Chapter 53

• Jake***
• I crouch in the shadows across the street from Victor's mansion, the dull ache in my side a constant reminder of how close I came to death. The bullet he fired still haunts my flesh, the scar a testament to my survival. My leather jacket sticks to the wound, warm with blood that dried hours ago—a thick reminder of what I’ve endured. Pain is a companion I know well in this mafia world, but tonight, it fuels my fury.
• Victor made one fatal mistake: he underestimated me. He thought he’d killed me. And that belief? That’s what’s going to be his undoing. The vengeance burning in my chest is a fire that won’t be snuffed out. Belle’s terrified face flashes in my mind—her wide eyes, her fear, her helplessness. Victor crossed a line, and now, it’s time to make him pay.