Chapter 51
The forest surrounding Arianna’s compound was dense and silent, broken only by the faint crunch of boots on damp ground. Marco moved ahead of the group, his gun drawn, his eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of movement. Behind him, Carmen followed closely, her own weapon at the ready.
Luca appeared at Marco’s side, his voice low but firm. “The perimeter patrols are down. We’ve got a clear path to the east gate.”
“Good,” Marco replied, his voice sharp and quiet. “We stick to the plan. No deviations.”
Carmen stepped up beside him, her gaze steady. “If we move too fast, we’ll lose the element of surprise. We need to make sure every step counts.”
Marco nodded, his eyes lingering on her for just a moment. “Stay close to me. No heroics.”
Carmen’s lips twitched in a faint smile, though her tone remained serious. “I think I’ve earned the right to make my own choices, don’t you?”
Marco didn’t respond, though the tension in his jaw was clear. He turned back to Luca. “Lead the way.”
***
The compound loomed ahead, a sprawling fortress surrounded by high walls and guard towers. The east gate, as Luca had promised, was lightly guarded. Two mercenaries paced along the edge, their rifles slung lazily over their shoulders.
Marco signaled to his men, who spread out silently, slipping through the shadows toward the gate. Carmen crouched beside Marco, watching as the guards were taken down swiftly and quietly, their bodies dragged into the underbrush.
The gate creaked open, and the group slipped inside, their movements precise and practiced. The compound was eerily quiet, the lights from the main building casting long shadows across the yard.
“Too easy,” Carmen murmured, her eyes darting around the space.
Marco nodded, his grip tightening on his gun. “Stay alert. She knows we’re coming.”
They made it halfway to the main building before the first shot rang out.
A shout echoed from the guard tower, and suddenly the yard erupted into chaos. Emilio’s mercenaries poured out of the barracks, guns blazing as alarms blared through the night.
“Go!” Marco shouted, motioning for his men to split into their designated teams. He grabbed Carmen’s arm, pulling her behind a stack of crates as bullets slammed into the ground around them.
Carmen ducked, firing back at a group of mercenaries moving toward them. “So much for a quiet infiltration!”
Marco smirked despite the chaos, his own gun barking in reply. “It’s not over yet!”
Luca’s voice came through the earpiece. “We’ve got them pinned near the north tower! Push forward while you can!”
Marco nodded, motioning for Carmen to follow as they moved toward the main building. The air was thick with the sound of gunfire and shouts, the once-quiet compound now a battlefield.
They reached the entrance, Marco kicking the door open as Carmen covered him. The inside of the building was dimly lit, the long hallway stretching out like a tunnel into the unknown.
“Stay close,” Marco said, his voice low as they moved inside.
Carmen rolled her eyes but followed, her gun raised and ready. “You’ve said that twice now.”
“And I’ll keep saying it until we’re out of here,” Marco replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.
They found Arianna in the central room of the compound, standing behind a long table covered in maps and papers. She didn’t flinch as Marco and Carmen entered, their guns trained on her. Instead, she smiled—a slow, mocking curve of her lips.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise,” Arianna drawled, her voice cool and smooth. “I was wondering how long it would take you to find me.”
“It’s over, Arianna,” Marco said coldly, his gun unwavering. “Call off your men.”
Arianna tilted her head, her smile widening. “Over? Oh, Marco. It’s just beginning.”
“You’ve lost,” Carmen said, stepping forward. “Your men are outnumbered, your compound is compromised, and your alliances are crumbling. Surrender now, and maybe we’ll let you live.”
Arianna’s laugh was sharp and bitter. “You really think I’m afraid of death? You think I’d give up everything just because you stormed in here with your guns and your bravado?”
She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with something dangerous. “Let me tell you something, Marco. Your empire—your precious family—it’s rotting from the inside. There’s a snake in your garden, and they’ve been feeding me information for months.”
Marco’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t lower his gun. “Nice try, Arianna. Your lies don’t work anymore.”
“Oh, but this isn’t a lie,” Arianna said, her tone almost playful. “You should ask Luca about the shipments you’ve been missing. Or maybe Pietro. He’s been very helpful.”
Carmen glanced at Marco, her expression cautious. “Don’t listen to her. She’s trying to distract you.”
“Am I?” Arianna replied, arching a brow. “Or am I telling you the one truth you’ve been too blind to see?”
“Enough!” Marco snapped, stepping closer. “This ends now.”
Arianna’s smile faded, replaced by something cold and resolute. “You’re right,” she said quietly. “It does.”
Before Marco or Carmen could react, Arianna pressed a button on a small device hidden in her hand. A deafening explosion rocked the building, the walls shuddering as fire and smoke filled the air.
“Move!” Marco shouted, grabbing Carmen and pulling her toward the nearest exit as the room erupted into chaos.
Flames roared through the compound, and the sound of collapsing beams echoed around them. Marco pushed Carmen ahead of him, shielding her from falling debris as they raced through the smoke-filled halls.
They burst out into the open air just as another explosion ripped through the compound, sending a fireball into the night sky. Marco pulled Carmen down behind a barricade, covering her as debris rained down around them.
When the chaos finally subsided, Marco looked up, his chest heaving as he scanned the smoldering ruins. Emilio’s mercenaries were scattered, many of them dead or fleeing into the woods.
“She’s gone,” Carmen said, her voice tight as she stared at the burning compound.
Marco nodded grimly, his jaw clenched. “But she didn’t win.”
Carmen turned to him, her face streaked with soot but her eyes sharp. “We need to regroup. This isn’t over.”
Marco reached out, his hand brushing against hers. “We’ll finish it. Together.”
For a moment, the firelight reflected in Carmen’s eyes, and despite the destruction around them, Marco saw something he hadn’t seen in a long time: hope.
This battle was over. But the war was far from won.
