CHAPTER 2

The high-caliber gunfire ceased, leaving the smell of gunpowder and hot copper hanging thick in the air of the 60th-floor executive suite.

Sienna stood unwavering with her arms locked straight, holding the .38 revolver pointed directly at Matteo DeLuca's broad, looming chest.

"Put the weapon down, Sienna," Matteo growled, his deep voice carrying a terrifying wave of betrayal that rattled the floorboards beneath them.

"I can't do that, Matteo," Sienna replied smoothly, her dark eyes reflecting zero fear despite the cold reality of her cover being entirely blown. "You are officially under arrest for racketeering, murder, and operating a federal syndicate network."

Matteo took a slow, deliberate step forward, ignoring the black iron barrel aiming straight at his heart as rain lashed furiously against the glass window.

"You sat at my desk every single morning for three weeks," Matteo whispered, his voice dangerously low as his ice-blue eyes bore into her soul. "You looked me in the eyes, served my coffee, and pretended to care about the operation."

"I was doing my job, DeLuca," she countered, her finger hovering over the trigger while the sound of distant federal sirens began echoing off the wet city streets below.

Before another word could be spoken, the remaining two Moretti cartel hitmen on the floor stirred, one raising a concealed weapon from beneath his jacket toward Sienna’s back.

Matteo moved with terrifying, lightning speed, stepping directly into the line of fire and executing the hitman with a single, precise shot from his custom pistol.