, sending shards of stone flying, but he didn’t flinch. He returned fire, his shots forcing the agents to take cover.
Caleb slid into place beside him, his chest heaving as he reloaded his gun. “This is bad,” he said, his voice tight. “Really bad.”
“No shit,” Luca snapped, peering around the edge of the boulder to assess the situation. The agents were spreading out, trying to flank them. “We need to move again. They’re going to surround us.”
Caleb nodded; his jaw clenched. “Where to?”
Luca scanned the park, his mind racing. There was a maintenance shed about fifty yards away, tucked behind a row of trees. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than staying here. “There,” he said, pointing. “On my mark.”
Caleb nodded again, his grip tightening on his gun. “Ready.”
Luca took a deep breath, then leaned out from behind the boulder and fired off a series of shots, forcing the agents to duck for cover. “Now!”
They ran, their boots pounding against the dirt as bullets tore through the air around them. Luca could hear the whine of bullets passing dangerously close, but he didn’t stop, didn’t look back. He reached the shed first, kicking the door open and diving inside. Caleb was right behind him, slamming the door shut just as a hail of bullets peppered the wooden walls.
“This isn’t going to hold them for long,” Caleb said, his voice strained as he reloaded his gun.
“No kidding,” Luca muttered, his eyes scanning the shed for anything they could use. There were tools scattered across the floor; shovels, rakes, a rusted toolbox, but nothing that would help them against a dozen armed agents.
The sound of boots crunching on gravel outside made Luca’s heart race. He pressed himself against the wall, his gun raised, as the door handle rattled. The agents were right outside.
“On three,” Luca whispered, his voice barely audible. “We go out shooting.”
Caleb nodded; his expression grim. “One.”
The door creaked as someone pushed against it.
“Two.”
Luca’s finger tightened on the trigger.
“Three!”
They burst out of the shed, guns blazing. Luca took down the nearest agent with two quick shots to the chest, while Caleb fired at another, forcing him to dive for cover. The agents scattered, their formation breaking under the sudden onslaught, but there were too many of them. Luca could see more coming, their rifles trained on him and Caleb as they advanced.
“We can’t hold them off forever!” Caleb shouted; his voice barely audible over the gunfire.
“No shit!” Luca snapped, firing off another round. “We need to...”
His words were cut off as an agent lunged at him from the side, tackling him to the ground. Luca’s gun skidded out of reach, but he didn’t hesitate. He drove his elbow into the man’s ribs, then grabbed his head and slammed it into the ground. The agent went limp, and Luca scrambled to his feet, grabbing his gun just in time to fire at another agent who was charging toward Caleb.
Caleb was pinned down behind a tree, his gun empty as he fumbled to reload. Luca fired off a series of shots, forcing the agents to retreat long enough for Caleb to get back in the fight.
“We need to get out of here!” Caleb shouted; his voice desperate.
Luca nodded, his mind racing. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and running out of time. But just as he was about to suggest a desperate sprint for the car, a new sound cut through the chaos, the roar of engines and the screech of tires.
Luca turned, his heart pounding, as a convoy of black SUVs tore into the park, their headlights cutting through the darkness. The doors flew open, and a group of armed men poured out, led by Enzo, Matteo, and Aldo De Luca.
“Luca!” Enzo shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Get down!”
Luca didn’t need to be told twice. He dropped to the ground just as Enzo and his men opened fire, their shots precise and deadly. The DEA agents were caught off guard, their formation breaking as they scrambled for cover. Matteo and Aldo moved quickly, their guns blazing as they cut through the agents with brutal efficiency.
Caleb stared in shock, his gun hanging limply at his side as he watched the scene unfold. “What the fuck, Luca!?” he shouted over the noise.
“Backup,” Luca said grimly, grabbing Caleb’s arm and pulling him to his feet. “Come on, we need to move!”
They ran toward the SUVs, dodging bullets as Enzo and his men provided cover.
“Get in the car!” Enzo barked, his voice sharp as he shoved Luca and Caleb toward one of the SUVs. They climbed in, the door slamming shut behind them as the engine roared to life. The SUV sped out of the park, the sound of gunfire fading into the distance as they left the chaos behind.