Chapter 052: The Edge of Dishonesty

Ava's POV 

From the mansion, the streets melted together. My heartbeat had hardly slowed since we departed; every flicker of headlights behind us made my heart leap. Eli's jacket pocket kept the data firmly in place, but the weight of what we had done hovered about like a dense fog.

"Are you nice??" Eli's hands grabbing the steering wheel shattered the silence.

I nodded, though the fact was far more complicated. "I'm ok." Mostly trying to catch my breath.

His eyes went to the rearview mirror in search of any sign of pursuit. "We made it out," he said, as though trying to convince himself. Marconi, though, will not let this slide.

I grasp. I found the weight of what we opposed returning to me. "Do you believe he realized?"

Not at the moment, Eli answered, his mouth firm. "But he will shortly." The second will come for us; he discovers nothing amiss or even traces of betrayal.

I drew hard, the understanding sinking in. We have to remain ahead of him then. Where from here should I be going?

Eli halted, a muscle in his jaw tightening. We compile this material for Lucia. She will behave knowing just what to do.

Though the concept made sense, there seemed to be oversimplification regarding something. And thereafter? We basically wait for Marconi to exact retribution.

He stared at me, a concoction of determination and fear in his eyes. "No." We begin getting ready. Should this go as scheduled, we will have evidence ready to bring him down forever. Still, we must exercise caution.

"Careful," I said, a bitter laugh starting. "I'm not sure what it signifies today actually.

His mouth quitched at the margins, a little grin flickering through the tension. " Fair point.

Once more silence fell, but this time it was different—more delicate, more charged. Every word unspoken between us had weight. More than anything Marconi could do for all the risk we were running, the thought of losing Eli haunted me.

I raised a hand and intertwined our fingers together. "We shall survive through this. Collectively.

His hold tightened over my subdued promise. "Alongside.

Lucia had set aside a safehouse on the outskirts of the city, a generic construction bereft of life in decades. Eli parked the car, then got out looking around then. I trailed, every feeling intensified.

The chamber was dark, and the air smelled somewhat of mildew. From the shadows Lucia emerged, her eyes focused and determined. She seemed cold, pragmatic, and absolutely devoted to her profession, exactly as I remembered.

Without preparation, she said, "You have it?"

Eli glanced over the instrument, his expression severe. all you need.

She accepted it and gave it careful thought. She said, a flicker of something like optimism across her features, "This could be enough to bring him down." It will not be straightforward, though. Marconi has strong ties. He is going to back off.

Eli said with strong certainty, "We're ready for that."

" Are you?" Lucia turned to face me, and I felt her weight of inspection. "This is more than just survival. Choosing this route means you cannot go back. You are going to be singled out.

I knew, I said, looking at her. I am not walking away, though.

She nodded following more of my research for a second. "Good," says We would need that type of dedication.

Eli proceeded to a table loaded with maps and documents, and I watched. Not now could one turn around. Either improved or worse, we were dedicated.

-/-

Years went by in a fog of planning and preparation. Lucia enumerated every imaginable scenario and every counteraction Marconi might use. Though scary, I was able to focus. This is more than what each of us possesses right now.

Outside there was a major crash as we were finishing. We paused, and my heart sprang into my throat.

Eli replied, wide-eyed, "they found us."

Lucia moved with precision and speed. "Out the back, now."

As we shot through, adrenaline-filled air flooded a little passageway. The rear door went into an alleyway, but when we emerged Marconi's men were blocking our line of escape.

run! Eli put me behind him and sobbed.

anarchy erupted. Shots screamed, the cacophony drowning over us. My pulse pounding, I avoided and pushed myself up against the cool brick wall. Eli was next to me, fixated on a path out.

"There!," he gestured at a little aperture between two buildings. "Go!!!"

Not ready to be apart from him, I stopped. NOT absent from you.

His voice stern, he continued, "I'll be right behind you."

Believing him, my breath straining in jagged gasps, I shot for the entrance. Shouts, gunfire, metal clashing—the sounds of the fighting just behind me. I stuttered then straight immediately rectified myself.

Turning as I crossed the other side, heaving in my chest Eli vanished from there.

"Eli,'" I cried, dreadfully tearing at me.

Seconds stretched out into an eternity. Then, at last, he appeared, blood soaking his sleeve. He stuttered; I rushed to help him to stand with shaking hands.

His face blanched, he said, "We have to move."

We kept on, each step a task taken on jointly. Tears running down my cheeks, I dropped next to him when at last we reached a safe distance.

You are hurt, I murmured with a shaky voice.

Though his eyes showed anguish, he said, "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing," I responded, tearing at my sleeve to form a crude bandage. "We cannot go forward if you are—

Stopping me, he seized my hand. " Ava, I'm good. Still to be done is work.

Looking at him, I saw the fire there. He refused to give up in front of all. Neither would me.

Then let's stop this, I said, voice strong.

He nodded, a tiny smile flickering over his mouth. "together."

We were seated there gathering our breaths, and I understood then precisely how far we had come. For the first time, I felt a sliver of hope even if the road ahead was still perilous. We were next to each other. And with that we had a chance.

Deep down, though, I understood Marconi would not stop until one of us disappeared. Still to come was the real fight.

I stopped when I saw something in the night. Eli... we're not alone.

He turned, his eyes focusing narrowly. One individual advanced, their face covered by darkness. Still, their voice was quite apparent.

"Did you really think you could avoid me?" Marconi's cold, contemptuous voice made me tremble.

The war was still in development. It was still just getting started.