96: Between Duty And Matters Of The Heart

Allison’s POV

I stared at the map sprawled out across the table. My knuckles tightened, my nails digging into the edge of the table as Mia delivered the news. Viktor Romanov had pulled it off. The bastard had carried out the heist at the jewelry shop, just like I anticipated. But we were too distracted, too late to stop him. I could feel the fury rising like bile in my throat. I wanted to tear him apart with my bare hands.

“We were too slow,” Mia said, frustration evident in her tone as she leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. Her usually calm face was tight with anger, a rare sight that only amplified how badly things had gone.

I slammed my fist against the table, causing the metal to rattle. “Too slow? It’s not just about being slow. We were blindsided, distracted by those decoys he sent out. It was a damn setup from the start!” My voice came out sharp, almost a snarl, as I struggled to keep my emotions in check.

Mia nodded, her gaze steady but burning with the same intensit