Under His Protection

Chapter 15: Unfinished Business

The soft glow of dawn filtered through the windows as Travis and Taylor lay tangled in the sheets. The tension from the previous night had melted away in the heat of their closeness, but the world outside hadn't paused for their moment of intimacy. The looming threat of Santino was still very real, and Travis knew they couldn't stay in their bubble forever.

Taylor stirred beside him, her head resting against his chest, her breathing steady and calm. He could feel the warmth of her body, and for a moment, he considered staying like this—just the two of them, far away from the chaos.

But that wasn't their reality.

Travis's phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling him out of the brief peace. With a sigh, he reached for it, glancing at the screen. Patrick's name flashed, the message short and direct:

We've got Malone. Need you at the warehouse.

His jaw tightened as he read the words. The traitor in their ranks was now in their hands, but that didn't mean the fight was over. Far from it. Santino was still out there, plotting his next move, and until he was dealt with, none of them were truly safe.

He gently untangled himself from Taylor, careful not to wake her as he slid out of bed. The cool air hit his skin, a stark contrast to the warmth they had shared moments before. As he dressed, his mind was already calculating the next steps, preparing for the confrontation that awaited him.

But before he could make it to the door, he heard Taylor's soft voice behind him. "You're leaving?"

He turned, meeting her sleepy gaze. "I have to. They've got Malone."

Taylor sat up, pulling the covers around herself as she watched him. "Be careful, Travis. I don't trust him. He's desperate, and desperate men are dangerous."

Travis crossed the room in a few strides, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I know. But we'll handle it. Stay here, stay safe. I'll be back soon."

Taylor reached out, her fingers wrapping around his wrist, stopping him for a moment. "Promise me, Travis."

He looked down at her, the intensity of her gaze pulling him in. He knew what she was asking—more than just a promise to come back. She wanted reassurance, something solid to hold onto in this storm they were caught in.

"I promise," he said softly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I'll always come back to you."

With that, he left, the weight of the promise heavy on his shoulders.

The warehouse was buzzing with activity when Travis arrived. His men moved like shadows, their expressions hard and focused as they prepared for what was coming. The air was thick with the tension of unfinished business—Malone, the rat who had nearly cost them everything, was now in their hands.

Patrick stood near the entrance, his posture rigid, eyes scanning the room as he gave orders. When he spotted Travis, he gave a curt nod.

"He's in the back. Ross has been keeping an eye on him, but the bastard's not talking. I'm starting to think we'll have to get creative to make him spill."

Travis's jaw clenched as he followed Patrick deeper into the warehouse. "We'll make him talk. He doesn't get a choice."

They reached the back of the warehouse, where a dimly lit room held their traitor. Malone sat tied to a chair, his face bruised and bloodied from Ross's interrogation techniques. Despite the pain, he still had a defiant look in his eyes, as if he believed he could still get out of this alive.

Ross leaned against the wall, his arms crossed and a dark smirk on his face. "He's been stubborn, but I think he's starting to realize he's out of options."

Travis stepped into the room, the sound of his boots echoing off the concrete floor. Malone's gaze flicked to him, and for the first time, Travis saw a flicker of fear behind the defiance. Good. He should be afraid.

"Malone," Travis said, his voice low and deadly. "You've got one chance to make this easy. Tell us everything you know about Santino's next move."

Malone swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat. For a moment, it looked like he might break, but then his eyes hardened again. "You think you've won, Kelce? Santino's ten steps ahead of you. No matter what you do, he'll bury you."

Travis's patience snapped. He stepped forward, grabbing Malone by the collar and yanking him forward so their faces were inches apart. "You don't get to talk about him like he's some untouchable god. You're going to tell me where he is, what he's planning, and then maybe—just maybe—I'll let you live."

Malone's breath hitched, the fear becoming more evident now. "He—he's moving his operations out of the city. He knows you're coming for him. But you'll never get to him in time. He's already set things in motion."

"What things?" Travis growled, his grip tightening.

Malone winced, the pain finally breaking through his tough exterior. "Bombs. He's planted bombs in key locations. You stop him, you might save yourself, but the city? It'll burn."

Travis's blood ran cold. Bombs. Santino was more unhinged than they had thought.

"Where?" Travis demanded.

Malone shook his head, the fear now fully replacing his earlier arrogance. "I don't know all the spots. Just... the main one. He's targeting the docks first. He's planning to move his shipment through there, and if you try to stop it—he'll blow it sky-high."

Travis released him, stepping back as his mind raced. The docks. That was the key. They had to stop the shipment and disarm the bombs before Santino could make his move.

Patrick stepped forward, his expression grim. "We need to mobilize now. If we wait, the city's screwed."

Travis nodded, his decision made. "Get everyone ready. We move tonight."

Back at the penthouse, Taylor paced the living room, her nerves frayed from the waiting. She hadn't heard from Travis since he left, and every minute that passed felt like an eternity. Her mind kept replaying their conversation, the weight of his promise hanging heavy in her chest.

She trusted him—she had to—but this was his world, a world filled with danger and uncertainty. She was starting to understand just how deep those waters ran, and it terrified her.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. She rushed to grab it, her heart racing as she saw Travis's name on the screen.

Heading to the docks. Santino's planning something big. Stay safe. I'll be back soon.

Taylor's stomach dropped. The docks. She knew what that meant—this was bigger than she had imagined. And as much as she wanted to trust that Travis had everything under control, something told her that this was far from over.

She couldn't just sit here, waiting for news. She needed to do something.

Grabbing her coat, Taylor made a decision. She was going to the docks. Travis might not want her there, but she wasn't going to let him face this alone. Not this time.