Chapter 66
The Venetti estate was unusually quiet, the calm before a storm that no one dared to speak of openly. Carmen sat in the study, Alessandra Ricci seated across from her, nervously twisting a ring on her finger. Alessandra’s sharp features were drawn with tension, her eyes darting to every shadow as if expecting an ambush.
“I’m risking everything by telling you this,” Alessandra said, her voice low but firm.
“And we’ll protect you,” Carmen replied evenly. “But we need to know everything.”
Alessandra hesitated before leaning forward. “The Consortium is led by a man called Il Spectro—The Ghost. No one knows his real name, not even his top lieutenants. He’s a strategist, ruthless and untouchable. His reach extends across Europe, but he operates from the shadows. That’s how he stays in control.”
“And his operations?” Carmen asked.
“They’re coordinated through key supply hubs,” Alessandra said. “One of the largest is a weapons cache outside Verona. It’s heavily guarded and critical to their network. If you take it out, you’ll cripple their arms supply.”
Carmen exchanged a glance with Marco, who stood behind her, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
“What kind of defenses are we talking about?” Marco asked.
“Mercenaries, surveillance, and probably a few traps,” Alessandra replied. “It won’t be easy.”
“Nothing worth doing ever is,” Carmen said, her tone resolute.
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That evening, Marco paced the war room as Carmen detailed the plan for their allies. The map of Verona lay spread out before them, marked with the location of the weapons cache and surrounding terrain.
“This is a high-risk operation,” Marco began, his gaze sweeping the room. “But if we succeed, we’ll cripple their ability to arm their forces and weaken their position.”
Carmen stepped forward, her voice calm but commanding. “We’ll strike at night, under the cover of darkness. The goal is to sabotage the stockpile, not engage in a prolonged firefight. Speed and precision are key.”
Sergio Montini nodded, but his brow furrowed. “And if something goes wrong?”
“We adapt,” Carmen said firmly. “Failure isn’t an option.”
As the meeting ended, Carmen lingered in the room, organizing the final details. Marco approached her, his expression tense.
“I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice quieter now that they were alone.
Carmen turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “What is it?”
“You’re not going,” Marco said flatly.
Carmen blinked, caught off guard. “Excuse me?”
“You’re staying here,” Marco continued. “It’s too dangerous.”
Carmen folded her arms, her tone sharp. “We’ve had this conversation before, Marco. I’m not staying behind while you lead this operation.”
“This is different,” Marco insisted. “They’ll be expecting us, Carmen. I can’t protect you and fight them at the same time.”
“I don’t need you to protect me,” Carmen shot back. “I’m not some fragile piece of glass, Marco. I’m your partner, and this is my fight too.”
Marco’s frustration flared, but underneath it was a raw edge of fear. “Do you know what it felt like, seeing you and the baby in danger during the last attack? Knowing I could’ve lost both of you?”
“And do you know what it feels like to be left out of the decisions that affect my family’s survival?” Carmen countered. “I’m not asking for permission, Marco. I’m telling you—I’m going.”
For a long moment, they stared at each other, the weight of their emotions hanging in the air. Finally, Marco exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
“Fine,” he said, his voice laced with reluctant acceptance. “But promise me you’ll be careful.”
Carmen’s expression softened slightly. “Always.”
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The operation began under the cover of night. The Venetti forces moved silently through the dense forest surrounding the weapons facility, their steps careful and calculated. Marco led the front line, his sharp eyes scanning the terrain for any sign of movement. Carmen stayed close, her presence a steadying force among the men.
When they reached the outer perimeter, Luca signaled for the team to halt. He pointed to a surveillance camera mounted on a nearby tree, its lens sweeping the area.
Carmen leaned in close to Marco. “We’ll need to disable that before we move in.”
Marco nodded, gesturing for Luca to handle it. Within moments, the camera’s red light flickered off, and the team advanced.
As they approached the facility, the first shots rang out. Consortium mercenaries, stationed on the rooftops, opened fire. The quiet night erupted into chaos as the Venetti forces returned fire, their movements swift and coordinated.
Carmen took cover behind a stack of crates, her heart pounding as bullets whizzed past. She grabbed the radio clipped to her vest. “Luca, what’s the status on the explosives?”
“Almost ready,” Luca’s voice crackled back. “We need another five minutes.”
“Make it three,” Carmen replied, her tone firm.
Marco appeared beside her, his expression a mix of frustration and admiration. “You’re too calm for someone in the middle of a firefight.”
“Someone has to keep their head,” Carmen said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
Marco shook his head, a small smile breaking through his tension. “Just don’t get yourself killed.”
As the firefight raged on, Carmen noticed a group of mercenaries flanking their position. She grabbed her radio again. “Luca, you’ve got company on the east side. Handle it.”
“On it,” Luca replied.
Moments later, a loud explosion rocked the facility. Flames shot into the sky as the stockpile of weapons detonated, sending shockwaves through the forest. The mercenaries, caught off guard, began to retreat.
“Time to go!” Marco shouted, signaling the team to pull back.
Carmen stayed close to Marco as they retreated into the forest, the heat of the explosion warming their backs.
When they reached the extraction point, Marco turned to Carmen, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and respect. “You did good out there.”
Carmen smiled, exhaustion and triumph evident in her expression. “I told you I could handle it.”
Marco pulled her into a brief but fierce embrace, his voice soft. “I’ll never doubt you again.”
As they climbed into the waiting vehicles, the weight of the battle settled over them. They had struck a major blow against the Consortium, but they both knew the fight was far from over.
This was only the beginning.
