MARCOI paced back and forth in the cyber room, the soft hum of the machines around me doing nothing to calm my nerves. The glow of the monitors cast an eerie light, making the room feel more like a prison than a high-tech command center. I rotated a small pocket knife in my hand, the familiar weight grounding me, if only a little.“Damn it,” I muttered to myself. “How could I let this happen? How did I lose her?” My voice echoed in the room, the frustration clear. “I should have tightened security more around the house. I should have seen this coming.”I couldn’t shake the image of Sarah from my mind. The thought of her in Viktor’s hands made my blood boil. I stopped pacing and slammed the knife into the table, the blade sticking out at an angle.“Viktor,” I growled. The name tasted like poison on my tongue. I closed my eyes, remembering our last encounter. I had spared his life then, thinking it was a mercy. A weakness. And now that same weakness had come back to hurt me, to hurt Sa
MARCO: The private armory room buzzed with the sound of guns being loaded and tactical gear being secured. The metallic clinks and clicks echoed around the room, blending with the quiet murmur of my men discussing strategies. Each one of them was focused, their faces etched with determination. This wasn’t just another mission; this was personal.I moved among them, checking in on their preparations. “Remember, no slip up guys,” I said, my voice firm but low. “This is about sending a message to Viktor and anyone else who thinks they can mess with us.”Tony was adjusting his bulletproof vest. He glanced up at me and nodded. “We’re ready, boss. We’ve got your back.”I gave him a tight smile. “Good. We’re going in fast and hard. No mistakes.”Mikey, the new guy, looked up from loading his rifle, his hands trembling slightly. “Boss, what if Viktor has backup? What if this is a trap?”I walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Listen, Mikey. Viktor thinks he has the upper hand b
MARCO“Lay low and blend in,” I ordered my men, my voice low but firm. “Take out anyone you see. Shoot on sight. I’m not losing any of you to some lousy thug.”The men nodded, their faces set with determination. “We’ll stay safe, boss,” one of them said. “You watch your back too.”I gave a short nod, watching as they melted into the darkness, their forms disappearing into the night. The silence was soon broken by the sound of gunshots echoing through the air.Carlos and I moved forward, keeping low. I spotted a couple of Viktor’s men ahead and raised my gun, shooting them down with precise shots. Carlos glanced at me, a smirk on his face. “That left hand of yours doesn’t miss a shot, does it?”I ignored his comment, focusing on the task at hand. We moved on, taking down more of Viktor’s men as we advanced. Each shot was clean, each move calculated. We were getting closer to Sarah, but the path was littered with bodies.Suddenly, more of Viktor’s men appeared, surrounding us. I fired a
MARCOCarlos and I were on a roll, taking down Viktor’s men one after another. The adrenaline pumped through my veins, sharpening my senses. Each man who fell was a step closer to getting Sarah back.Carlos, always the joker, couldn’t resist making light of the situation. “Hey Marco, let’s make it interesting. Whoever gets the most kills buys the drinks tonight.”I shot him a look, trying to stay focused. “Carlos, now’s not the time for games. Keep your head in the fight.”He shrugged, not losing his grin. “Just trying to lighten the mood, boss. But fine, let’s keep it professional.”We moved through the base, systematically taking down anyone who crossed our path. The tension was thick, but I couldn’t afford to lose my cool. Not when we were so close.Finally, we reached the front of the building where Viktor was holding Sarah. I could almost feel her presence, just beyond those walls. One more push, and she’d be safe.As we took another step forward, a sharp crack pierced the air. C
SARAHI sat there in the quiet room, my mind swirling with everything that had happened. The chaos, the fear, the hope—I couldn’t wrap my head around it all. For a moment, I let myself get lost in my thoughts, trying to piece it all together.Did Marco really come to save me? It seemed unreal, like something out of a movie. I couldn’t believe he had fought through all those men just to get to me. My heart raced at the memory of him bursting in, looking like a force of nature. How did I get so lucky?“Is this all a dream?” I whispered to myself, almost afraid that speaking it out loud would shatter the illusion. I looked around the room, trying to find something that made sense.My thoughts drifted back to when Viktor had me, the terror I felt. I never thought I’d see Marco again. But he came, didn’t he? He came and saved me. Why would he risk everything for me? Did he really care that much?I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of confusion. “Why, Marco?” I muttered. “Why would you
SARAHI woke up in a stark, sterile room. The white walls and ceiling seemed to close in on me, making me feel small and disoriented. The beeping of machines and the faint smell of antiseptic filled the air. I blinked, trying to make sense of where I was.I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my side made me wince and fall back against the pillows. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising panic in my chest. How did I get here? The last thing I remembered was collapsing in Marco’s arms.My eyes darted around the room, searching for clues. There was an IV drip attached to my arm, a heart monitor beeping steadily next to the bed, and a few chairs against the far wall. A hospital. I was in a hospital. But why? How?My head pounded as I started to recall fragments of the most recent events. Viktor’s face flashed in my mind, and I muttered to myself, trying to piece everything together. “Viktor… rooftop… Marco…” The images were blurry, but they slowly started to form a coherent sequ
