Chapter 86: The Heist

POV: ENZO

Tuesday night came faster than Enzo expected.

He stood in the shadows of an abandoned warehouse in the industrial district, watching his team move into position with military precision.

Eight men. All vetted. All loyal to him and Isabella, not to Antonio.

This was it. Their first real move.

"Nervous?" Isabella appeared beside him, dressed in black tactical gear that somehow still looked elegant on her.

"Excited," Enzo corrected. "This is what we’ve been planning for. Proof that we can execute."

"The shipment arrives in fifteen minutes." Isabella checked her watch, a slim piece of platinum that caught the moonlight. "Viktor has the route. Rico has the intercept point. Milo has the vehicles ready for transport."

"And Alexei?"

"Expecting confirmation by dawn." Isabella’s expression was satisfied. "Once we have the shipment secured, once we prove we can deliver, the Volkovs will see we’re worth the investment."

Enzo nodded, but something nagged at the back of his mind.

It had been too easy.

Getting the intel on the Hartford shipment. Positioning their team. No interference from Dimitri, Antonio, or Lorenzo.

Almost like....

"Stop," Isabella said, reading his face. "Stop overthinking. Sometimes things go smoothly because we planned well. Not because it’s a trap."

"You’re right." Enzo shook off the unease. "I’m just used to everything being a fight."

"It usually is. Which is why we should enjoy this while it lasts." She touched his arm briefly. "After tonight, everything changes. We’re not Antonio’s son and Lorenzo’s daughter anymore. We’re players. Equals."

"Partners," Enzo said.

"Partners," Isabella agreed.

A text buzzed on Enzo’s phone. Viktor: Shipment spotted. Two trucks. Light security. Moving into position.

"Here we go," Enzo murmured.

They moved to the monitoring station, a laptop set up on a crate, showing feeds from their team’s body cameras.

Enzo watched as Viktor and three others intercepted the first truck. Professional. Clean. The driver didn’t even have time to radio for help before he was unconscious, cable-tied, and moved to the side of the road.

The second truck took slightly longer, the driver tried to run but Rico handled him.

"Both trucks secured," Viktor’s voice came through the comms. "Transferring cargo now."

Isabella leaned forward, watching the feed intently.

Enzo could see it on her face, the thrill of success. The validation. The proof that they could do this.

"Cargo transferred," Rico reported. "Original trucks disabled. We’re moving to the secondary location."

"Confirmed," Enzo said into the comms. "Execute phase two."

The feed showed their team loading the Hartford shipment into unmarked vans. Quick. Professional. No traces left behind except the cable-tied drivers and disabled trucks.

Exactly as planned.

Twenty minutes later, the vans pulled into a warehouse three miles away one they’d secured through a shell company, completely untraceable to either of them.

Enzo and Isabella arrived five minutes after, stepping into the warehouse to see their team unloading crate after crate of high-grade merchandise.

Weapons. Electronics. Medical supplies. Everything that could be moved through black market channels for enormous profit.

"We did it," Viktor said, grinning. "Clean intercept. No casualties. No witnesses who can identify us."

Enzo felt something unfurl in his chest. Pride. Accomplishment. The first real victory of his life that had nothing to do with Dimitri or his father.

"Check the manifests," he ordered. "I want inventory confirmed before we report to Volkov."

Viktor moved to comply, and Enzo turned to Isabella.

She was smiling, a real smile, not the practiced one she showed the world.

"We actually did it," she said quietly.

"We did." Enzo pulled out his phone to text Alexei. "And now..."

The warehouse lights blazed on.

Every single one, flooding the space with harsh white light.

Enzo’s hand went to his weapon automatically, his team immediately moving into defensive positions.

And then he heard it.

Slow, deliberate applause.

From the catwalk above.

Enzo’s blood turned to ice.

Because there, leaning against the railing with his hands clasped together in mocking applause, stood Dimitri.

Alone. Unarmed. Completely at ease.

"Bravo," Dimitri called down, his voice echoing through the warehouse. "Truly impressive. Clean execution. Minimal casualties. Professional in every way." He smiled. "You’ve learned well, little brother."

"Dimitri." Enzo’s voice came out steady despite the adrenaline flooding his system. "What are you doing here?"

"Watching. I’ve been watching since the moment you activated your team." Dimitri pushed off the railing, descended the metal stairs with unhurried grace. "Did you really think you could move in my city without me knowing?"

Isabella stepped forward, her hand also on her weapon. "This is neutral territory. We’re not violating any agreements."

"True." Dimitri reached the warehouse floor, stopped about twenty feet away. "Neutral territory. Unclaimed shipment. Perfectly legal, in the context of our world." He looked around at the crates. "You executed well. I’m genuinely impressed."

"Then why are you here?" Enzo demanded.

"To deliver a message." Dimitri’s eyes....silver-gray and absolutely cold swept across Enzo’s team before landing back on him. "You wanted to prove you’re not in my shadow. That you can operate independently. Build your own empire. Message received."

"Then leave," Isabella said. "You’ve made your point. You were watching. You knew. Congratulations. Now let us have this."

"I will. In a moment." Dimitri took a few steps closer, and Enzo saw his team tense. "But first, we need to establish some ground rules. See, I don’t mind you building your own organization. I don’t mind you taking neutral territory. I don’t even mind you working with the Volkovs, though I imagine Alexei has some interesting news for you about that."

Enzo’s stomach dropped. "What did you do?"

"I had a conversation with Alexei. Very productive. He’s adding a clause to your contract, one that says if you make moves against my interests, he terminates your agreement immediately. Frozen assets. Withdrawn support. Complete severance."

"You can’t..." Isabella started.

"I already did." Dimitri’s smile was sharp. "And Alexei agreed. Because the Volkovs are smart enough to know that war with me isn’t worth a three-week-old partnership with two unproven operators."

Enzo felt rage building in his chest. "You’re sabotaging us."

"No. I’m setting boundaries." Dimitri’s voice was steel. "You want independence? Fine. You can have it. Build your empire. Take neutral territory. Make your deals. But...." He stepped closer. "You stay away from what’s mine, Cross that line, and I won’t just destroy you. I’ll make you wish you’d never been born."