17. A Trouble Came

VINCENT. It was supposed to be a quiet evening, a brief escape from a routine filled with intrigue and danger. I had brought Amber to this bar-restaurant with a simple intention: to give her some relief and a new atmosphere after all that had happened. But the world I live in rarely provides such respite. I was watching Amber enjoying her food, her face filled with the amazement of a child discovering something new. Her laugh was light, her smile honest, and for a moment, I was content. However, my ever-vigilant instincts began to sense something wrong. The sound came out of the blue-a gunshot that broke the silence of the restaurant. My ears immediately caught the loud crack, followed by the screams of diners who immediately panicked and scattered towards the exit. The glasses on the nearby tables shattered from the random bullets, destroying the beauty of this place in an instant. My reflexes work faster than my mind. I stood up and immediately pulled Amber from her chair, pushing her behind me while making sure she stayed low and safe. Her eyes widened, clearly surprised, but she was smart enough not to ask any questions in the midst of this chaos. "Stay behind me," I said in a low but firm voice, making sure she heard despite the noise around us. I scanned the room quickly, my eyes searching for the source of this mess. It didn't take long to find it. At the entrance of the restaurant, a swarm of armed men barged in. They wore dark clothing, their faces mostly covered by masks, but I could recognize the way they moved-trained, purposeful. They hadn't come just to create random chaos. They were looking for someone. When one of them finally looked in my direction, I knew that I was the one they were looking for. His eyes met mine, and although his face was covered, I could feel the mocking smile he hid behind his mask. "Vincent Moretti," he called my name in a challenging tone, his voice echoing amidst the commotion. "At last we meet. We've been looking for you for so long." Amber, crouched behind me, holds the hem of my jacket tightly. I could feel her tension, but I couldn't turn my head to calm her down. My focus was entirely on the people in front of me. I stepped slightly forward, making sure my body was fully protecting Amber. "It looks like you're making a scene just to attract attention. Don't you know how to enter quietly?" The man laughed, a rough sound that sounded like metal scraping. "We don't need to be quiet. We just want to make sure everyone knows that Vincent Moretti is not an untouchable." I felt my blood boil at his words, but I remained calm. In a situation like this, losing control would only make me lose. "If you want me, let these people go," I said, pointing at the restaurant patrons who were still trying to escape. "This is between me and you. Don't pull anyone else into it." The man raised his rifle, pointing it at me with a casual gesture. "Unfortunately, we have different rules. If you want us to leave, you must surrender. But you seem to be too arrogant for that." He signaled to his men, and I saw them begin to spread out, pointing their weapons at anyone who was near them-including the restaurant staff and a few security guards. One of the guards tried to fight back, but he was instantly taken down with a hard punch to the face. Amber was holding her breath behind me, and I could tell she was trying hard not to panic. I gave her a quick glance, just enough to make sure she was okay. "Stay here," I whispered. "Don't move until I say." I refocused on the man, my eyes looking at him sharply. "You guys really want to play like this?" I asked, my voice cold. The man nodded, in a mocking tone. "Why not? You're famous, Vincent. And I'm sure, tonight, your name will be recognized even more." I didn't answer. Instead, my hands moved slowly to my sides, reaching for the weapon I always carried under my jacket. They didn't know that I was also prepared. "Alright," I said finally, my voice low but filled with menace. "If you want to play, I'll make sure you can never forget this night." The man seemed surprised by the tone of my voice, but before he could respond, I had already drawn my pistol and shot the large lights above them, creating a momentary darkness that gave me the upper hand. I ducked down, pulling Amber with me behind the counter, while the sound of gunfire filled the room again. In the chaos, I had only one goal-protect Amber, no matter what. *** The length of time seemed like an instant as the commotion swept through the restaurant. Gunshots continued to echo around us, and my body responded automatically, moving swiftly. My instincts as a leader in this world were stronger than anything I had ever felt before. However, there was one thing I couldn't ignore-he, that man. Sanfrasco. That name was enough to make me grit my teeth. In this world, there are many enemies that come and go, but Sanfrasco is the toughest, the most difficult to fight. Not only because he was a big competitor in our illegal business world, but also because he knew exactly how to play every side of the game. I had faced many people who considered me invincible, but this feeling-this feeling where I truly felt threatened-had only come this time. And there he was, with his men, ready to finish me off. I knew one thing: if I didn't move quickly, things could end badly. The chaos was only making things worse. I saw the massive body of a Sanfrasco bodyguard step forward, his eyes blazing with vengeance. There was a deep hatred in his gaze, and it was enough to let me know that he was no easy opponent. "Vincent Moretti..." his heavy voice vibrated the air. "I won't let you interfere with Sanfrasco's business any longer." I returned his gaze, without hesitation. "You're making a big mistake." He lunged, his hands moving quickly, trying to hit my face with tremendous force. I dodged nimbly, feeling the strong wind from his darting fist. That first attack was just a warm-up. I knew he was training to fight in a brutal, merciless manner. I stepped back, assessing his movements, looking for an opening. I knew that if I waited too long, he would deliver the killing blow. He moved quickly again, this time with a low kick aimed at the leg. I jumped to the side, dodging the attack in the blink of an eye, then devised a counterplan. My punch hit him right in the waist. A hard punch, enough to stagger him. I knew this was a chance, but he wasn't one to fall easily. In an instant, he held his body and twisted his body to retaliate. We fought fiercely, every move like a battle of life and death. I felt my stomach being kicked hard several times, my body being hit by multiple punches that forced me to dodge faster. But I did not give up. My mental strength was sharper than my physical, and I knew I had to stay focused if I wanted to win. Every move we made involved a life on the line, and I began to realize how well he knew how to defeat opponents with his chaotic yet effective fighting style. But I wasn't going to back down. I knew every blow I took was the price I had to pay to defend my position, to preserve my life, and-more importantly-to preserve Amber. In one tension-filled second, I managed to catch her arm, choking her with sufficient force. She tried to struggle, but I seized the momentum to gain control. My final blow slams straight into her face, and I feel her cheekbone crack under my fist. He fell, gasping for air, and I stood over her body, not feeling happy about the victory. I just felt cold. That moment wasn't about who won or lost-it was a reminder that every fight in this world always ends with injuries, both physical and mental. I didn't have time to catch my breath. As I was still standing over the bodyguard's body, I heard another voice, heavier and more threatening-Sanfrasco himself. He emerged from the darkness, his eyes boring into me. "I thought you were smarter than this, Vincent," he said in a challenging tone. "But you seem to be like most people. Overconfident that you can beat us." I furrowed my brow, my eyes remaining focused on Sanfrasco. "I'm not most people," I replied coldly. "And I won't let someone like you stand in my way." He just laughed sarcastically. "We'll see." Out there, I could hear Amber who was still hiding, probably feeling the tension that filled this room. All of this is for her. I have to survive. I must win. Sanfrasco took a step forward, and I knew, if this fight continued, things would get even more intense.