Chapter 41 The factory loomed like a skeleton against the shadowed sky. Rusty metal. Shattered windows. A trap waiting to be sprung.Lena lay low behind boxes, her eyes sweeping. Michael was in there. So was Mercer.Noah, Damien, and Evelyn flanked her."We move quietly," Noah whispered.Damien grinned. "Not me."Lena didn't notice him. They couldn't afford to screw this up.Evelyn spoke into the earpiece, “Two guards at the entrance. Another patrolling the perimeter.”Lena nodded. “Take the perimeter guard. We’ll handle the entrance.”Evelyn disappeared into the shadows.A second later—a muffled grunt.Evelyn’s voice crackled through. “Perimeter’s clear.”Lena signaled Noah and Damien as they crept forward.The two entrance guards stood lazily, smoking, not aware that the place was infiltrated.Damien moved first. A quick, silent takedown.Lena handled the other with a swift knife to the side. No noise. No hesitation.The way was open.The factory smelt of oil and rust.Dim lights
Chapter 42Lena rested against the window, gazing out into the black street below. Rain pounded against the glass, a soothing but insistent rhythm. Tension hung in the safe house. No one spoke.Michael slept on the couch, exhaustion and pain finally prevailing. His breathing was rough but regular. Evelyn had tended him as best she could.Noah leaned against the wall, checking his weapon. Damien sat on the table, spinning a knife in his fingers.They were waiting.Waiting for Mercer to make the next move.Waiting for the next attack.Waiting was a mistake.Lena turned. "We strike first."Noah glanced up. "We don't even know where he is.""We find him," Lena said, grabbing her gun. "We put an end to this."Damien smiled. "Finally, something exciting."Evelyn sighed. "We need a plan.""I have one," Lena replied. "We use ourselves as bait."It was dangerous. Too dangerous. But Mercer had to think he was in charge.Lena would ensure he thought so.They spread disinformation—rumors that Mic
Chapter 43 – The Cost of HesitationStreetlights oscillated as Lena and the group hurried to the safe house. Rain pounded, shattering the windshield of the vehicle. Thick was the silence inside.Lena gripped the steering wheel tightly. Too slow. They should have gone sooner.Michael crouched in the backseat, his injuries slowing him. Evelyn pushed a rag against his side, checking the bandages. Damien was seated by the window, his knife cycling between his thumb and index finger.Noah trailed them in a second vehicle.Lena's pulse was pounding. If there was already a fight underway, they were too late.They saw the safe house ahead of them.The door was flung wide open.Smoke drifted into the evening.No.Lena put the car in park and leaped out.The air was thick with smoke and gunpowder. The foyer up front was ruined—bullet holes, broken furniture, blood splattered on the walls.No bodies."Check upstairs," Lena ordered.Damien slipped quickly, his feet silent. Evelyn stood watch by t
Chapter 44 – The Price of VictoryThe rain had ceased, but the air was thick with smoke and the stench of blood. The warehouse was silent now, save for the wail of sirens in the distance.Lena stood over Mercer, her hands still trembling. He was bound, his smirk wiped away. For the first time, he looked. Defeated.But victory wasn't what she'd thought it would be.Noah and Damien stood watch, guns drawn, their eyes fixed on Mercer as if waiting for him to try one final trick.Evelyn had completed releasing Carter, Elise, and Rowan. Carter grimaced, bracing his hand against his ribs. Elise wiped blood from Rowan's face, her hands shaking.Michael entered, limping slightly, his face white with his wounds. "Is it over?"Lena nodded. "It's over."But glancing around, she knew it wasn't over. Not yet.The sirens were closer. They had to decide—stay and confront the authorities or vacate before the police arrived.Lena gazed at Noah. "We can't be here when they arrive."Noah hesitated. "And
Chapter 45 Lena's heart rate slowed, her senses escalating. The man in the doorway wasn't a cop. He wasn't a friend. He was something more—something intentional.Michael stood between them, his hand close to his concealed gun. Elise held onto Rowan, her hand tightening around her gun.The man grinned. "No hostility necessary."Lena moved forward. "Who are you?"The man's grin didn't falter. "Call me Vincent."That surname was not something to be said lightly. Lena had heard gossip about him—a power broker operating behind the scenes, a man who never made a move without reason."You're involved with Mercer," Noah stated point-blank.Vincent laughed. "No. Mercer was an idiot who thought he had learned about power." His eyes turned to Lena. "You, though. You fascinate me."Lena didn't budge. "I don't play games."Vincent tilted his head. "Then it's good that I'm not here to play."Noah's jaw clenched. "Then why are you here?"Vincent's smile became a thin one. "To make a deal."Vincent
Chapter 46Lena sat in the darkened room, her fingers drumming against the table. Stale coffee and gun oil scented the air. Vincent's words pressed upon her. Take control or someone worse will.She knew he was right. The underworld didn't wait on indecision. It filled openings with monsters.Michael entered, slamming a file in front of her. "We have names."Lena opened it. There were photos, reports, and handwritten notes. Three names stood out.1. Victor Alessi – Intelligent, brutal, and unpredictable. He had stayed out of Mercer's way but had a reputation for taking what he wanted.2. Nico Vasquez – Mercer's former partner, now looking to take his empire. He had muscle but no finesse.3. Mara Varela – The wild card. No one knew her full reach, but whispers told of her amassing something powerful.Noah leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "They won't wait long. One of them will make the first move."Lena read over the files again. "Then we make the first move."The warehouse smelle
