Shattered Vows: A Mafia’s Fall

Chapter 11

Before Aurora could ask more, the sound of heavy footsteps outside sent shivers down their spines. Someone was circling the safe house. Lena grabbed Aurora’s hand. “We have to go,” she urged.

Quietly, they moved toward the back door. The night air was thick with tension and the sound of distant voices. Every step felt like a race against time. Aurora could hear the low murmur of voices outside, speaking in urgent tones that hinted their enemy’s arrival.

When they finally reached a quiet side street, Lena pulled out her burner phone and quickly dialed a number. “Antonio, it’s me. I have Aurora with me. We need extraction immediately,” she whispered. After a long pause, the voice on the other end confirmed, “I am on my way. Follow the old service route behind the docks. Stay low.”

Aurora’s pulse pounded as she tucked the ledger securely into her jacket. With Lena at her side, they slipped into a narrow alley that led them deeper into the industrial side of the city. The route was dark and forgotten, and every shadow seemed full of hidden threats.

They moved quickly but cautiously. Every now and then, they paused as distant footsteps echoed behind them. At one point, a dim light shone on the wall and a pair of eyes stared out from behind a stack of rusted barrels. Both women ducked into another alley and pressed against the wall, hearts racing. Aurora could almost feel the presence of her enemies closing in, and every second stretched out like an eternity.

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded from the other end of the alley. The sound of someone running was soon followed by shouts. Lena grabbed Aurora’s arm, urging, “Keep moving!” They dashed toward a narrow opening that led to a hidden pathway behind a row of old warehouses.

The safe house was still behind them, but Antonio’s promise of extraction gave them hope. The city around them was a maze of abandoned roads and flickering streetlights, each turn holding its own risk. Aurora’s mind flashed with memories of Vince’s desperate call and Carlo’s reassurance. This was now her path, a dangerous road that could end in freedom or death.

They finally emerged onto a quiet street near the docks. In the distance, an old van idled silently. Its engine gave off a soft hum under the sound of distant waves crashing on concrete. Lena pointed. “That must be it. Antonio said the van would be there for us.”

As they approached the van, a sudden sound made them both freeze. The van’s door opened slowly, and a voice called out, low and steady: “Hold it right there.” A man stepped out from behind the van, his hands raised in a slow motion as if he did not want any harm. He was lean and wore a heavy jacket, his eyes scanning the area with a cold intensity.

“Antonio?” Aurora asked, hope laced with caution.

The man nodded. “Yes. I am Antonio. Come quickly; there is no time for questions right now.”

Before they could step forward, headlights suddenly flared from around the corner. Several black SUVs roared into the street, their engines loud and menacing. The van’s side door slammed shut as Antonio waved them inside. “Go, go, go!” he shouted.

Aurora and Lena dove into the van just as a black SUV screeched to a halt a few feet away. A man in dark clothing, with a scar on his face, peered out from the driver’s seat and shouted, “Stop! You cannot run from us!” His voice mixed anger with triumph.

The van jerked forward, tires screeching against wet pavement as it sped away from the arriving threat. In the back, Aurora clutched the ledger and exchanged a worried glance with Lena. The city outside blurred with streaks of light while the van took a sharp turn down a narrow service road behind the docks.

Antonio sat at the wheel, his face focused in the dim light. “We must lose them,” he said, his voice calm despite the chaos outside. The van weaved quickly through dark streets as sirens and shouts faded into the distance.

Inside the van, tension hung heavy. Aurora tried to steady her breath as she re-read some of the ledger’s entries, trying to make sense of the clues scrawled in messy handwriting. Names, dates, and secret deals pointed to a cabal of powerful men. Matteo was only one part of the network. The real enemy was hidden in the pages before her, someone who was higher up than anyone she had ever imagined.

Lena glanced at her, worry in her eyes. “We are close now,” she whispered. “Antonio’s safe house is just ahead. We can rest for a moment, gather our strength, and plan our next move.”

Before Aurora could respond, the van shuddered violently as it hit a rough patch on the road. The vehicle lurched, and for a split second, the overhead light flickered. Aurora’s heart sank. In that brief moment, she saw a dark shape outside the van, moving with swift precision.

Antonio’s eyes widened as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Hold on!” he shouted. The van swerved sharply, nearly colliding with a chain-link fence. Outside, the black SUVs were not far behind, their headlights now shining like hungry eyes in the darkness.

The van skidded to a stop in a narrow, deserted parking lot near a run-down building. “This is it,” Antonio said, his voice low but firm. “We will hide here for a few minutes. Then we will go on foot to reach a secure location.”

Aurora’s pulse pounded as she peered out the van’s window. The dark figures of the pursuing vehicles circled slowly, and one of them started to move toward the parking lot. Time was running out.

Antonio unlatched the rear door. “Get out quickly. I will cover you.” He opened his own door and stepped out, blending into the shadows. Lena and Aurora exchanged a look. They had no choice but to run on foot once again.