Vincenzo


    Sitting in the backseat of the police car, each mile felt like an eternity. Beside me, Nancy seemed ufortably calm, although I knew that behind her rxed facade, her mind was on high alert. The squad that apanied us was well-armed, with experienced and determined men, but I didn''t trust them to solve this the right way. It was Rachel who was in danger, and I needed to be the one to get her out of there.


    As the vehicle advanced through the dark streets of the city, the voice of one of the officers cut through the silence:


    "So, Nancy, how did you manage to escape captivity?"


    I had asked myself the same question countless times since I learned that she was involved. Nancy leaned forward a little, resting her elbows on her knees, and answered in an almost casual tone:


    "I didn''t escape. I was released."


    My head turned in her direction.


    "Released?"


    She nodded, but didn''t look at me.


    "Rachel asked Veronica to let me go." That was the only reason.


    My mind filled with images of Rachel, trying to negotiate with Veronica. Knowing Rachel, she had probably sacrificed something or risked a lot to make sure Nancy got out of that ce alive. My chest tightened at the thought of how she must be feeling right now, alone with that maniptive woman and her henchmen.


    Nancy continued:


    "When I left, one of the henchmen walked me to the exit. He put a bag over my head so I wouldn''t know where I was being taken. Ipletely lost track of time and direction."


    One of the officers huffed, obviously frustrated.


    "That doesn''t help us much."


    Nancy ignored him and continued:


    "However, there is one thing I can tell you. While we were walking, I smelled a very specific smell. It was hot dogs. But it wasn''t a regr hot dog. It was the smell of that special sauce that only one ce in town serves."


    The officer behind the wheel looked at her in the rearview mirror with a sarcastic expression.


    "Hot dogs?" Seriously? Do you think this will lead us to anything?


    Before Nancy could answer, something in my memory clicked. I knew exactly what she was talking about.


    "I know this ce." My voice was firm, interrupting any other conversation in the car. "There''s only one kiosk in town that serves hot dogs with that sauce."


    "Where is it?" the officer in the front seat asked, now more interested.


    "Turn right at the next corner." I ordered, without hesitation.


    The driver obeyed, and the car took a new direction. My heart was racing, my mind divided between the relief of having a clue and the fury that was growing inside me. Rachel was so close, but still out of my reach, and the idea of Veronica touching her consumed mepletely.


    After a few streets and several curves, we arrived at a ce that immediately caught everyone''s attention: a huge warehouse, with a neglected facade, but that seemed busier than it should be for that time of night. Nancy pointed with her finger.


    This is it. I''m sure of it.


    The police began to move, organizing a siege around the warehouse. Armed men took up strategic positions, and orders were given in low voices over the radio. But I couldn''t contain myself.


    I got out of the car, my footsteps echoing on the asphalt as I headed straight for the main entrance. Every fiber of my being was filled with anger. I didn''t need an borate n, I didn''t need strategies. I only needed one thing: Veronica. "VERONICA!" I shouted, my voice reverberating in the night like thunder.


    The police behind me stopped for a moment, hesitant. Nancy stood next to the car, watching with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.


    The warehouse door creaked open, and there she was. Veronica appeared, with that mischievous smile on her face, as if she had been waiting for this moment.


    "Well, well, Vincenzo. What a surprise." Her voice wasced with sarcasm.


    My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into the skin of my palms. I took a few more steps toward her.


    "Where''s Rachel?"


    Veronica crossed her arms, pretending to think for a moment.


    "Ah, Rachel... That stubborn, annoying girl. She''s well taken care of, don''t worry."


    "I''m not here to y games, Veronica." My words came out as a growl. "Bring her to me. Now."


    Sheughed, a sharp, disdainful sound.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "Always so bossy, aren''t you? But I''m not surprised. You''ve always been like this... Determined, focused. It''s a shame you decided to turn your back on what we could have had together." "What do you want?" I asked directly, ignoring her attempt at provocation.


    "I want you, Vincenzo. I want everything we had before. You know that." She took a step forward, her smile growing darker. "But this girl... She''s an obstacle. A problem I need to solve."


    My patience was at its limit. I took another step forward, but before I could do anything, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was the leader of the police team. He gave me a look that clearly said: "Let us handle this." Veronica, noticing the movement, raised an eyebrow.


    "Ah, so you broughtpany. Interesting. But do you think these men will help you? They don''t even know what they''re up against."


    The police began to spread out, advancing towards the warehouse with their weapons raised. Veronica took two steps back, raising her hands in a gesture of theatrical surrender.


    "Calm down, calm down. We don''t need toplicate things."


    I knew she was up to something. She always had a n B, and I needed to be one step ahead.


    "Veronica, you''re not going to leave here with what you want," I said, my voice firm and full of determination.


    She just smiled again, but this time there was something different in her expression.


    "We''ll see, Vincenzo. We''ll see.


    The squad began to storm the warehouse, and I braced myself for whatever came next. No matter what happened in there, I knew one thing: Rachel would make it out alive, and Veronica would pay for everything she''d done. My mind was focused. Every step I took brought me closer to what needed to be done. Rachel was all that mattered, and I wouldn''t rest until she was safe again.