Chapter 47 Lena froze for an instant, Vincent's words suspended in the chill of night."One of your friends is already dead."Michael was the first to respond. "Who?"Vincent reached into his overcoat, pressed his finger across the screen of the phone that came out with it, and handed it to Lena. A picture. A body. Blood on broken sidewalk.Lena's stomach twisted. She knew the man. Carlos Rivera. Loyal. Intelligent. One of the few she had trusted.Noah cursed low in his throat. Michael rubbed his face.Vincent pushed the phone away. "That is Varela's recording. She is watching. Waiting for you to respond."Lena balled her fists. "Then let's give her one."Vincent's smile was icy. "Good response."Inside the hideout, the atmosphere was tense. On the table, a map of the city indicated territories and loyalties delineated.Lena touched a red-marked section. "Varela has been intruding here. That's where Carlos was discovered."Michael crossed his arms. "She's making a point. She believes
Chapter 48 The gale blew over the empty dock. The night air was sharp with salt and rust odors. Midnight crept in, and Lena poised on the fringe of the docks, her pulse steady, her mind sharp.Michael and Noah stood there, out of view. Vincent had offered to bring his team, but Lena refused. This meeting needed to appear to be an act of trust—even if it was not.Headlights cut through the darkness. A black SUV pulled up, tires crunching gravel. The back door opened, and Mara Varela stepped out, heels clicking on wooden planks.Behind her, three men stood watch. Armed, but controlled.Lena smirked. “Three guards? I’m flattered.”Mara tilted her head. “You kidnapped my brother. I’m being polite.”Leo was still in their custody, tied to a chair in a warehouse across the city. He was unharmed—for now.Mara took a slow step forward. “Let’s talk.”Lena nodded. “Let’s.”They faced each other under the glow of a flickering streetlight.Mara crossed her arms. "You've made your point. But if y
Chapter 58 – The Heist at Warehouse 14The air stank of salt and rust. The docks were quiet, the city lights distant against the black water. Warehouse 14 stood at the end of the pier, metal doors shut, guards at each corner.Lena crouched behind a stack of shipping containers, taking in the scene with binoculars. The Russians were here, just as Ivanov had said.They brought additional muscle," Marco muttered from beside her.Luca's voice came through the earpiece. "Sniper in position. Provide the signal."Lena slowly exhaled. This had to be fast and neat. No mistakes."Noah, Michael, move into position," she said. Lena had split the team into three groups.Noah and Michael would make a diversion at the north entrance, drawing the guards off.Luca would take out the rooftop sentries.Lena and Marco would enter through the side entrance, bringing the shipment safe.They had a ten-minute window until backup arrived.Lena said into her earpiece. "Go."Noah strolled toward the north gate
Chapter 57 The scent of smoke still clung to Lena's clothes. The Russian piers had burned throughout the night, and at dawn, the news had reached every corner of the city. The message was loud and clear—she wasn't surrendering.But the war was never solely about destruction. It was about control.Lena stood in her office, the city stretching out past the glass windows. Marco, Michael, Luca, and Noah sat around her. A map of the city lay on the table, red lines and black crosses crossing it."They'll strike back," Marco stated, his voice determined.Lena nodded. "Let them."Luca leaned forward, elbows on the table. "We hurt them, but we didn't break them. The Russians still control the east side, and their allies aren't giving up yet."Michael folded his arms. "Then we take their allies away from them."Lena smirked. "Exactly."She nodded to a name on the map—Gregor Ivanov. A top-level Russian supplier, the one that kept their wheels turning. If they eliminated him, the Russians would
Chapter 56 – Fire and BloodLena occupied the head of the table, her drumming fingers on the glass top. Around her, the inner circle waited. Marco leaned back in his chair, arms folded. Michael stood near the window, watching the streets below. Noah spun a knife between his fingers, his smirk never wavering.Luca was the last to speak. "The Albanians are in chaos. Fifty percent of their men demand vengeance. Fifty percent demand to fall in line."Lena nodded. "And the Russians?"Michael spun around. "Quiet. Too quiet."Bad. Quiet meant planning. Quiet meant threat."They're waiting, observing to see if we stumble," Marco said to her.Lena met his eyes. "We won't."The attack came sooner than anticipated.Lena had driven the car back up to the estate when Michael's voice crackled into the earpiece."Lena. Take out."She did not debate it. She pulled open the door, twisting over onto the road as the car blew up behind her.The blast resounded down the road. Shattered glass echoed off th
