A limo glided smoothly along the road, its polished surface gleaming slightly under the rising morning light.
Inside, the air was freezing.
The cold wasn't just from the powerful AC. It radiated from Scarlett herself, who sat in the backseat, the messy strands of her hair framed by the faint streaks of sunlight filtering through the tinted windows.
Her legs were crossed and her fingers drummed against the armrest, a motion so subtle it would go unnoticed by most but to those who knew her, it was a sign of storm clouds gathering.
Her phone was pressed to her ear, her gaze fixed on the world blurring past outside the window. On the other end of the line, Francesca, her assistant, spoke quickly, the urgency in her voice cutting through the line.
"I just got confirmation, ma'am. The Cesare is gone. Sunk off the coast of Corsica."
Scarlett's eyes narrowed. "And the cargo?"
"Lost," Francesca replied, the word heavy in her mouth. "All of it. Ammunition, rifles, the prototype grenade launchers—everything."
Scarlett remained silent, her expression unreadable before her lips slowly curled into a tight humourless smile.
"Let me get this straight. What you're basically telling me is that I just lost ten billion dollars worth of firepower in one goddamn night? Do you have any idea who that shipment belonged to? The Krovski Syndicate. What I'm supposed to tell them? Or better still, what should I tell the Oran Royal Family?"
Francesca hesitated. "Ma'am, I.."
"Don't you dare say 'I understand,' Francesca," she snapped. "You don't understand. The Krovski Syndicate is one of the most powerful underground organizations in Eastern Europe. The Oran Royals are funding a bloody rebellion in North Africa. Both paid upfront, and now their precious toys are rusting at the bottom of the Mediterranean."
"I-I'm sorry, ma'am," Francesca's voice cracked. "But sources say the Task Force had intel. It's possible.."
"Possible that someone talked?" Scarlett cut in sharply. "Yes, Francesca, I gathered that much. What I want to know is who. Who betrayed us? The Cesare was operating on a need-to-know basis. The Task Force doesn't just stumble onto my shipments."
Francesca exhaled shakily. "We're still investigating. I'll dig deeper and..."
"You'll do more than dig," Scarlett interrupted again. "You'll find out who betrayed me, and you'll make sure they regret it. Am I clear?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She leaned back in her seat, her jaw clenched tightly. She closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply before speaking again. "I want full damage control. Start by reaching out to the Krovski Syndicate and the Oran Royals. Stall them. Tell them I'll have replacements ready in two weeks."
"But ma'am, it'll take months to.."
"Two weeks, Francesca! I don't care if you have to drag every manufacturer in Italy into this or even buy half of Europe just make it happen."
The Krovski syndicate wasn't just any client. They were rumoured to have ties to several corrupt agencies and paramilitary groups, just like the Oron royal family. Losing their shipments didn't just mean losing money. It meant losing leverage and could even lead to potential war between the two groups.
"Yes, ma'am."
"And the families of the crew?"
"Compensation is already in motion. Double the usual amount."
"Triple it. I don't want anyone whispering that I don't take care of my people. Send their families enough to ensure they'll stay loyal, even in death."
"Yes, ma'am. Anything else?"
Scarlett narrowed her eyes. "Contact Salvini, he should help you with the investigation. I want a full report on everybody who knew about the Cesare's route. Every single name. If someone so much as breathed near the cargo, I want to know and he should also triple security on the next shipment. I don't care how much it costs or how messy it gets because if another one goes down there won't be a Salvini to blame. Got it?"
"Yes ma'am, understood."
"And Francesca?"
"Yes?"
"Don't disappoint me again. You know how I deal with failure."
There was a pause before she finally answered quietly. "Of course, ma'am."
With that, Scarlett ended the call with a sharp tap of her thumb and immediately dialed another number.
The phone rang once before it was answered.
"Luca."
"Yes Queen," from her tone, he could sense her seriousness, so he answered formally. Advantage of being with her for years.
"I need you to call Reva..." She suddenly paused. "Actually don't worry I'll call her."
That girl could be such a nuisance sometimes. She didn't listen to anyone except her.
"But you'll have to return to Italy immediately."
"Yes but..."
"No buts. And no questions," She cut him off coldly, her voice dropping. "Once you arrive, Salvini will tell you what to do. Whoever's behind this...they think they've won and I want them to see how wrong they are."
Without another word she ended the call, leaning back.
Exhaling slowly, she pressed a button on the console beside her, lowering the partition between herself and the driver.
"Change of plans. Take me back to the estate."
The driver nodded without a word, smoothly turning the limo into a private road as the partition slowly slid back into place.
She wasn't in the mood for school anymore.
Leaning back, she closed her eyes, letting the silence wash over her.
A ten billion dollar loss and a potential war on her hands, just in three days of being gone.
What more would have to happen in her absence.
Exhaling slowly, she picked up her phone to call one last number.
Possibly the worst.
---
New York City.
In a room, hidden somewhere in the city, a girl, probably in her early twenties, leaned back in a chair, the dim light from a single overhead bulb casting deep shadows across her face.
In one hand, she spun a pistol lazily and in the other her ringing phone.
Her lips curved into a small smile as she glanced at the caller's ID.
"What's up, Bitch!" She called out, immediately she picked up.
"Call me bitch again, and I'll.."
"You'll what?" Reva cut her off. "You're halfway across the world. Don't make threats you can't keep."
From over the phone, you could audibly hear Scarlett grit her teeth. This girl sure knew how to annoy the fuck out of her.
"Whatever." She finally drawled after a minute. "Get your ass back to Italy, I need you there ASAP."
Reva stretched her legs. "Seriously! Gosh, you should have called earlier. I was just getting comfortable, you know. Planned on finding some new hot guys I could play with."
"I'm being serious here Reva! Stop screwing around and go back immediately."
Reva chuckled softly, her eyes drifting toward the corner of the room. "I'm also being serious...but okay. Guess I'll just have to do with Italian guys just know that you owe me one. And I'll also need you to arrange a jet for me, I've got some 'toys' I need to pack."
Scarlett rolled her eyes, she knew exactly what 'toys' she was talking about.
"Whatever. You know the drill; call Francesca and she'll arrange it for you, Salvini will brief you when you arrive. What are you doing anyways?"
The sound of a chair scraping echoed through the room as Reva stood up, walking slowly toward the corner where a naked man was chained to the wall, his dick dangling between legs and covered in messy liquids.
He was barely conscious, his face bloodied and his body covered in bruises and cuts with even faint bite marks.
He whimpered as she approached, his eyes wide with fear as he saw the gun glinting in the light.
"Oh me?" She asked into the phone, her voice bored. "Nothing. Just about to wrap up some...unfinished business."
Scarlett sighed. "Whatever. Just make it quick."
Reva smirked, twirling the gun in her hand before finally stopping it to point at the chained man. "Okay, Scar."
"Good."
As soon as she hung up, Reva lowered the phone and slid it into her pocket.
Her eyes were fixed on the man in the corner, who started pleading weakly, "P-please, I promise I won't tell anyone, I swear! Just please let me go!"
She tilted her head, smiling as she stared down at him. "Sorry, my love but I'm afraid I don't leave loose ends when I'm done playing. And currently, I am. Because you're already dry."
The man's whimpers grew louder, urine already staining his body as more tears streamed down his bloodied face. "No, please, I'll disappear! You won't hear from me again, I..."
A single shot echoed through the room, immediately silencing his words.
He slumped forward, his body limp as blood began pooling on the floor.
"Son of a bitch!"