~LEXI~
The car sped through the dark streets, the silence in the vehicle was unbearable. I couldn't tear my eyes away from Don Vincenzo, sitting so still behind the wheel. His face was impassive, like the moment that had just happened—Alex's blood on the ground, his life hanging by a thread—meant nothing to him. I could still hear the gunshots echoing in my mind.
Why didn't he go back for him? I wanted to scream the question at him, but I could barely find my voice. Instead, I muttered, barely above a whisper, "Why didn't you go back for him?"
He didn't even glance at me, his gaze fixed on the road. The engine hummed beneath the tension that wrapped around us like a heavy blanket.
Minutes felt like hours, but I didn't dare speak again. I couldn't. I wasn't sure what I was even asking for. An explanation? A reassurance? His answer would change nothing now. Whatever he said, it didn't matter. Not when Alex's fate was still hanging by a thread.
By the time we reached the estate, the tension in my chest hadn't eased. Don Vincenzo didn't speak as we parked, and he led me into his office without a word. The heavy door closed behind us, and I couldn't shake the sense of dread hanging in the air.
He sat behind his desk, eyes hard as stone, while I stood before him, still processing everything that had happened.
"Lexi," he said, finally breaking the silence. "You've passed the test. For now."
His words didn't comfort me. He made it sound like a temporary reprieve, not a permanent victory.
"You'll be hearing from me soon," he added, leaning back in his chair.
I nodded, though inside, I was still haunted by the image of Alex collapsing to the ground, his blood mixing with the dust of the street.
Without another word, I turned and left the office. The house felt suffocating, and I needed space to think. But all I could do was lie awake in bed, replaying the events of the night in my mind over and over, wondering about Alex's fate. The fear gnawed at me—had he really been left for dead?
—
The next morning, I forced myself to go back to work. As soon as I entered the FBI headquarters, Mark, Jenna, and Carlos rushed up to me, their faces tense.
"Lexi, you hear about the shooting? The Rossi and the Esposito?" Mark asked, concerned.
My heart skipped a beat. I had a feeling I knew where this was going. "What about it?"
Jenna exchanged a look with Carlos, then answered. "It was bad, Lex. Word is, Alex Esposito was caught in the crossfire. We don't know all the details yet, but it sounds like the whole city's on edge."
Alex... I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure.
Carlos leaned in, his voice quieter now. "There's something strange, though. We've got a guy inside the Rossi gang, and he says there's someone new working for the Espositos now."
I froze. My breath caught in my throat. It couldn't be. I forced myself to breathe, to keep my face neutral. "Who?"
Mark looked at his phone. "Not sure yet. But the guy says he's been hearing whispers about a new person close to the Espositos. A woman."
My pulse quickened, my thoughts spinning. They couldn't possibly mean me. Could they? No. I was still FBI. But if they knew...
I shook my head, trying to mask the unease in my chest. "I haven't heard anything about that. Maybe it's just a rumor."
Carlos shot me a look, then glanced at Mark and Jenna. "You sure? You're acting a little... off today, Lex."
I forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "I'm fine. Just tired."
They seemed to buy it, but I could tell they were still watching me closely. Jenna, especially, didn't seem convinced, but thankfully, they dropped the subject.
I returned to my desk, the questions swirling in my mind.
The day dragged on, and I felt like I was drifting in and out of focus. My mind kept returning to the same thought: what if Alex was really dead?
When night came, I couldn't sleep. My phone was sitting on the bedside table, but no messages, no calls. Nothing. It had been hours since the last contact with Alex, and I still hadn't heard a word.
After hours of tossing and turning, I needed air. I needed to clear my head. So, I went for a jog—something to occupy my restless mind.
The crisp morning air bit at my skin as I ran through the quiet streets, trying to push away the dark thoughts that clung to me. My phone buzzed in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out, seeing a text from the unknown number Alex usually contacted me on.
I hesitated, my heart racing. Could it be?
I unlocked the phone, my hands trembling. The first message made my heart leap.
"I'm alive. Don't worry."
A huge sigh of relief left my chest. He's okay. Thank God.
But then my phone buzzed again. My stomach dropped.
"It's time for your final test, Lexi. This one's different. It's about betraying the FBI. I'll meet you at your house."
I stared at the screen, the words blurring together. Betraying the FBI? My pulse quickened, and my breath caught in my throat. Was this it? The point of no return?
I looked around, feeling a strange sense of dread settle in my chest. The world seemed to blur around me as the burden of the words pressed down on me.
With trembling hands, I stuffed the phone back into my pocket and started running again, harder this time. But my mind was racing just as fast, spiraling into a mix of fear, confusion, and something that felt like an inevitable betrayal.