Chapter 38

(Nico's POV)

The damp concrete walls of the Morettis' interrogation room felt like they were closing in. Nico sat strapped to a metal chair, his wrists raw from the bindings and his face bruised from Dante's repeated blows.

"I'll ask you one last time," Dante said, circling him like a predator. "Where's Enzo?"

"Go to hell," Nico spat, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Dante smirked, unfazed. He motioned to one of his men, who delivered a sharp punch to Nico's ribs. Pain exploded through his side, but he bit back a groan. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

"You're wasting your time," Nico said, his voice hoarse. "You think beating me will make me talk?"

"No," Dante replied smoothly. "But it's fun to watch you squirm."

Nico glared at him, but his resolve wavered when Dante pulled out a phone and began dialing. "You see, loyalty is a fickle thing," Dante said. "And yours is about to cost you everything."

Nico stiffened as Dante's tone shifted into a cold, businesslike cadence. "It's done. We have him," Dante said into the phone. "What's the next step?"

Nico strained to hear the muffled response on the other end, but the sound of Dante's men talking and moving around drowned it out. He caught only fragments-"Enzo," "tunnels," and "bait."

"You're working with someone," Nico said, narrowing his eyes. "Someone inside our group."

Dante chuckled, ending the call. "Smart. Too bad you won't live long enough to do anything about it."

Nico clenched his fists, rage boiling inside him. He couldn't let the Morettis win. But as Dante leaned in closer, his smile twisted into something more sinister.

"You're going to help me catch them," Dante said. "Whether you want to or not."

Before Nico could respond, Dante snapped his fingers, and one of his men pressed a gun to Nico's temple.

"Let's see how loyal your friends really are," Dante said, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

(Isabella's POV)

Back in the hidden surveillance room, Isabella paced, her mind racing. Nico's capture was a blow they couldn't afford. The grainy footage of him tied up and surrounded by Moretti enforcers played on a loop in her head.

"We can't just leave him," she said, her voice trembling.

"And we won't," Enzo said, his tone firm. "But we need a plan."

The rest of the group exchanged uneasy glances. Nico's absence had left a void in their dynamic, and tensions were running high.

"How do we know this isn't a trap?" one of the team members said. "The Morettis could be using him to lure us out."

"Of course it's a trap," Enzo snapped. "But that doesn't mean we leave him to die."

"And why should we trust you?" another voice said. "You're the reason we're in this mess in the first place!"

"Enough!" Isabella said, stepping between them. "This isn't the time to turn on each other."

But her plea fell on deaf ears.

"You're defending him because you're too close to him," someone accused. "Can we even trust your judgment right now?"

Isabella's cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment. "This isn't about me. It's about saving Nico."

"Is it?" the voice challenged.

Enzo's jaw tightened, his patience fraying. "Believe what you want. I don't need your approval to do what's right."

"Enzo-" Isabella started, but he cut her off.

"I'm going after him," he said. "Alone, if I have to."

"Don't be stupid," Isabella said, grabbing his arm. "You won't make it out alive."

"Then don't try to stop me," he said, pulling away.

Enzo stormed out of the room, leaving Isabella torn between following him and staying with the group.

(Enzo's POV)

The Morettis' hideout loomed ahead, a fortress of steel and stone nestled in the shadows of the industrial district. Enzo kept to the edges, his movements precise and silent. Years of working for the Morettis had taught him how to navigate their operations undetected.

He slipped inside through a service entrance, his heart pounding as he moved through the familiar hallways. Every step brought back memories he'd tried to bury-the missions, the betrayals, the bloodshed.

He planted small explosives in strategic locations, his mind racing with a mixture of guilt and determination. This wasn't just about Nico-it was about redemption.

As he rounded a corner, he came face-to-face with Dante.

"Well, well," Dante said, blocking his path. "I knew you couldn't resist."

Enzo's hand hovered over the knife at his belt. "Let him go, Dante."

"And miss out on this reunion?" Dante smirked. "Come on, Enzo. You used to be one of us. You know how this works."

"I'm not that person anymore," Enzo said through gritted teeth.

"Really?" Dante said, circling him. "Because from where