Chapter Thirty-Three
Both Alfie and I pulled out our guns and kept them in hand casually as we proceeded to move inside.
Alfie pushed the door open and the bright daylight was abruptly swallowed by an enveloping darkness.
Inside, the air felt cooler, almost still, as the light from outside receded behind us.
My eyes struggled to adjust, and the dimness cloaked my surroundings in a mysterious shroud.
Shadows danced along the walls, and the faint outlines of furniture and decor emerged like phantoms as we moved further in.
It felt like stepping into a different time, where the day had been paused, and night had claimed dominion.
The atmosphere was thick with a sense of calm, almost eerie, as if the world outside had been left far behind.
The low thrum of bass pulsed through the air like a heartbeat, vibrating the walls of the warehouse.
Dim, colored lights flickered in sync with the pounding music, casting erratic shadows that danced across the concrete floors.
The atmosphere was thick with the scent of sweat and illicit desire, a charged environment where inhibitions were shed like clothing.
We stepped through the entrance, our senses overwhelmed by the scene before us.
Bodies writhed together in a tangle of limbs, laughter mingling with moans, the air heavy with the promise of debauchery.
It felt like stepping into a dream—or a nightmare, depending on how one looked at it.
I’d been to a fair share of sex parties, but this was on a level I’d never witnessed before.
The kinks for this crowd involved more taboo sexual desires.
But we weren’t here to indulge in the chaos; we were here to find ghost. “Stay sharp,” I muttered, scanning the crowd for our target.
I could feel the tension in Alfie’s posture beside me, the way his muscles coiled in anticipation.
“How do we know if we have the right guy? I mean who’s to know if I really saw the real ghost,” Alfie replied, his eyes narrowing as we searched the writhing mass of flesh.
“Bethany said he has a birthmark on his left shoulder. That’s our guys for sure.” My voice was low and steady. As we continued to discreetly search the place, I could tell Alfie’s mind was distracted. “How long did you know?”
Surprised by my question and unsure how to answer, Alfie shrugged, “About Grace? I had a feeling deep down.”
“Why didn’t you look into it?”
“How?” Alfie glanced at me quickly, “If I was able to prove it. How would I tell Luca his wife’s best friend is a traitor.”
“That’s part of the job, kid. You gotta look out for the family even when shit gets ugly.” My hand gripped my gun as I held it to my side causally walking and scanning the room.
“What I don’t understand is why did ghost approach me? If he had Grace – that’s the perfect cover up.”
It was clear the burden of Grace’s betrayal weighed heavy on him. I knew the feeling all too well; that feeling that it was all your fault. I never understood the allure of being a Consigliere, it wasn’t a job made for everyone.
“He needed to know she was loyal to him. And he needed to know you were loyal to him. he used both of you as pawns.”
“So, trust no one. Ever,” Alfie let out a deep breath of frustration.
“The only thing you should trust, kid – is your gut.” As we pushed deeper into the open space, the atmosphere thickened like fog, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead.
My heart raced as I caught a glimpse of a tall figure with an unmistakable swagger, surrounded by a group of eager participants in the chaos.
The way he moved, the way he commanded attention, was magnetic and repulsive all at once.
When he turned around, I knew he was our guy by his birthmark.
“There he is,” Alfie whispered, pointing discreetly.
“Let’s move.” With determination, we maneuvered through the crowd, bodies bumping against them, laughter and gasps echoing around them.
My pulse quickened; every moment felt electric.
It was moments like this that I enjoyed, and for a split second, I missed it.
We reached a mass of bodies on top of one another.
I surged forward, grabbing ghost by the arm, yanking him from the orgy like a puppet pulled from strings.
The sudden motion didn’t even have the crowd phased – they didn’t flinch nor stop their activities.
“What the hell?” Ghost spat, anger flashing in his dark eyes.
Alfie and I held our guns to his body and when he realized it was us, a devious smirk crossed his face.
