Page 194 of Wicked Villain

“You thought wrong.” Moretti gives him a maddening smile. “You know how I love to punish those who cross me. I like to make a game out of it. Like a sport.”

I’d considered this possibility. Corrado’s usefulness to Moretti expired the moment a man like me discovered their connection. Today’s shitshow has also brought in the Irish, Moretti’s lifeline. I had to tell Kieran about Corrado. Keeping his involvement secret no longer mattered.

The problem here is, Corrado fucked things up for Moretti. He didn’t intend to. He wasn’t even careless. He was simply found out.

“Games are only worth playing if you have players. And every game needs winners and losers.” He taps his chest. “I can’t play by myself. But here’s the catch: I always win. Let’s see who loses today.”

“Moretti,” Corrado says.

Moretti holds up a hand and cuts him off. “Game number one—punish the idiot who’s fucked up my plans.”

“Moretti, please,” Corrado begs. “We can⁠—”

Before he can finish, Moretti fires. The bullet hits Corrado in the chest, and Allegra screams. Danillo looks stunned. Corrado crumples to the floor, his body shuddering while blood spreads across his shirt.

“It’s time for us to part ways, old friend.” Moretti fires again, killing Corrado. His body jerks, then goes still.

Moretti turns to me. “Game number two—punish the idiot who keeps getting in my fucking way and thinks he can seize my shipment.”

The instant he raises his gun to shoot me, the lights cut out.

Cassian. There’s my opening.

I throw myself behind the nearest pillar as a bullet strikes the concrete where I stood. I shoot back.

Moretti fires again, using my shot to track my position. The bullet strikes the edge of the pillar, showering me with concrete dust.

“You motherfucker!” Moretti bellows.

I shift before he can fire again and send two bullets toward the sound of his voice.

“We’re in,” Cassian says through my earpiece. “East entrance.”

Suddenly, gunfire erupts through the darkness, muzzle flashes illuminating fragments of the warehouse. Men shout. Shoes pound against the floor. Somewhere across the room, Allegra cries out.

“You surrendered your shipment and walked into my trap for a woman!” Moretti calls through the darkness. “Your father would be ashamed of you.”

“My father would understand.” Fucking asshole. How dare he bring my father into this?

The lights blaze back on.

I spot Moretti crouching behind another pillar across from me. Danillo stands several feet away with one arm locked around Allegra’s waist. She fights against him, but he tightens his hold and drags her backward.

Moretti fires at me. I duck and return the shot, forcing him behind cover. Danillo’s attention snaps toward us.

Allegra takes the opening to drive her elbow into his stomach. His grip loosens, and she tears herself out of his arms.

“Run, Allegra!” I shout.

She races toward the open door. Danillo recovers and charges after her.

Damn it.

I move to follow, but a barrage of bullets forces me back behind the pillar. Moretti’s men are firing from behind the crates while mine pour through the entrances. All hell breaks loose around me.

Through the chaos, I catch one final glimpse of Danillo disappearing through the doorway after my wife.

Moretti comes at me before I can follow. I shoot, forcing him behind a pillar, and use the moment to advance. He lunges out and fires. I dive aside, the bullet cutting through the space where my head was a second ago, then roll behind a steel worktable.