CHAPTER 70

The streets of Naples were quiet as Maya and Zane left the Moretti board meeting. Their private car wove through the city, the distant hum of the city’s nightlife a backdrop to the tense silence between them.

Maya sat close to Zane, their fingers intertwined, but the weight of what had just transpired lingered heavily in the air. She broke the silence first.

“They’ll come around,” she said softly, glancing at Zane.

He stared out the window, his silver eyes reflecting the city lights. “They’ll have no choice once the audit proves our case. But Helena’s playing a different game now. She’s going to escalate.”

Maya’s grip on his hand tightened. “Then we escalate too.”

Zane turned to her, his gaze softening. “You’re starting to sound like me.”

She smirked faintly. “Maybe I’ve been spending too much time with you.”

Reese’s Revelation

Back at the hotel, Reese was pacing the living room when they returned, her phone pressed to her ear. She ended the call abruptly when she saw them, her expression a mix of frustration and excitement.

“We’ve got something,” Reese said, holding up her phone. “Carl just sent me a file he pulled from Helena’s communications. It’s encrypted, but the headers suggest it’s related to the DeLucas.”

Zane’s silver eyes sharpened. “What kind of communications?”

“Emails, meeting records, even voice memos,” Reese said. “If we can decrypt it, we might find out what Helena’s planning next.”

Maya’s heart quickened. “Do we have someone who can decrypt it?”

Reese grinned. “We do now. Carl’s connected us with an old friend of his—a hacker who specializes in corporate espionage. They’re willing to help, but they want to meet in person.”

Zane frowned. “And how do we know we can trust this hacker?”

Reese shrugged. “We don’t. But if they can crack this file, it’s worth the risk.”

Meeting the Hacker

The next evening, the team arrived at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Naples. The air was thick with tension as they stepped inside, the dim lighting casting long shadows across the walls.

“Are we sure this is safe?” Maya whispered to Zane as they moved deeper into the building.

“It’s a calculated risk,” Zane replied, his voice low. “Stay close to me.”

They found the hacker in a makeshift office at the back of the warehouse, surrounded by monitors and high-tech equipment. The person—a young woman with short, bright blue hair and sharp, intelligent eyes—looked up as they entered.

“You must be the Moretti crew,” she said, her Italian accent light but noticeable. “I’m Camilla. Carl told me you’d be coming.”

Reese stepped forward, her usual confidence on full display. “We’ve got a file that needs decrypting. Can you do it?”

Camilla smirked. “Depends on the file. Let me see it.”

Alex handed over a USB drive, and Camilla plugged it into one of her monitors. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she scanned the contents.

“This is some heavy encryption,” she muttered, her brow furrowing. “Whoever locked this didn’t want it getting out.”

“Can you break it?” Zane asked.

Camilla glanced at him, her smirk returning. “Of course I can. It’ll take time, but I’ll get it done.”

Helena’s Growing Pressure

Back at her villa, Helena was far from idle. Her latest attack against Zane was gaining traction in the media, and the pressure on the Moretti board was mounting.

One of her operatives entered the room, his expression serious. “The board is starting to waver, but they’re waiting for the audit results before making any decisions.”

Helena’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Then we need to make sure they see what we want them to see.”

The operative hesitated. “There’s another issue. Zane and his team are working with a hacker. They’ve obtained a file that could expose the DeLucas’ involvement.”

Helena’s expression darkened. “Who’s the hacker?”

“We don’t know yet, but we’re working on it.”

Helena’s eyes narrowed, her mind racing. “Find them. And make sure they never finish decrypting that file.”

The Decryption Breakthrough

Two days later, Camilla called Zane and the team back to the warehouse. Maya’s heart raced as they entered the office, hoping this would finally give them the upper hand.

Camilla spun her chair to face them, a triumphant grin on her face. “Got it. The file’s decrypted.”

She pulled up a series of documents on the screen, each one more damning than the last. Financial transactions, meeting notes, and even voice recordings—all tying Helena and the DeLucas to illegal smuggling operations and corporate sabotage.

“This is it,” Alex said, his voice filled with awe. “This is everything we need to bring them down.”

Maya’s eyes scanned the documents, her stomach churning as she absorbed the extent of Helena’s schemes. “She’s been planning this for years,” she murmured.

“And now it’s over,” Zane said, his silver eyes blazing with determination.

An Ambush

As the team prepared to leave the warehouse, the air grew heavy with unease. Maya noticed Alex’s hand drift toward his side, where his weapon was holstered.

“Something’s wrong,” Alex said quietly.

Before anyone could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the building. Moments later, a group of armed men emerged from the shadows, their weapons trained on the team.

“Helena sends her regards,” one of the men said, his voice cold.

Zane stepped in front of Maya, his posture protective. “If she thinks this will stop us, she’s wrong.”

The leader smirked. “You won’t be saying that for long.”

As the tension reached a breaking point, Alex made the first move, drawing his weapon and firing a shot that sent the men scrambling for cover. Chaos erupted, and Maya found herself pressed against the wall as Zane shielded her from the crossfire.

“Stay down,” Zane ordered, his voice sharp.

Maya nodded, her heart pounding as the sounds of gunfire and shouts filled the air.

The Escape

After what felt like an eternity, the last of Helena’s men fled, leaving the warehouse in disarray. Alex checked the perimeter while Zane helped Maya to her feet.

“Are you okay?” Zane asked, his silver eyes scanning her for injuries.

“I’m fine,” Maya said, though her hands trembled slightly. “What about you?”

“Not a scratch,” Zane replied, his voice firm.

Camilla stepped forward, clutching the decrypted files. “We need to get this data out of here now. If they came after us once, they’ll do it again.”

Zane nodded. “Let’s move. Helena just made her biggest mistake.”

The Battle Continues

As they drove back to the hotel, Maya couldn’t help but feel a mix of fear and exhilaration. Helena’s desperation was growing, but so was their resolve.

Zane’s hand found hers, his grip strong and reassuring. “This isn’t over yet, Maya. But we’re closer than ever to ending it.”

Maya nodded, determination shining in her green eyes. “Together, Zane. We’ll end this together.”

The storm was far from over, but for the first time, Maya felt certain they would come out on the other side—stronger, united, and unbroken.

This chapter blends suspense, action, and progress with Helena’s retaliation and the team’s critical breakthrough. Let me know how you’d like to proceed!