The moment the gunshot rang out, Aria flinched, bracing for pain. But none came.Instead, Valentina staggered, her smirk faltering as blood bloomed across her shoulder.Aria gasped, realizing what had happened. Alejandro stood in the doorway, gun raised, his expression cold as death itself.“Step away from her,” he said, his voice like steel.Valentina let out a breathy laugh, staggering but refusing to fall. “You always did have good timing, Alejandro.” She turned her head slightly, eyes sharp. “But you won’t kill me. Not yet.”Alejandro’s grip on his gun didn’t waver. “Try me.”Aria took the opportunity to lunge forward, ripping the ropes off Sophia’s hands. The moment Sophia was free, she collapsed into Aria’s arms, weak but breathing.“You okay?” Aria whispered urgently.Sophia gave a shaky nod, but her eyes remained fixed on Valentina. “She was going to kill me.”“I know,” Aria said, swallowing hard.Alejandro stepped forward, his gun still trained on Valentina. “You lost.”Valen
The flames still burned in Aria’s mind. The warehouse. The explosions. Valentina escaped once again. The sense of failure clung to her skin like smoke.She sat in Alejandro’s office, staring at the screen in front of her. The glow of multiple encrypted messages illuminated her face, but her thoughts were scattered.Miguel had a plan. A bigger one. And she was running out of time to figure out what it was.Alejandro stood near the window, his body tense as he spoke to Jace.“She won’t hide for long,” Alejandro muttered. “She’s desperate now. And desperate people make mistakes.”Jace sighed. “We should’ve finished her back there. She knew exactly when to trigger those bombs.”Alejandro clenched his fists. “She had an escape planned. She always does.”Aria barely heard them. She scrolled through the encrypted messages, her fingers moving fast across the keyboard.Then something caught her eye.A message, heavily coded but with a pattern she recognized.Aria’s pulse spiked. “Wait.”Alejan
The explosion erupted like a violent storm, throwing fire and debris into the night sky. The force sent Aria sprawling backward, her ears ringing, her vision blurred. The world around her spun in chaos, flames licking the edges of the wreckage.She gasped, pushing herself up from the ground. Smoke filled her lungs, but her mind was clear she had to find Alejandro.“Alejandro!” she shouted, her voice hoarse.Through the thick smoke, she saw him. He had been thrown a few feet away, his body sprawled across the dirt. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead.Panic clutched at her chest as she stumbled toward him, dropping to her knees beside him.“Hey, hey, wake up,” she whispered, shaking his shoulders.His eyelids fluttered before snapping open. He groaned, trying to sit up, but she held him steady. Relief flooded her veins. He was alive.Behind them, gunfire cracked through the night. Miguel’s men were still standing, still fighting.Jace’s voice roared through the chaos. “We need to
The wind howled as the private jet cut through the darkened sky, its engines humming steadily. Inside, the air was thick with anticipation. Aria sat beside Alejandro, her fingers laced tightly in his, their hands resting on his thigh. Despite the warmth of his touch, a chill ran through her.They were heading straight into Miguel’s territory, Costa Roja. A place where danger lurked in every shadow.Across from them, Jace was studying the digital map displayed on his tablet. “Miguel’s safe house is heavily guarded. If we go in blind, we’re dead before we even set foot on the island.”Alejandro’s jaw was set, his gaze locked on the screen. “Then we don’t go in blind.”Sophia leaned forward. “We need a distraction.”Jace smirked. “I was thinking the same thing.” He pointed to a small airstrip near the jungle’s edge. “If we land here, we can use the terrain to our advantage. The jungle gives us cover, and Miguel won’t expect a ground approach.”Aria studied the map. “But his forces are sp
The waves crashed gently against the shore, the salty breeze filling the air as the first rays of sunlight painted the sky in shades of gold and crimson. Aria stood at the edge of the water, her bare feet sinking into the damp sand. The warmth of the rising sun touched her skin, but it was nothing compared to the warmth radiating from the man standing behind her. Alejandro. His presence was strong, steady, and familiar. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him. She leaned into his embrace, closing her eyes as she let out a deep breath. “It’s over,” she whispered. Alejandro rested his chin on her shoulder, his lips brushing against her ear. “It is.” She turned in his arms, looking up at him. His dark eyes held something she hadn’t seen in a long time. The war was over. Miguel was gone. The shadows of the past no longer loomed over them. But now, a new question remains. “What happens next?” Aria asked softly. Alejandro exhaled, his thumb brushing over he
The air was thick with tension as Aria stood at the center of the dimly lit room, her fingers gripping the edge of the worn wooden table. The scent of saltwater drifted through the open windows, mixing with the lingering traces of gunpowder and blood that still clung to the walls. It had been days since Miguel’s downfall, but the weight of their victory hadn’t lifted; it had only revealed the dangerous reality of what came next.Alejandro sat beside her, his dark eyes scanning the map spread across the table. His expression was unreadable, but Aria knew his mind was already working ahead, plotting their next move. Jace leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, while Sophia paced near the door, her heels clicking against the wooden floor with restless energy. Valentina remained silent, her sharp gaze darting between each person in the room.“We’re in control now,” Jace finally spoke, breaking the silence. “But that won’t last long if we don’t move fast.”Aria inhaled sharply, her fing
