Nicholas POV
Marco's groans filled the car all the way back to the penthouse, muffled under the sound of tires on wet asphalt. The city outside blurred past as Paolo drove in silence his eyes flicking to the mirror every few seconds like he expected a tail. By the time we reached the building, Marco was half-conscious blood-soaked and shaking still breathing. Barely.
"Get him inside," I said, stepping out first. The lobby guard didn't even blink; well money bought more than silence in this city, just a regular occurrence.
Upstairs, the elevator chimed open and Paolo dragged Marco to the spare room, laying him out on the covered table we used when things got messy.
"You sure he's worth saving?" Paolo asked, wiping blood from his hands with a rag. I didn't answer right away, my mind was reeling about the things I know about Luis.
"He's worth what he knows," I said finally. "If he's lying, I'll let you finish what we started." Paolo nodded, grim but satisfied.
A few minutes later, there was a soft knock before the door opened. The doctor stepped in, same one as before she was efficient, her eyes scanned the room before landing on Marco.
"You again," she said dryly. "I should start charging you a membership fee."
"Fix him," I replied. She dropped her bag, pulling on gloves.
"If you want him alive, move." I stepped back, watching as she worked. The air smelled of blood and antiseptic, Paolo leaned against the wall, scrolling through his phone.
"You're gonna love this," he said after a beat. "Luis's men were waiting outside the warehouse. My guy says they cleared out as soon as we left." I swore under my breath.
"So he was setting me up."
"Looks that way." Paolo's tone was flat, "If we hadn't moved fast, we'd be cleaning your body out of that place." I turned toward Marco who's pale, but weak.
"Guess you weren't lying after all," I murmured. The doctor looked up briefly.
"He'll make it. Don't move him for at least a day."
"Good." I crouched beside Marco again, my voice very low enough only he could hear. "You're going to tell me everything you know about Luis every deal, every name, and every place he keeps off the books. You understand?" Marco nodded weakly, pain twisting his face.
"Because If you lie to me," I continued, my tone colder, "no doctor in the world will be able to put you back together."
He swallowed hard. "I understand."
"Good." Paolo tilted his head toward the balcony. lighting a cigarette and exhaling slow. " .
Marco was unconscious now the doctor bent over him, stitching through torn flesh, paolo hovered near the door, restlessly his gun still in hand even though there was no one left to shoot.
I leaned against the window frame, phone in hand and the city stretched out below me. Luis hadn't called yet which told me everything I needed to know; he was waiting to see if I'd make it out.
The eleva6tor dinged softly. Greg stepped in all easy confidence and eyes that missed nothing. He glanced at the doctor, then at Marco sprawled on the couch, before turning to me.
"Rough night?" he said, his voice dry. I didn't look away from the window.
"Luis set me up." That got his attention. He whistled low, stepping closer.
"Set you up how?"
"Sent backup to 'watch' me," I said. "They were too close, not Luis's usual cleanup crew."
Greg's smirk faded. "So what's the play?" I looked back at him finally.
"We find out why. Marco said he's got information something about Luis not being as solid as he pretends." Greg crouched near Marco, studying him for a beat before muttering,
"He's either the key or the noose."
"Yeah," I said. "And right now, he's the only one who can tell us which."
Greg stood, brushing off his hands. "Want me to dig around? See who Luis's been talking to lately?"
"Already on it," Paolo said from the corner, phone in hand. "But whoever's feeding Luis info on you, they're good, they covered their tracks."
Greg's eyes flicked to me. "You think he knows about Reed?"
The question hung there for a second, the sound of the doctor's tools filled the silene. "If he does, that's a problem."
Greg nodded slowly. "Then I'd say it's time we turn the tables." He looked at Marco again. "Wake him up when you're ready. I'll make sure Luis gets a nice report say you handled everything clean."
"Appreciate it," I said quietly. He paused on his way out, throwing me a grin over his shoulder.
"You owe me dinner for this, you know."
"Add it to my tab." Greg chuckled, shaking his head.
"Your tab's already a damn novel." Then he was gone, leaving me with the steady rhythm of Marco's shallow breaths and a thousand questions I wasn't ready to answer.