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My heart speeds up throwing punches against my ribs.

I call Mirella. No answer from her, either.

Something’s wrong. I can feel it in my bones.

“I’m going to check this out,” Roman says, looking ahead at the collision.

“Not yet.” I grab his arm, stopping him. “This is a trap. An ambush.”

“We need to get someone to that ambulance to make sure everyone’s okay,” Cassian suggests, sending a message on his phone. I’m glad he’s thinking way ahead of me. Panic has my thoughts scrambled.

“Quick. Look ahead,” Aleksandr blurts, retrieving his gun.

Armed men pour out of the SUVs.

Shit. I anticipated something like this. I just hoped it wouldn’t happen today.

I’m not surprised he attempted it with all of us here—the Bratva and the Irish. We seized Moretti’s shipment two days ago and sent him our demand to surrender.

I never expected him to walk through my door willingly, but I thought I had everything under control.

That’s why I’m here. In this climate, the only person I trust to protect my girl is myself.

I retrieve my gun, getting ready to shoot.

The men close in and open fire on us.

There are ten of them.

“We need to deal with them now!” I shout.

Everyone knows what to do.

Roman jumps out first. He always covers me. I get out and shoot the man rushing toward my side of the car.

Aleksandr and Cassian deal with the men on their side.

Behind us, Kieran and his men are under attack, too. Gunmen on motorcycles spray the cars with bullets. They weave through the stalled traffic and speed past the wreckage blocking the road.

We’re outside. Exposed. But the bikers don’t fire at us. They speed straight past.

The truth sinks in.

Decoy.

The entire attack was designed to put distance between the ambulance and me.

Within seconds, the last man drops and the shooting stops.

I was right.

Allegra is in danger.

My phone rings. I pull it out, hoping it’s her.

But it’s not.

The words Unknown Number flash across the screen.