I was going on days without solid sleep, but I could handle it. I knew where Piper was, and that was all that mattered. That psycho had her, and I had to make all this shit right.

I drove faster and faster, breaking speed limits, being reckless. I knew I was pushing the limit but I couldn’t hold back. I had to get there in time to save her, and if I didn’t, I couldn’t ever forgive myself.

It was around ten at night by the time I got to the warehouse district of the Chicago suburbs. I had to stop and ask for directions twice, which was frustrating as fuck, but eventually I found the place. “J&J Shipping” was painted in white on the front of the building, and there were several black cars parked out front. There was nobody else around and not a single speck of artificial light anywhere, which was good for me. I was a master of stealth and night fighting.

I parked the truck out of the way, readied my gun, and headed toward the warehouse on foot.

I came at it from the south, closer to the city and away from the road. I listened as I skirted the perimeter and finally located a single guard waiting outside.

His back was to me and he was smoking a cigarette. I smiled to myself as I slowly crept up behind him.

He didn’t know what hit him. I kicked the back of his knee, toppling him, and then smashed the butt of my gun into the side of his head. He toppled down to the ground, unconscious.

I quickly relieved him of his submachine gun and his ammunition. I was probably going to need it. Tony had clearly called for backup, and this guy looked like he knew what he was doing. This was no smalltime operation by some sick fucking mafia guy anymore. They were taking it seriously.

As well they should. They killed a prominent fucking General, and that was going to have repercussions.

Those repercussions started tonight.

I found the door that the guard was meant to be watching and slipped inside. I heard the sound of muted conversation drifting down the wide metal hallways. I headed toward it, keeping close to the wall and moving silently.

I didn’t run into anymore guards as I got closer and closer to the conversation. Finally, I found a large central warehouse area illuminated by some lamps that the mafia guys had brought with them.

There were maybe six guys in total. I recognized Tony immediately. He was getting his arm sewn up by a man with glasses. Another man, older and tall, stood off to one side having a conversation with a guard. There were two other armed guards spread around the place.

Above them, on the second floor, was a walkway. I crept back into the hallway and backtracked until I found a stairwell that led upstairs. I took it and moved into another second floor hallway littered with offices and side rooms.

Eventually, I found the catwalk. As I moved toward it, I spotted another guard positioned up top.

He was out in the open and would be hard to get to. I found an old bottle and threw it down the hall. It shattered, instantly drawing the guard’s attention.

“Hey, I heard something,” he called out.

“Go check it then,” someone yelled back. “This place is full of rats so be careful.”

The men all laughed. I positioned myself on one side of the door. I heard the guard coming closer, grumbling to himself.

As soon as he was through the door, I slammed my elbow into his face. He put his hands up to fight but I was on him too fast. I kicked his knee and punched his jaw, dropping him to the ground. I kicked his temple, knocking him unconscious.

I slipped a knife from a large sheath on his chest and smiled to myself. I liked to make it personal, and with Tony, it was as personal as it could get. He didn’t deserve it fast and clean like the others.

I slowly moved out onto the balcony. I stuck to the shadows, moving around to the other side of the building. My view of what was happening down below got clearer and clearer as I got closer.

I saw Piper tied to a chair with a few men standing around her. I recognized Tony immediately. As I snuck to the edge of the platform, Piper suddenly looked up.

We locked eyes. I was positive that she saw me. I caught a hint of recognition in her eyes.

She quickly looked away and all recognition was gone.

I smiled to myself. That was my girl. She knew not to give me away.

I prepared myself, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I was going to end this, and I was going to end it now.