The sun had barely risen when Alejandro’s phone buzzed against the nightstand. The soft vibration should have been easy to ignore, but years of survival had trained him to always be alert. His eyes flickered open, scanning the dimly lit room. Beside him, Aria lay curled against his chest, her steady breathing a rare moment of peace.He exhaled slowly, reluctant to disturb her. But the buzzing continued.Carefully, he reached for the phone, swiping across the screen. Jace’s name flashed on the display.Alejandro answered, his voice low. “This better be good.”Jace’s response was sharp. “We have a problem.”Alejandro sat up instantly, his muscles tensing. “What kind of problem?”Jace hesitated for half a second too long.“The kind that doesn’t end with Miguel.”Alejandro’s jaw tightened. “Talk.”“Someone’s making moves. Fast. They’re picking up the pieces Miguel left behind, but not just that they’re wiping out anyone associated with him. His former lieutenants, his allies, even the men
The drive back to the estate was silent, except for the low hum of the engine and the occasional screech of tires on wet pavement. Alejandro gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity, his mind calculating every possible scenario. Aria sat beside him, her lips pressed into a tight line as she stared out the window. The tension between them was thick, not because of anger but because of the impending chaos they were about to face.Santiago Herrera wasn’t just another enemy. He was the kind of man who didn’t just kill he destroyed.When they reached the estate, Jace was already waiting for them at the entrance, his stance rigid, his hand resting on the gun at his hip. The second Alejandro stepped out of the car, Jace’s sharp gaze met his.“You heard?” Alejandro asked, shutting the door with a controlled slam.Jace nodded, his jaw clenching. “Luis called me after you left. If Santiago is really alive, then we’ve got a problem.”Aria stepped forward, her voice firm. “Not jus
The boat rocked gently as the wind carried the scent of salt and blood through the air. Alejandro stood at the helm, his grip on the wheel tightening as he scanned the horizon. The night’s battle had left them weary, but there was no time to rest. Santiago’s men were relentless, and if they had found them once, they would find them again.Aria leaned against the railing, her arms wrapped around herself. Her mind replayed the last few hoursthe gunfire, the near-death moments, the desperate fight to survive. She glanced toward Alejandro, his face illuminated by the dim moonlight, and saw the tension in his jaw, the way his muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike.“You’re thinking too much,” she said softly, stepping closer to him.He exhaled, forcing himself to loosen his grip. “We need to reach the safe house before sunrise.”Jace emerged from below deck, wiping blood off his hands. “Miguel is stable. Barely. But he needs a doctor soon.”Alejandro nodded, his mind already calcul
The night was thick with tension, the air carrying the scent of salt and gunpowder. The boat rocked slightly beneath them, the aftermath of the ambush still lingering. Alejandro stood near the helm, his grip on the wheel tightening. Every nerve in his body was wired, his instincts screaming at him to stay on edge. He had learned long ago that survival meant never letting his guard down.Aria sat beside him, her hand resting on his knee. The touch was grounding, but it did little to silence the storm brewing inside him. She could see it in his eyesthe darkness, the fury, the relentless need for revenge."We're almost there," Jace muttered, checking the GPS. "Another ten minutes."Miguel groaned from where he lay, his wound hastily bandaged. "Let's hope we don’t have another welcoming party."Valentina reloaded her gun with calm precision. "If we do, we make sure they regret showing up."Alejandro exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching. "Santiago isn’t done. He knows we got away, and he won
The echoes of gunfire had faded, but the tension in the air remained thick. The boat rocked slightly as Alejandro stood at the helm, his hands gripping the wheel with white-knuckled intensity. The salt-laced wind whipped against his face, but his mind was elsewhereback on the deck, back in the chaos, back in the moment Aria was nearly taken from him.She stood nearby, watching him carefully. Despite the exhaustion weighing down her limbs, she refused to let herself rest. They weren’t safe yet, and even if they were, she knew better than to let her guard down. Not with Santiago lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.Jace was checking the remaining ammunition, his face tight with concentration. Valentina was bandaging Miguel’s wound, her movements efficient yet gentle. The cartel enforcer was pale but still conscious, his usual smirk dulled by the pain."We need a plan," Aria finally spoke, breaking the heavy silence. Her voice was firm, but there was an underly
