The sound of Dario's retreating footsteps echoed in Sara's ears long after he and his men had vanished into the night. The deal was done, the temporary truce secured, but the tension that gripped her chest refused to release. She could still feel Dario's piercing gaze on her, his chilling words replaying in her mind.
"You think you're strong enough."
Sara shuddered, clenching her fists as if to ward off the lingering threat. She glanced over at Kotis, whose eyes were still fixed on the spot where Dario had stood. His expression was unreadable, but she could see the tightness in his jaw, the way his hands flexed, betraying the storm brewing inside him.
Marco, who had been quiet throughout the meeting, finally spoke. "That was too easy."
Sara looked at him, startled by the gravity in his voice. "What do you mean?"
Marco rubbed the back of his neck, his brow furrowed. "Dario. He agreed too quickly. That's not like him. He's up to something."
Kotis nodded slowly, his gaze still distant. "He's always up to something. But for now, we have the upper hand."
"For now," Marco muttered, clearly unconvinced.
Sara shifted uncomfortably. She knew Marco had a point. Dario wasn't the type to let an insult like this slide, even with a deal in place. They had wounded his pride, and men like him didn't forgive easily. The question wasn't if he would strike back, but when.
As they made their way out of the warehouse, Sara's thoughts churned. The city's cold night air was a welcome relief, but the weight of the uncertainty pressed down harder with each step.
---
Back at the safehouse, the atmosphere was thick with tension. They had successfully kept their lives, but it felt like a fragile victory. Kotis sat at the kitchen table, deep in thought, while Sara leaned against the wall, staring out the window. The street below was quiet, the calm before the storm.
"What's next?" Marco asked, breaking the silence. He had been pacing the room ever since they returned, his restlessness impossible to ignore.
Kotis sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "We wait. Dario will make his move, and we need to be ready when he does."
"That's it?" Marco's voice was incredulous. "We just sit here and wait for him to come after us?"
Sara's stomach twisted. She hated the idea of being on the defensive, waiting for the inevitable strike. "There has to be something we can do," she said, her voice tense. "We can't just sit here, waiting for him to come after us."
Kotis looked up at her, his expression hardening. "We don't have the numbers to take him head-on, Sara. Right now, our best option is to stay low and gather intel. We need to know what Dario's next move is before we can act."
Sara bit her lip, frustrated but knowing Kotis was right. Charging at Dario head-on would be suicide. They had to be smart, strategic, if they wanted to survive.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a knock echoed from the front door. The sound was unexpected, jarring in the tense quiet of the room. They all froze, exchanging wary glances.
Marco moved toward the door, his hand hovering over the gun at his hip. "Who the hell could that be?"
Kotis stood, motioning for them to stay back. "Let me handle this."
Sara's heart raced as Kotis approached the door, his movements careful and controlled. The tension in the room spiked, every muscle in her body coiled with anticipation. Whoever was on the other side of that door could be friend or foe—either way, the danger felt imminent.
Kotis opened the door a crack, peering through cautiously. Sara watched, her breath held, as his expression shifted from suspicion to confusion.
"It's okay," he said, stepping aside to reveal a young man standing on the doorstep, his face pale and strained. He was unfamiliar, but the desperation in his eyes was unmistakable.
"Who are you?" Marco demanded, still on edge, his hand never leaving his gun.
The young man swallowed hard, his gaze flickering nervously between them. "My name is Leo. I—I need your help."
Sara stepped forward, her instincts flaring. "Help with what?"
Leo hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. "I know who you are. I know about Dario… and the shipment."
At the mention of Dario, everyone tensed. Sara exchanged a sharp glance with Kotis, her unease deepening. "What do you know about the shipment?" she asked, her voice steady but wary.
Leo took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly. "I work for him. Or, I used to. I—I know things. Things that could help you."
Sara narrowed her eyes. "And why should we trust you? If you work for Dario, how do we know this isn't a trap?"
Leo's face twisted with fear and frustration. "Because I'm not one of his guys! Not really. I got caught up in his mess, but I don't want any part of it anymore. I need out, and I thought maybe… maybe you could help me."
Kotis stepped closer, his eyes scrutinizing Leo with a calculating intensity. "If you want our help, you're going to need to give us something more than just words."
Leo's hands trembled as he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, crumpled piece of paper. "This is all I've got right now. It's a list of names—people who work for Dario, people he's meeting with soon."
Marco grabbed the paper, unfolding it and scanning the contents. His eyes widened slightly, and he handed it to Kotis. "This… this could be useful."
Kotis studied the list for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Alright, Leo. You've got our attention. But if you're lying—if this is a setup—you'll regret ever coming to us."
Leo's face drained of color, and he nodded quickly. "I'm not lying. I swear. I just want to get out of this alive."
Sara crossed her arms, her skepticism still lingering. "And what do you want from us in return?"
Leo hesitated again, glancing nervously at Kotis. "I want protection. I want a way out of the city, far away from Dario. He'll kill me if he finds out I've betrayed him."
Sara's mind raced. This was exactly the kind of opportunity they needed—inside information on Dario's network. But it also felt too convenient, too sudden. They had to be careful.
Kotis met Sara's gaze, the unspoken question passing between them. Was Leo trustworthy? Or was this another trap, carefully laid by Dario?
"We'll think about it," Kotis said finally, his voice firm. "But you're not going anywhere until we know for sure you're telling the truth."
Leo nodded, his relief palpable. "I'll do whatever it takes. Just… don't let him find me."
Kotis closed the door behind Leo, turning to face the group. "We need to vet him, fast. If this is real, it could be our best shot at taking down Dario from the inside."
Sara nodded, though the knot of unease in her stomach hadn't loosened. This was the break they had been waiting for, but the risks were higher than ever.
Marco glanced at the list again. "We'll need to move quickly. Dario's not going to sit idle for long."
Sara stared at the door where Leo had stood, her thoughts spinning.