The Mafiaso And The AD 1024

Darkness Unleased

Donte's PoV

The abandoned warehouse near the coast was not the place l'd intended to find myself on a night like this.

The air was thick with the scent of saltwater and rusted metal, mingling with the stench of betrayal.

My instincts had warned me that something was off, but I had ignored them, driven by the need to tie up loose ends with a rival gang that had been encroaching on my territory.
But it was a trap.

My men and I had barely stepped inside when the doors slammed shut behind us, and the shadows came alive with the rival gang's enforcers.

We were outnumbered and cornered, and despite our efforts to fight back, it was clear we were at a disadvantage.

The situation had quickly devolved into chaos, with a gunfire echoing off the corrugated steel walls and the sharp clang of metal as blades were drawn.

I found myself locked in a brutal struggle, my knife clashing against a rival's blade.

The man was relentless, his eyes wild with a bloodlust that matched the savage grin on his face.

As we grappled, I could feel my strength beginning to wane, the earlier skirmishes taking their tolI.

My grip faltered for just a moment, and it was all he needed to gain the upper hand. He twisted the knife in his hand, driving it toward my chest.

A rush of adrenaline surged through me, and I barely managed to deflect the blade, but the force of his attack sent me stumbling backwards.

I was losing ground, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a cold tendril of fear curl around my spine. This wasn't how it was supposed to end.

In a moment of desperation, I fumbled for my phone and, without thinking, hit the speed dial for Amara. I had it to drag her into this, but there was no time for

second-guessing. The call connected, and I could only hope she'd get here in time.

My assailant sneered, sensing my desperation. "Calling for backup, huh? Too late for that, boss."

He lunged at me again, and this time, I couldn't dodge fast enough.

The blade sliced through the fabric of my shirt, grazing the skin beneath.

The pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the realization that my time might be running out.

And then, as if summoned by my thoughts, I felt a shift in the air. It was subtle at first, a strange tingle that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

The sound of the struggle around me dulled as if the world had suddenly decided to hold its breath.

I glanced toward the entrance just as the warehouse doors slammed open.

There she was, Amara, a silhouette against the dim light of the night. Her presence seemed to

suck the warmth from the air, and the shadows around her seemed to twist and coil, almost as if they were alive.