Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 919 : Breach

*Leo*

The sun directly shined from its highest point in the sky as I pulled into the alleyway we’d taken over. The street was empty, void of civilians or customers as we blocked it off at every end and street.

The shadows in the alley played tricks on my mind as I got out of the car, heading discreetly for the empty line of warehouses. Old buildings that’d changed hands more times than the years they’d been active, it was the perfect cover.

But a bit too perfect, if you ask me.

I glanced up at the sky, frowning at the sunny blue skies above. It would be better if it was cloudy, a way to block the harsh sunlight and obstruct the view of any planes or drones flying ahead.

We’d make do, though.

I kept the shadows as I strolled casually through the back alleyway. A few rats squeaked as I passed by, dashing off into the dumpsters and a stray cat chased after them, running through the trash like it owned the place.

I rounded the decrepit building to my right and my eyes caught the gleam of something silver in the corner of my eyes. There on the nearby rooftops were hidden figures with long pointy rifles, staring straight at the building in front of me.

I followed their gazes, waiting across the street as I caught sight of more and more of my own men watching the entrances and exits. Despite no people and the street having been cleared out, the sidewalks were lined with cars. Smashed and out-of-service parking meters on each empty vehicle were clearly done on purpose.

“What’s the situation?” I asked as I felt someone approach me from behind.

“They’re all here,” Franky said cautiously as he tossed me a bulletproof jacket. “Our guys tracked their routine. They have a meeting at this time every week, probably to check in with Michael.”

“Any sign of him?” I asked with a scowl as I undid my tie, tossing it at Franky as I pulled on the jacket. I made sure it was secure, nice and tightly before accepting the earpiece, handgun, and bodycam that Franky passed me.

“Not in the slightest. We’re unsure if he’s actually here but we confirmed there are no hidden escape routes. The only way in or out is through those doors. I doubt he’d be here though. Too conspicuous for him.”

“I agree,” I said, a bit disappointed that I wouldn’t get to put a bullet in him today, “But this is clearly a big part of their operation, right? We’re not going to get bamboozled like last time?”

“No, this is legit,” Franky assured me.

“Good.”

Armored up, I unlatch the safety of my gun, the feel of it in my hand like an old friend returning after years away. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to take front and center with my men but it’s always been my favorite part of this job.

Paperwork and orders were never my thing but shooting people in the head? That I can do.

“Make sure to take all precautions. We enter at noon when the church bell strikes - it’ll cover the explosion of the breach,” I addressed the team going in with me.

“Yes, sir!” They acknowledged like soldiers waiting for orders but there’s a trust and respect between us, a personable history that the government could never have with its soldiers.

They are my family - my brothers and sisters in arms. I knew they’d had my back and I’d have theirs.

We waited in the shadows, just out of the heat. Even in December, it was blistering compared to places like Italy but that was California for you. When it was just a few minutes before noon and the bell would ring out like a beacon across the street, I gave the hand signal to our men.

We crossed the street in a hurry, heads down, bodies low to the ground as we took our place around the entrance. Once all other exits were secure, I nodded to our demolition. Luckily for us, Alessandro knew quite a few illegal explosives he could ship over though it’s not like the US was lacking in explosives, illegal or not.

Our demo guy ran up, setting up the explosive, and nodded to me. We took cover and I leaned over my shoulder, watching the time like a hawk. Finally, the hands struck noon. We waited patiently before the delay of the old church bell finally ended.

It rang out blaringly loud for miles, the crash of brass startlingly even to us who were expecting it and I nodded at our Demo guy. He hit the plug right as it rang out, and the sound of the door being blown in was covered by the bell just like we planned.

I gave the signal and we rushed in. Franky was quick on my heels, an automatic in his hands as we flooded into the old warehouse. The first thing I noticed was the musty smell, clearly this place hadn’t been taken care of.

Whether it was dust or mold, I grit my teeth to bear the heaviness in the air, trying my best to breathe in as little as possible. I raised my gun across the first corner, eyes flickering for any movement but it was empty.