SARAHThe door burst open, and Marco stormed into the room, his sudden outburst startling both Gloria and me. For a moment, he looked almost childlike in his urgency, his eyes darting around the room until they landed on me. He opened his mouth to speak but then seemed to catch himself, taking a deep breath and composing his expression.“Sarah,” he said, his voice more controlled now, though the concern still flickered in his eyes. He walked up to the bed, his movements deliberate. Gloria stood up, ready to leave, but Marco raised a hand. “Stay, please.”Gloria nodded and remained where she was, watching us both with a mixture of curiosity and professionalism.“How are you feeling?” Marco asked, his gaze locking onto mine.I managed a small smile. “Better. Thanks to Gloria here.” I gestured to the nurse.Marco nodded, his expression still serious. “Good. That’s good.” His response was vague, almost distant, as if his mind was racing with a thousand thoughts.Gloria glanced between us
MARCOAs we walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but realize how exhaustedi was. We got to the office and I nodded at him in thanks, stepping into Dr. Frank’s office. As soon as I entered, Frank stood up quickly, his eyes lighting up with recognition.“Godfather,” he said, bending slightly to kiss my hand. “It’s an honor to see you.”“Frank,” I acknowledged, stepping forward and embracing him in a quick, firm hug. “You’re looking well.”“Thanks, Marco. You’re not looking too bad yourself,” he replied, a warm smile on his face.We both took our seats, the atmosphere shifting from formal to familiar. Frank leaned back, a smile playing on his lips.“How’s everything, Marco?” he asked. “I heard you’ve been dealing with some complications.”“It’s been a hell of a week,” I said, leaning forward. “But we’re managing. Sarah is my priority right now.”Frank nodded understandingly. “She’s in good hands here. Fischer will definitely make sure she recovers fully.”“Appreciate that, Frank,” I
MARCOThe flashbang was still working its magic as I stumbled forward, my vision blurry and my ears ringing like an alarm clock from hell. But there was no time to wait for things to settle. The moment the light hit, I felt the chaos erupt behind me—grunts, shouts, the clatter of boots on the floor.Instinct kicked in. The first guy behind me was flailing around, clutching his face like someone had poured hot sauce directly into his eyes. I took the opportunity, jabbing my elbow into his ribs with enough force to knock the air out of him. He let out a strangled wheeze and crumpled like a cheap folding chair.Unfortunately, his buddy wasn’t as incapacitated. The second man had somehow managed to pull out his gun, though he was aiming like he’d never used his eyes a day in his life. The first shot rang out, going wide and hitting a piece of metal somewhere to my left.“Great aim, sharpshooter,” I muttered, yanking the first guy’s body up as a human shield. The next shot hit him square i
MARCOI stared at the scene before me, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and regrets. Tony lay crumpled on the floor, motionless, and Petrov wasn’t faring any better. My eyes darted back to Danzo, standing tall and smug, his expression carved with triumph. His words echoed in my head, striking me like a hammer with every repetition: This is where your poor planning has gotten you.Poor planning.Was that really it? Was it my fault that Tony and Petrov had been brought to this state? That Sarah was here, caught in Danzo’s grasp, her wide, fearful eyes pleading silently for a rescue I wasn’t sure I could give?You should’ve seen this coming, Marco, I thought bitterly.Danzo had been working against me from the shadows, a viper I had failed to notice until it was too late. But was it just him? Had I been so blind, so arrogant, to think that I had anticipated everything? My chest tightened as my mind spiraled further.Tony’s bloodied face flashed in my mind, followed by Petrov’s ragged brea
MARCO“Tony!” I choked out, the word barely escaping my lips as I turned toward the source.He was on the ground, his body crumpled awkwardly, blood pouring from his side. The crimson stain spread across the floor, pooling beneath him like some sick painting. My heart stopped as I stared at the scene, every ounce of air in my lungs evaporating.“No… no, no, no,” I stammered, stepping back instinctively, my boot catching in the slick blood pooling around him. I staggered, almost falling, my mind spinning.“Tony!” I called again, my voice cracking as if saying his name louder would wake him, make him look at me, make him respond. But he didn’t. His chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths, his eyes fluttering as if he was fighting to stay conscious.Danzo’s laugh broke through the chaos—a guttural, maniacal cackle that made my blood boil.“Ah, the mighty Marco. Look at you now,” he sneered. His voice was sharp, cutting through my panic like a razor. “I told you, didn’t I? You thin