Chapter 55 – The Queen's Move The city was quiet. So quiet that one can hear the sound of a dropped pin, but not enough to distract Lena and her team. Lena stood in the window of her new office, gazing out at the skyline. It still smelled of gunpowder. Romano's body wasn't even cold before his empire was sold. People were standing by, observing, unsure what the next move would be. She wasn't sure, either. "Report," she said without glancing around. Michael braced in the doorframe, arms folded. "Luca's rallying the lieutenants. Some aren't happy, but they won't move." "They should." Noah filled the gap, dropping a folder onto the desk. "Romano's companies, contacts, offshore accounts. All yours now." Lena snapped the folder open. Money. Power. A crime empire at her fingertips. Marco finally spoke. "They'll fight you." She smiled. "Let them." The first fight came sooner than she'd expected. Luca called a meeting. Not just a meeting—a reception by the most powerful
Chapter 54 The air was thick with the smell of burned paper and gasoline. Lena sat at the table, her gaze on the stolen documents. The room was still, except for the occasional groan of a chair as Michael shifted."We hit him hard," Noah said, pushing his hair behind his ear. His knuckles were bruised from the fight. "But Romano will not let this go."Marco leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "He'll retaliate. Hard and fast."Lena snapped a finger against the table. "We need to strike before him."Michael frowned. "We just got out of that club alive. We don't even know his motive."Lena's lips puckered into a line. "We know what he'll do. He'll strike at our supporters. He'll try to cut us off."She gestured towards the papers."These files don't just expose his crimes. They expose his weaknesses. The men he relies on. Take them away first, and he'll be alone."Marco nodded uncertainly. "You're talking about dismantling his entire operation."Lena's gaze was glacial. "Ye
Chapter 53The shelter house stank of gunpowder and sweat. Noah wrapped the gushing area on the kitchen table. Michael leaned against the wall, his jaw clenched in thought.Lena sat across from them, holding the burner phone. Marco's last words recurred in her mind. He's afraid.Romano was not used to being fearful. He was used to mastering. That they had gotten into his head was a sign that one thing—they would strike back worse.Lena exhaled. "We need to get going."Michael's gaze went slanted to hers. "Where?""Right to the heart of his operations," she replied. "We don't let him gather steam."Noah smiled and yelped as he pulled tight the final knot. "I like the thought."Michael frowned. "We barely made it out last time."Lena met his eye. "That was in self-defense. Now we attack."Michael sighed but nodded. "What is the target?"She glanced at Marco, seated mutely in the corner. He had heard and watched. He was a man who understood how and when to voice an opinion.Now, he did.
Chapter 52 The night crawled after Lena had left the club. Every second tested their patience, wondering if Marco Benedetti would betray Romano or them.Lena slept at the kitchen table of the safe house, drumming her fingers on the wood. The air was thick with the smell of burnt coffee and gunpowder. Michael leaned against the counter, arms crossed, while Noah cleaned his gun beside her."We give him 24 hours," Michael said. "If he doesn't call, we assume he's being faithful."Lena nodded. "And if he is faithful, we cut him down."Noah smiled. "I like this side of you."Lena didn't smile. She wasn't in the mood.Then, the burner phone rang.The three of them froze.Lena picked up. "Speak."A deep breath. Then Marco's voice. "Meet me at the old train station. One hour."The phone line went dead.Michael frowned. "It could be a setup."Lena stood up, her fingers around her gun. "Then we put it straight back again."The vacant station was on the edge of town, left to the ravages of time
Chapter 51 The city felt different outside of the docks. The air was heavy, the streets quiet. It was as if the night had engulfed the gunfire and only tension remained. Lena sat in the backseat of the vehicle, staring out at the black horizon.Michael drove in silence, his jaw set. Noah rode beside him, his arms crossed. No words were spoken, but the tension of what had just happened weighed on them. Romano had lived again.Lena exhaled slowly, forcing the anger down. He won't keep escaping.They pulled up at the safe house, a battered building in a barren part of town. The three of them entered quickly, locking the doors behind.The air inside reeked of gunpowder and aged wood. There was one table in the middle of the room, maps and papers strewn about.Noah threw his gun on the table. "We misjudged him."Michael stroked his hair. "We should have expected it."Lena planted herself on the chair, her elbows on the table. "Romano expected us to utilize Leo. He played us."Noah let out
Chapter 50 The night was cold, the air thick with the promise of violence. Lena stood in the alley behind an abandoned factory, shrouded in the darkness. Her breath came evenly, her hands loose at her sides, but inside she was a storm.Leo had taken the bait. All they had to do now was track him.Michael crouched beside her, his eyes scouring the street. "He's not slowing down."Lena nodded. "He's scared. He thinks he was lucky to escape."Noah adjusted the earpiece in his ear. "Or he knows it's a trap and is attempting to lead us into one."Lena's lips curled into a cold smile. "Either way, we win."Across the street, Leo ducked into a black sedan that had been waiting for him. The car pulled away, disappearing into the city.Michael tapped his radio. “We follow from a distance. No risks.”Lena exhaled, watching the taillights fade. Romano, I’m coming for you.Their own car slid into traffic, smooth and silent. Michael drove, his focus sharp. Noah kept his eyes on the tracker they h