SARAHMartha had already started trimming the hedges when I joined her in the garden. The sun was warm, not too harsh, and a light breeze made the leaves dance gently around us. I watched her for a moment, admiring the precision of her work. But there was something about just sitting around doing nothing that drove me insane, especially lately. I needed to keep my hands busy, to feel like I was contributing something, anything, to this place.“Martha,” I called out, walking over to her. “Let me help you with that.”She looked up, startled, and immediately shook her head. “Oh no, Miss Sarah. Please, you shouldn’t trouble yourself with this. It’s my job. I can handle it.”I smiled, trying to reassure her. “I know it’s your job, but I’m bored out of my mind. I need something to do, and helping you here seems like a good way to pass the time.”Martha’s eyes widened in alarm, and she stepped in front of the hedge clippers as if to guard them from me. “No, Miss Sarah. I couldn’t possibly al
MARCOI sat in my office, spinning a pocket knife between my fingers, the faint glint of the blade catching the dim light. The motion helped me think, a small distraction from the conversation we were about to have. Tony, Carlos, and Luis stood before me, waiting for my signal to start. “Alright, Tony, what have you got?” I asked, not taking my eyes off the blade.Tony cleared his throat, stepping forward slightly. “According to Cain, this Marcel guy works as a mercenary for various families. That’s about all he knows. Why Marcel’s interested in us or what he’s doing in New York? No clue. Cain wasn’t much help beyond that.”I stopped the blade mid-spin, gripping the handle firmly as I looked up. “So, we’re dealing with a ghost, huh? No clear motives, just someone lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.”Carlos chimed in, trying to downplay the situation. “Look, Marco, we don’t have to get worked up over this. We pop in, take the small fry out, and go about our
MARCOI had Cain sit in the middle of the room, his hands shaking as Tony and the others surrounded him. His face was pale, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead as he tried to keep himself together. I walked up to him slowly, my gun hanging loosely from my hand, swinging slightly as I moved. The room was dead silent except for the sound of Cain’s shaky breaths.I stopped in front of him, tilting my head slightly as I studied him. “So, Cain,” I started, my voice low, almost a whisper, “you still want to lead us to Marcel? Or should I just put a bullet in you right now and save us all the trouble?”Cain’s eyes widened, and he immediately started to beg, his voice quivering with fear. “Please, Marco… I’ll lead you to Marcel. I swear. Just… just spare my life, alright? I’ll do whatever it takes, just don’t kill me.”I looked at him for a long moment, weighing his words. He was desperate, that much was clear, but desperation could make a man dangerous—or it could make him useful. I nee
MARCOI paced back and forth across the room, the tension building with each step. My mind raced through every possible scenario, every potential snag that could derail this plan. There wasn’t room for mistakes. Not now.Petrov sat hunched over his laptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard. He had been at it for hours, trying to get eyes on the address Marcel had sent. It was a waiting game, but my patience was wearing thin.I stopped mid-step and turned to him, my voice edged with urgency. “Petrov, you got surveillance on the address yet?”Without looking up, Petrov grunted. “Almost there, Marco. Just a few more minutes.”I clenched my fists, trying to keep my frustration in check. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity. “Hurry up,” I snapped. “We don’t have time to waste.”Petrov didn’t respond, too focused on his task. I resumed my pacing, the floorboards creaking under my boots. The room was stifling, the air thick with anticipation. I couldn’t shake the feeling that
MARCOI paced around the control room, feeling the weight of the plan on my shoulders. The surveillance monitors blinked with static and video feeds from various cameras around the target area. Tony was hunched over a desk, scribbling notes, his eyes never leaving the screens. We were all on edge, waiting for Cain to make his move.“Keep your eyes sharp,” I said to Tony. “We need every detail.”He nodded, adjusting the volume on the mic. “Got it.”The screens showed a steady stream of people passing by, along with a few suspicious cars. I tried to ignore the gnawing worry in my gut. This was a delicate operation. One slip-up, and it could all fall apart.Suddenly, I spotted Cain walking into the frame. My heart skipped a beat. I glanced at Tony, who was already focusing on the feed.Petrov’s voice crackled through the speakers. “Cain, do you read me?”Cain’s reply came through clearly. “Loud and clear.”“Good,” Petrov said, sounding calm but authoritative. “Describe the place for me.
MARCOI watched the screen, my pulse quickening as I saw Cain stepping out of Marcel’s roaming the building. Petrov was still fiddling with the equipment, cursing under his breath as he tried to reconnect the wiretap that had suddenly gone silent.Tony paced the room, a deep frown etched on his face. “Marco, we should wait. Cain might be leading us into a trap. Let’s give this some time, observe what Marcel does next.”I shook my head, not even entertaining the idea. “I’ve waited long enough, Tony. Marcel’s right there, and I’m not about to let this opportunity slip through my fingers because Cain decided to pull a stunt.”“Marco,” Tony said, his tone more urgent. “This could be exactly what Marcel wants—get you angry, reckless. You go in there, and it could be a one-way ticket.”I glared at the screen, my jaw tight. I’d worked too hard, come too close to let fear hold me back now. “I don’t care if it’s a trap. Marcel’s been a ghost, always two steps ahead of us. Now, I’ve got a chanc
MARCOTony and I walked into the building, every sense on high alert. The place was eerily quiet, the kind of quiet that made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The walls were bare, stripped down to concrete and steel, with only the faint echo of our footsteps to break the silence. I glanced at Tony, who was scanning the area with that same cautious look. Something wasn’t right, and we both knew it.I pressed my hand to my earpiece. “Petrov, you seeing anything on surveillance? It’s too damn quiet in here.”There was a pause, then Petrov’s voice crackled through, low and tense. “Not much, boss. The cameras are picking up some minor movement, but nothing definitive. Stay sharp. Could be they’re lying in wait.”I cursed under my breath. “We’ll proceed with caution, but keep your eyes peeled. If anything changes, you let us know immediately.”“Will do,” Petrov replied before the line went silent again.I nodded to Tony, and we moved forward, sticking close to the walls, our foot
MARCOThe cold metal of the gun pressed against my neck as I slowly dropped my own weapon, letting it clatter to the floor. I turned my head just enough to catch a glimpse of the man holding the gun. Cain. The sight of him sparked a fresh wave of anger that roared through me. I scoffed, narrowing my eyes at him.“You,” I growled, my voice low and venomous. “I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”Cain’s lips curled into a twisted smile, his eyes gleaming with a mix of triumph and mockery. “Ah, but you didn’t, did you?” he taunted, a cruel laugh escaping his throat. “You were foolish enough to believe my act, Marco. And now look where that’s gotten you.”I wanted to lunge at him, to wipe that smug grin off his face, but I knew better. Not with the gun so close to my throat, not with Tony bleeding out on the floor just a few feet away. The bitter taste of betrayal sat heavy on my tongue. I had trusted Cain, given him a chance, and now he was the one holding my life in his hands.