"Can you eliminate?"
"Stand by."
I adjust for wind and distance, steady my breathing, and squeeze the trigger. The window explodes in a spray of glass and blood.
"Target down. You're clear to breach."
"Breaching now."
The loading dock door explodes inward as our men rush the warehouse. More gunfire, more shouting, the sounds of a one-sided battle.
"Leandro Manzo located," Tommy's voice cuts through the chaos. "Main building, second floor. Moving to engage."
"Negative," I respond immediately. "Manzo is mine. He’s the bastard who put her in danger."
"Copy that. We'll secure the building and wait for your arrival."
I sling my rifle and head for the fire escape, rappelling down to street level. The compound is mostly secure now, the sounds of gunfire becoming sporadic as the last pockets of resistance are eliminated.
"Status update," I call out as I move toward the main building.
"All teams operational. No friendly casualties reported. Estimated eight minutes until police response."
Plenty of time to finish this and get out clean.
The main building's lobby is a war zone. Bodies, blood, shattered glass, and bullet holes in every surface. Our men have done their job efficiently and thoroughly.
"Building secured," Tommy reports as I enter. "Their leadership is holed up in the second-floor office with Manzo. Two guards, both armed."
"Any other exits from that office?"
"Fire escape on the east side. Timo's covering it."
"I'm going up."
The stairwell is narrow and dark, perfect for an ambush. But the Vergas are amateurs compared to the kind of warfare my family specializes in. I move carefully but confidently, knowing our men have eliminated any real threats.
The second-floor hallway shows signs of the earlier fighting, blood on the walls, spent shell casings scattered across the floor. The office door at the far end is closed, probably barricaded.
"Manzo!" I call out. "You know why I'm here."
"Fuck you, Lombardi!" comes the muffled response.
"You killed my men. You attacked my safe house. You tried to kill someone under my protection."
"Your whore, you mean?"
The crude reference to Viviana makes my vision go red. "Come out and we'll make this quick."
"Go to hell!"
"I'm trying to be reasonable here, Leandro. But my patience is limited."
"You want me? Come and get me!"
I look at the office door, calculating. Heavy wood, probably reinforced. The lock looks industrial grade. But the walls on either side are drywall.
"Tommy, bring me a breaching charge."