The night was suffocatingly quiet after the chaos. The only sounds were the rhythmic lapping of waves against the damaged boat and the occasional groans of pain from the wounded. Alejandro stood at the helm, his grip on the railing so tight his knuckles turned white. The salt air burned his nostrils, but it did nothing to clear the storm in his head.Aria watched him carefully. He hadn't spoken since the last shot was fired, since Santiago's men had finally been silenced. The fight had been brutal, but they had won at least for now. And yet, Alejandro seemed more troubled than relieved.She took a hesitant step toward him. "Alejandro?"His shoulders tensed, but he didn’t turn around. She reached out, her fingers brushing his arm. "Talk to me."He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "It doesn’t feel like a victory. We lost people tonight. Jace is injured. Miguel is barely standing. And Santiago, he's still out there."Aria swallowed, understanding his frustration. "But we're alive. That
The night stretched on, the scent of salt and gunpowder still thick in the air. Alejandro stood at the edge of the safe house’s balcony, his hands gripping the railing as he stared out into the darkness. His body was stiff, muscles still coiled from the fight on the boat. Every breath felt heavier than the last.Aria watched him from the doorway, the soft glow from the room behind her casting a faint halo around her figure. She could see the tension in his stance, the weight of everything pressing down on him. Quietly, she stepped forward.“You haven’t said much since we got here,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.Alejandro didn’t turn immediately. He exhaled through his nose, his grip on the railing tightening before he finally spoke. “There’s too much to think about.”Aria moved closer, her fingers brushing against his forearm. “Then talk to me. Let me share the burden.”He glanced at her then, his dark eyes filled with conflict. For a long moment, he simply looked at
The shipyard was eerily silent now, the scent of gunpowder still lingering in the air. Alejandro stood over Santiago’s lifeless body, his gun still warm in his grip. The night breeze rustled his hair, but he barely noticed it.Aria stood beside him, her breathing steady, but Alejandro could feel the tension radiating from her. She had wanted this war to end as much as he did, but the victory felt… hollow.Jace groaned as he approached, clutching his side where blood seeped through his shirt. “I’m just going to throw this out there we’re really bad at having peaceful business deals.”Valentina smirked, tucking her gun away. “It’s the nature of the business, Jace.”Miguel knelt beside Santiago’s body, checking his pulse despite knowing it was pointless. “It’s over,” he muttered, standing up and wiping his hands. “Finally.”Alejandro turned to his team, his expression unreadable. “We haven't celebrated yet. Santiago had men, and they’ll be looking for vengeance.”Aria nodded. “We have to
The tension inside the safe house was suffocating. The air was thick with frustration, exhaustion, and the lingering scent of gunpowder. Santiago had slipped through their fingers, and everyone in the room knew what that meant.He wouldn’t run. He would retaliate.Alejandro sat at the head of the table, his jaw clenched, his fingers tapping against the wood. His mind was already calculating his next move, but there was one undeniable truth gnawing at him.They had lost an opportunity tonight.Jace was lying on the couch, his side bandaged, his face pale. He was still conscious, but the pain in his expression was clear. Valentina was seated next to him, checking his wound with a critical eye.Miguel leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, eyes sharp. His usual smirk was gone. Even he knew this situation wasn’t a joke.Aria stood across from Alejandro, arms folded, her face unreadable. But he could see the tension in her shoulders, the fire in her eyes.“We had him,” she finally said
The night was thick with tension as Alejandro sat at the wooden table, his fingers drumming against the surface. A single lamp flickered in the corner of the safe house, casting long shadows across the room. The air smelled of gunpowder and sweat, a reminder that they were running out of time.Santiago’s men wouldn’t stop hunting them. The ambush at the last safe house had proven that. They barely escaped with their lives.Now, they needed to strike first.Aria sat across from Alejandro, her laptop open, the glow from the screen highlighting the determined set of her face. She was running a scan, her fingers flying over the keyboard. Every keystroke was precise, calculated just like the woman herself.Jace stood by the window, gun in hand, watching the tree line for movement. “They won’t wait long,” he muttered.“They don’t have to,” Alejandro replied, his voice steady. “Because we’re hitting Santiago first.”Miguel, still looking pale from blood loss, scoffed. “You make it sound so s
The tension in the safe house was suffocating. Salazar sat tied to the chair, his face bloodied, his breaths shallow but steady. Alejandro stood before him, his knuckles stained red, his expression unreadable.Jace leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching with cold detachment. Valentina and Miguel sat nearby, their guns resting on the table, ready for use. Aria paced the room, her eyes flicking between Alejandro and Salazar, her mind racing.Salazar had refused to talk.But Alejandro wasn’t finished yet.He knelt down, gripping Salazar’s jaw, forcing the man to meet his eyes. “I’ll ask one last time,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “Where is Santiago?”Salazar smirked, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “Even if I told you, it wouldn’t matter. He’s already coming for you.”Alejandro’s jaw clenched. He had expected as much. Santiago wouldn’t take this attack lightly.Jace exhaled. “We need something useful from him, or we’re wasting time.”Alejandro nodded slowl