The warehouse was silent but for the distant hum of the city beyond the docks—a hollow sound, like the heartbeat of a corpse. Lorenzo’s breath came heavy, mingling with the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. He lowered his gun, eyes fixed on the spot where the ledger had been just moments ago. Emptiness.
Alessia sat against the cold concrete wall, her body shaking, eyes wild and haunted. The firelight from the streetlamp outside flickered across her face, casting cruel shadows that made her look less human and more ghost.
“Who… who took it?” Lorenzo demanded, voice ragged but sharp. “This wasn’t some random hit.”
She swallowed hard, her hands curling into fists. “It was… someone from inside.”
The words landed like a bomb.
Lorenzo stared, disbelief warping his features. “You mean—on
