The safe house was a distant memory as I pushed the car to its limits. Rain lashed against the windshield, and the tires skidded slightly as we rounded a sharp turn. The adrenaline from the attack hadn't faded, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly they ached. Beside me, Claire clutched the laptop as though it were a lifeline, her wide eyes darting between me and the road ahead.
"We need to call Dante," she urged, her voice strained.
I shot her a glance. "I've already tried. No answer."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she didn't speak. The silence between us was filled with the hum of the engine and the rhythm of the rain.
"Do you think he's—"
"Don't say it." My tone was sharper than I intended, but the thought of something happening to Dante was unbearable. He was more than capable of handling himself, but Maria was unpredictable.
---
The Secondary Safe House
The secondary safe house was a nondescript building tucked away in a forgotten part of the city. It wasn't as fortified as the first, but it would have to do. As I parked the car in the garage, I scanned the area for any signs of danger.
"Let's go," I said, grabbing my bag and leading Claire inside.
The interior was sparse but functional: a small living area, a kitchen, and two bedrooms. I secured the doors and windows before turning to Claire.
"We'll stay here until I can get in touch with Dante," I said, setting my gun on the table.
Claire nodded, though her expression remained tense. "What if they find us here?"
"They won't," I replied, more confident than I felt. "This place isn't on any of Maria's radar. We'll be safe."
---
News from the Docks
Hours passed in tense silence. Claire worked on the laptop, occasionally muttering under her breath about encryption and corrupted files. I paced the room, my mind racing. Where was Dante?
Finally, my phone buzzed. I snatched it up, relief flooding me when I saw Dante's name on the screen.
"Dante!" I answered breathlessly.
"Elizabeth," his voice was strained, but hearing it steadied me. "Are you safe?"
"Yes. Claire and I made it to the secondary safe house. What about you? What happened at the docks?"
There was a pause, and my heart sank.
"Maria got away," he admitted, his tone laced with frustration. "But we intercepted her shipment. She won't recover easily from this."
"And you?" I pressed. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he said, though I could hear the exhaustion in his voice. "But Maria's not done. She'll retaliate. Stay where you are. I'm coming to you."
---
A Shadow Looms
Dante arrived a few hours later, his arrival heralded by the sound of his car pulling into the garage. The door opened, and he stepped inside, his dark clothes still damp from the rain.
For a moment, we just stared at each other. Then, without thinking, I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around him.
"I was so worried," I whispered.
His arms came around me, holding me tightly. "I told you I'd come back."
Pulling away slightly, I looked up at him. "What now? Maria won't let this go."
"No, she won't," he agreed, his expression hardening. "But she's desperate now. We have the upper hand."
Claire stepped forward, the laptop in her hands. "I've decrypted most of the files. Maria's network is bigger than we thought, but there's a weak link—a man named Viktor. He handles her finances."
Dante's eyes narrowed. "If we take Viktor out of the equation, Maria's empire will collapse."
---
The Plan
The next hour was spent strategizing. Claire provided details on Viktor's operations, while Dante coordinated with his men. The plan was simple: infiltrate Viktor's estate, extract him, and use him to dismantle Maria's network.
"You're staying here," Dante said firmly, turning to me.
"No," I shot back, crossing my arms. "I'm not sitting on the sidelines while you risk your life."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Elizabeth, this isn't negotiable. It's too dangerous."
"I can handle myself," I argued. "You know that."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't respond immediately. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But you stay close to me at all times. Understand?"
"Understood."
---
The Infiltration
Viktor's estate was a sprawling property on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by high walls and guarded by a small army. Getting in was no easy task, but Dante's men were experts at this kind of operation.
We approached under the cover of darkness, the rain masking our movements. Dante led the way, his hand resting on the gun at his hip.
Inside, the estate was eerily quiet. The guards had been neutralized, and we moved quickly through the corridors, guided by Claire's intel.
"Viktor's office is at the end of the hall," Dante whispered.
As we approached the door, a sudden noise stopped us in our tracks.
"Get down!" Dante hissed, pulling me behind a pillar as a group of guards rounded the corner.
The ensuing firefight was brutal. Bullets ricocheted off the walls, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder. I stayed close to Dante, firing at anyone who got too close.
Finally, the last guard fell, and we continued to Viktor's office.
---
Confronting Viktor
The door burst open, and Viktor jumped to his feet, his face pale.
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded, reaching for a gun.
Dante was faster. He grabbed Viktor by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
"We're the people who are going to destroy Maria," he said coldly. "And you're going to help us."
Viktor sneered. "You think I'll betray her? You're wasting your time."
Dante's grip tightened. "You don't have a choice. Either you cooperate, or you die."
I stepped forward, meeting Viktor's gaze. "You know what Maria is capable of. Do you think she'll protect you when this all falls apart? If you help us, we can protect you."
For a moment, he hesitated. Then, with a resigned sigh, he nodded. "Fine. I'll help you."