The place was built like a maze, with false walls and hastily installed doors everywhere as we searched wildly and thoroughly. I was just starting to think we might’ve been tricked again when I turned the corner and saw two guys leaning against a shut door.

One was smoking a drag while the other was texting away on his phone. I barely noticed the guns on their hips before I shot. They didn’t even have time to look up before dropping to the ground like flies. The sound of my gunshots rang out and I cursed as we lost the element of surprise. I heard more gunshots being fired down the hallway so I threw caution to the wind, not wanting to let anyone escape as I kicked in the door.

I knew it was a mistake as soon as I entered. A round was fired straight at me and I barely ducked behind the wall though I felt the impact of one hit my chest, knocking the wind out of me. Luckily it hit the vest and I’d just be nursing a bruise there instead of an open wound.

I gestured to Franky who quickly reacted by throwing in a smoke bomb. It exploded instantly, covering the room full of gray smoke. We didn’t even have to do anything, just waited outside the door until the guys inside fled out of self-preservation.

We took them down easily, shooting those who ran in the legs or thighs, arresting those we could without wasting a bullet. It all happened very fast and so efficiently that I was surprised by the lack of fight we came across.

I didn’t holster my gun until I got the report that every person was in custody or dead. I double-checked every face to make sure none of them were Michael, then went around the building twice more before admitting that Franky was right.

Michael wasn’t there.

“Based on the documents we’ve already recovered,” Franky told me as we headed outside, “This isn’t the main base but it’s a pretty major one. An operational one at the very least which is good for us. We’ve already recovered quite a few confidential documents detailing some very promising information.” 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

“Good,” I sighed, watching as the police rounded up all the guys we’d captured. “It’s our victory but...why did it feel like that was too easy? Michael’s still out there but I can’t shake this feeling that we’re missing something. What if he wanted us to attack this place?”

Franky opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by the generic ringtone of his burner phone. He raised an eyebrow as he pulled it out and smirked as he handed it over to me.

Michael.

“Hello?” I answered cheerfully, my worries already lightened just by the fact that he’d called.

“You think you’re so fucking smart, don’t you?” Michael’s voice, full of a burning rage, snapped and I knew immediately that I was giving him too much credit. He was pissed which meant he clearly didn’t want us to find this place.

“Why, yes I do,” I smirked, chuckling when I heard his stunned silence on the other end. To his credit, he recovered rather quickly as he cussed me out over the phone in both English and Spanish.

I spoke Italian, not Spanish so I had no clue what half of the words were but considering the tone he said them with, I doubted they were anything nice.

“Tsk. Not very friendly and neighborly of you, Michael,” I playfully scolded him. “But I’ll be sure to send your regards to your men. Once they get booked that is.”

“You will regret this,” Michael growled. “You and that fucking girl of yours. I’ll make sure you rue the day you crossed me.”

“‘Rue the day?’ Who even says that anymore?” I scoffed, loving how completely unhinged he was the more I messed with him. “Jeez, I didn’t think you were that old but I guess everybody’s got a flaw, right, Grandpa?”

The line went dead almost immediately, giving me the last word.

I laughed, my blood singing in victory as I headed back to the phone. I felt like I was on top of the world like nothing could destroy this fleeting happiness.

“Still think he set us up?” Franky prompted amused.

“Not at all,” I answered with a smirk. “He’s got some serious issues and a bone to pick with me now but hey, at least we pissed him off.”

But just as I thought we were in the clear, that all we needed to do was find Michael himself and we’d be done with all of this mess, Franky received a ping on his phone of an incoming text. Whatever it was, I didn’t know but by the time I turned around to ask, he had a pale, guilty look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I demanded.

“It’s Bianca,” Franky grimaced. “One of our spies just contacted me. Michael’s put a hit out on Bianca.”

My heart grew cold as those words washed over me. A wave of nausea hit me as my heart thumped loudly in my chest like a siren screeching in panic time.

Bianca...

All I could think was her name as I dashed back to my car, not even listening to Franky trying to call out to me. I tightened my hold on my gun, unwilling to drop it now that I knew the woman I loved was in danger.

If anything happened to her...