“That bitch ratted me out.” “Your time is up,” I declared, my voice steady despite the chaos swirling around us.
Ghost’s face contorted with rage, and he looked around at the gathering crowd, seeking allies among the few onlookers. But the revelers, sensing the shift in power, began to step back, the thrill of the fantasy was replaced by fear of the unknown.
I lifted my gun up and let out a few rounds. “PARTY IS OVER! GET THE FUCK OUT.”
Naked bodies frantically ran around seeking an exit. Before you knew it, the warehouse was empty and all that remained were the flickering lights and pounding music. “You’ll regret this!” MC shouted, his voice rising above the music.
“Who’s going to come rescue you?” I taunted him.
Ghost knew his gig was up but he let out a bitter laugh. “You think you can just walk away? You have no idea who you’re dealing with!” Ignoring his taunting, we proceeded with chaining him to the wall. Got to love when a party’s accessories could be useful.
Ghost continued to lash out verbally. “Pussy can make you do crazy things. Like sleep with the boss’s sister.”
I punched him square in the face, but still he persisted.
“I don’t blame you. She’s good.”
Unsure if he was playing mind games with me or if he was telling me he had a taste of Bethany, I knew I wouldn’t let him speak that way about her. Another punch and blood began spilling out of his mouth. His victorious smile got under my skin knowing his intentions were to get in any final jabs.
“Good luck working for your father’s killer,” Ghost said now focusing on Alfie. “You could have claimed your throne but instead you stay serving as his peasant.”
Alfie pulled out his knife and flicked it open. A sharp blade popped out shining in the dim room. “You lied. He never killed him.”
“You’re right. Luca didn’t kill him. I did.”
That struck an instant nerve and Alfie stepped up to ghost, and with a quick slash, under the belly from left to right, let his guts just fall out one by one. Ghost screamed in pain and passed out. Letting someone bleed out was never a quick death and that was the point.
“Let’s wrap this place up,” I said.
Taking the remaining explosives from the museum, we planted them all around the warehouse and a few close to the body.
Ghost would suffer but we couldn’t risk anyone finding his body.
He would remain a ghost. Although Luca wanted him to suffer, I refused to leave without knowing he was dead for sure.
I needed to witness it with my own eyes.
We pushed through the door and stepped into the daylight, our eyes taking their time to adjust to the sunlight.
As we reached the car, I glanced back, a surge of adrenaline rushing through me.
I took the keypad that controlled the explosives and handed it to Alfie. “Eye for an eye.”
He took the keypad and nodded to me in gratitude.
Ghost killed Alfie’s father, and in return, it was only right that he avenged his father’s death.
The car was a good distance away yet we still felt a low rumble reverberate through the ground once he pushed the button.
An intense flash of light exploded, the shockwave of the ground as flames leaped high into the sky.
We remained still, breathless and wide-eyed, watching as the warehouse became a fiery spectacle, the culmination of secrets and sins consumed in a roaring blaze.
The heat washed over us as we stood together leaning against the car.
“Did we really just put an end to this?” Alfie said, a mix of disbelief and exhilaration in his voice. I nodded, a grim smile breaking through.
“Yeah, we did. And it feels damn good.”
Getting into Alfie’s car, I knew either I’d be taken to the airport or taken to my doom. There was no saving me this time, and I felt that I cleared my name with Luca so what he saw fit, I would accept. Down the road, I saw Luca’s car parked off the side of the road where Alfie pulled over.
“He wanted to talk to you,” Alfie said to me. I wasn’t even sure what the outcome would be.
“You’ve done a good job, kid. Your father would be proud.” I patted the back of his head then got out of the vehicle.
I stood in front of Luca with Alfie behind me.
With a gun in hand, Luca raised it in my direction toward my head. “You knew this was coming right?”
I nodded my head looking up to the sky so that my last image engraved into my head would be heavenly clouds moving against the blue sky.