MARCOThe air in the room crackled with tension as I leveled the gun at Danzo, my finger firm against the trigger. He took a step back, his eyes darting between me and the scattered bodies of his men. For a second, I thought I saw fear, but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by that damn smirk he always wore, like he still had the upper hand.“It’s over for you, Danzo,” I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through me. “You might want to think twice before doing anything stupid.”He scoffed, a dry, humorless sound. His hand twitched near his side, hovering too close to the gun strapped there.“I mean it!” I barked, raising my voice. “You even so much as look at that gun, and you’ll die here, right now. No last words. No bargaining. Just done.”Danzo froze for a heartbeat, his hand still dangerously close to his weapon. “You don’t have it in you, Marco,” he sneered. “You think you’re the tough one, don’t you? You think you’re the hero in all of this?”“Shut up.” My
MARCOThe sound of gunfire outside was getting closer, louder. Each shot echoed like a drumbeat of inevitability, and I could see the panic setting in on Danzo’s face. His eyes darted around the room as though searching for an escape that wasn’t there.“You hear that, Danzo?” I said, leaning back in my chair. My wrists were still tied, but my voice was steady. “That’s the sound of your grand plan crumbling. Everything you set up here? It’s falling apart. And you’re dying here today.”Danzo’s head snapped toward me, his jaw tightening. For a second, he looked like he was going to lunge at me, but he held back. Instead, he pulled a walkie-talkie from his belt, his fingers gripping it so tightly his knuckles turned white.“Status!” he barked into the device, pacing in tight circles like a cornered animal. “What’s going on out there?”There was a pause on the other end, filled with static and the faint sound of chaos—shouting, gunfire, something heavy crashing to the ground. Finally, a vo
MARCO The ropes around my wrists burned as I strained against them, my jaw tight enough to crack a tooth. Danzo paced back and forth like a predator toying with its prey, his smirk wide and arrogant. His voice dripped with satisfaction, every word landing like a calculated blow. “You really don’t get it, do you?” he said, pausing to glance at me. “All this… it’s personal, Marco. You made it personal the moment you threw me to the wolves.” I stared him down, refusing to let the venom in his words show any effect. “You think I’m afraid of you?” “Oh, I don’t need you to be afraid. Not yet, anyway,” he said, laughing softly. “But you should be. You always underestimated me, Marco. Always thought I’d stay in your shadow, didn’t you?” I said nothing, focusing instead on Sarah, who sat just a few feet away, bound and trembling. Her eyes met mine, and the fear in them sliced through me like a blade. Danzo followed my gaze and chuckled darkly. “Ah, yes. The princess. Don’t worry, Ma
MARCOThe goons gathered my weapons with smug satisfaction, tossing them onto the floor like trophies. My knife. My Glock. The backup pistol. Each piece felt like a part of me being stripped away. I clenched my jaw as the masked man stooped to pick up my gun. He held it up to the dim light, turning it over in his hand like he’d just found buried treasure.“Nice piece,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he inspected the setup. “Who’s your plug, Marco? This stuff’s top-tier. Custom job? Or do you just know the right people?”I didn’t respond, glaring at him in silence. My hands itched to grab it back, to feel the weight of it in my palm, but my wrists were bound tightly behind my back.“Not much of a talker, are you?” he continued, pacing slowly in front of me. He raised the gun and mimed aiming it, letting out a low whistle. “Damn. This feels good. Might keep it. Hope you don’t mind.”I didn’t take the bait. Instead, I focused on what they hadn’t found—the tiny chip in my boo
MARCOThe silence inside the narrow hallway was almost unbearable. The dim, flickering light above me buzzed faintly, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. My boots clicked softly on the metal floor as I moved further in, my breaths shallow and controlled. Every step felt heavier than the last, each one carrying me deeper into uncertainty.“Petrov,” I whispered, pressing a finger to the mic in my ear. “Petrov, can you hear me?”Nothing. Just static.I paused, my heart thudding harder as the realization hit me. The connection was dead. Whether it was deliberate or accidental, I was on my own now.“Dammit,” I muttered under my breath, scanning the hallway for any sign of movement. My hand instinctively drifted toward the gun hidden beneath my jacket. I didn’t pull it out yet, but just feeling its presence steadied me a little. Whatever was waiting for me here, I wasn’t about to face it unarmed.The hallway stretched further ahead, leading to an open door on the left. The sh
MARCOThe night air clung to me like a heavy cloak, thick with tension and the metallic scent of salt from the nearby docks. As I stepped out of the car, the first thing I did was adjust the mic in my ear. Petrov’s faint voice buzzed briefly in the connection, a reminder that I wasn’t entirely alone in this. But still, the silence surrounding me felt absolute, broken only by the distant hum of machinery and the soft crunch of gravel under my boots.My hand hovered close to my side, grazing the cold steel of the gun tucked under my jacket. I didn’t draw it, not yet, but the feel of it was a small comfort. The shipyard was a maze of shadows and towering containers, each one a potential hiding place. My eyes darted left, then right, sweeping for movement. Nothing. Not yet.“Marco, can you hear me?” Petrov’s voice crackled in my ear, low but clear.I pressed the mic lightly. “Loud and clear.”“Good,” he replied. “We’ve got eyes on the perimeter. Cameras are feeding us everything in real t