The tension in the car was thick, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on everyone. Elijah exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, so… what the hell was that?"
Dominic didn't look at him. His eyes were fixed ahead, his jaw clenched in silent rage. "A message."
Elijah frowned. "A message from who?"
"Matteo."
Adrian let out a dry laugh. "Great. So, what? He just randomly sends people to kill us now?"
Vincent kept his hands steady on the wheel, his voice grim. "That wasn't random. He knew exactly when and where we were leaving."
That realization sent a chill through Elijah. "You're saying someone snitched?"
"Someone gave him our location," Dominic confirmed. His fingers tapped against his thigh—a dangerous habit Elijah had learned to recognize. Dominic wasn't just angry. He was calculating.
Vincent glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "What's the plan?"
"Get to a safehouse," Dominic answered.
"Which one?"
Dominic finally looked at Vincent, his expression cold. "The one no one knows about."
Vincent gave a sharp nod and changed routes.
Elijah leaned forward. "Wait. Hold up. There's a safehouse no one knows about? What does that even mean? You know about it, so someone must."
Dominic's gaze flickered toward him. "Only one other person knew about it."
"And where are they now?"
"Dead."
Elijah sucked in a breath. "Oh."
Adrian shook his head. "Jesus Christ, Elijah. How the hell are you just accepting this?"
Elijah let out a humorless laugh. "Oh, trust me. I'm not. But freaking out won't help right now."
Adrian looked between him and Dominic, then slumped back in his seat. "Yeah. Sure. Let's just drive to a secret hideout only a dead guy and a mafia boss knew about. Sounds great."
Vincent kept driving, taking backroads, avoiding main streets. The city lights started to fade as they entered a more isolated part of town. Old warehouses, abandoned factories, and broken streetlights surrounded them.
Elijah crossed his arms. "This place looks like the perfect setting for a horror movie."
Dominic didn't respond. He pulled out his phone, typed a quick message, and then pocketed it again.
Vincent finally stopped the car in front of what looked like a run-down garage.
"This is it?" Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow. "Not exactly five-star accommodations."
Dominic stepped out without answering. He approached a side door, entered a code, and the metal door slid open with a mechanical hum.
Inside, it was nothing like Elijah expected.
The place was spotless. A modern interior with reinforced steel walls, surveillance monitors, a small kitchen, and a fully stocked armory.
Adrian blinked. "Oh. This is actually kinda cool."
Vincent locked the door behind them, checking the security system. "We should be safe for now."
Elijah sat on the couch, exhaling. His whole body was still buzzing from adrenaline. He glanced up at Dominic, who was standing near the monitors, deep in thought.
"…So what now?" Elijah finally asked.
Dominic turned to him, his dark eyes unreadable.
"Now? We prepare for war."
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