Chapter 22

They had a noisy morning the next day when they arrived at the INTERPOL's headquarters. As soon as Zara saw Theseus standing near the window and watching her, she walked straight to him with a sheepish smile. 

"Good morning, Theseus," smiled Zara.

"Good morning, love," said Theseus.

He raised his hand to caress her face, but dropped it back down when he realized that the entire Phoenix were watching him murderously. Zara turned around and chuckled.

"Calm down, you guys," said Zara, making a gesture with her hand.

"They'll love me someday," said Theseus behind her. 

"Or kill you," she replied back, turning around to face him again. 

Theseus smirked at the Phoenix and gave a quick kiss at Zara's cheek making her brothers give an angry roar which Ezra and Leon who were the fastest, tried to pound on Theseus but were quickly held up by the agents. Jackson on the other hand was holding one of the chairs in the ballroom and was going to throw it on Theseus but was stopped by Meera and Raven who held his hands together. 

"You're such an asshole, Theseus," Zara snarled at him, rolling her eyes as she turned back to her family to calm them down and yell, "Oh my God, YOU GUYS!! CALM THE FUCK DOWN!!,". 

Surprisingly they all stopped and looked at her. 

"I'm a grown woman and I can take care of myself," said Zara, crossing her arms on her chest, "And can I kick his ass? Yes, I can.. But not now, because we need him and his gang. Actually, we all need each other right now. We're fucking outnumbered,". 

"What are you talking about?," asked Agent Chen. 

"Miranda and Matt found something disturbing," said Zara, "And we have something to report, actually,". 

"Alright, but can you all please sit over here together without anyone trying to break anybody's neck," said Agent Caldwell. 

"Just a minute," replied Zara and turned back towards Theseus, "First of all, thank you for paying for all of our food last night,".

"What??," yelled Theo but Zara held up a finger to shoosh him up. 

"Secondly, we would like to apologize for leaving you in Bologna without inviting you to ride in our taxi," said Zara, "Are we cool?,". 

Theseus held his hand up again to caress her cheek gently. 

"You're more than cool to me, love," replied Theseus, lowering his face towards her.

"Woah.. Just a simple 'I forgive you' is much better," said Zara, putting her palm on his face and pushing it away. 

"I'll forgive you if you agree for a second dinner with me," Theseus smirked at her. 

"Okay," replied Zara casually and walked towards her family who had been waiting at the meeting area. 

She took a seat next to Ezra who had put an arm around her and he gave a murdering glare at Theseus while he smirked at the Phoenix as he sat down with his men. Agent Caldwell cleared his throat and everyone went quiet and looked towards him. 

"So, what is the information that you have got?," asked Agent Caldwell. 

"Alright, who's going to go first?," asked Megan. 

Theo put his hand up. 

"Go on then, Mr. Phoenix," said Agent Caldwell. 

"Well, first we got a few cars although none of them were your favorite, baby sis," said Theo glancing at Zara, "Secondly, we came across someone who was discussing a street racing event with his friend that will be taken this Friday, and.. Sponsored by the Leggios,". 

"Holy shit," said Leon, "We are so going to participate,". 

"Yeah, but we only have three cars," said Jackson.

"We can win some," said Ezra, "That can't be the only street racing event,". 

"Do you want me to look it up?," asked Matt as he took out his iPad. 

"That'll be nice, Matt," smiled Miranda at him. 

Everyone turned to look at her. Zara, Meera, and Raven gave her an unknowingly smile while the others frowned. 

"He's really nice, huh?," asked Harvey, narrowing his eyes. 

"Fuck off, Harv," said Miranda, as she stomped on Harvey's foot making him wince in pain.

Agent Caldwell cleared his throat again making everyone focus back at the front. 

"Carry on, Mr. Phoenix," said Agent Ford.

"Alright, so we went to talk with that guy and apparently, the Leggios have a racing team and their own racing tracks," said Dylan, "But for the event this Friday, they have street racing as well,".

"He can't be the only one right?," asked Sam, "I mean we can't win in every race that they organize,". 

"Very confident aren't we," said Theseus. 

"Wasn't talking to you, Balthazar," said Sam. 

"Hey, guys.. There's a street race tomorrow night in Tessera tonight, near the airport," said Matt suddenly as he raised his iPad to show them. 

At once, everyone crowded on him including the Phoenix. They took turns looking at the iPad and Dylan held the longest.

"They have drag and drift here," said Dylan, "And street race, lil sis,".

"You still can do it?," asked Ezra looking at his twin sister.

"Please.. We've done it like a couple of times in the country where we live even though they're really strict," said Jackson. 

"What kind of cars did you get anyway?," asked Zara.

"A Pagani Huayra, Ferrari F12 TDF, and a Maserati MC12," replied Dylan, "You can go for a test but right now, we need the help of the INTERPOL,". 

"And what do you need from us?," asked Agent Caldwell. 

"A big place, with runaways, like a warehouse or a hangar," said Theo, "Like an abandoned airport or factory,".

"Place where we can upgrade our cars and test them," said Jackson. 

Agent Caldwell sighed before turning to look at the other agents. They had a quiet discussion before Agent Cobbs walked out from the ballroom and Agent Caldwell turned towards them. 

"Very well, Mr. Phoenix," said Agent Caldwell, "We'll set it up today for you,". 

They all nodded and went back to their seat.

"So, who's next?," asked Megan.

"Us," said Sienna and Raven raising their hand, "We saw Paola Rossi the Assassin and followed her, and guess who she met today?,". 

"Please tell me it's Demi Moore," said Harvey sarcastically.

"No, you idiot.. She was meeting Giovanni Leggio himself," said Ezra, "You know, the gang leader,".

"Bloody hell, you saw him?," asked Zara, "Well that's big.. Carry on, brother,". 

"Well, we follow them of course," said Leon, "And they led us to a club name La Tazza Nuda in San Donnino,". 

"What a weird name for a club," Jake frowned.

"Must have a reason for it," said Freddie, shrugging. 

"So that's another Leggio base and we need someone to get inside," said Agent Ford. 

"We could do that tonight," said Zara wiggled her eyes at Karan.

"We need Mr. Malhotra tonight, miss Phoenix," said Agent Caldwell, "There's a few gadgets that he needs to see for an upgrade,".

"Actually, we need Mr. Lee, Mr. Flanagan, and Mr. Parker as well and few of the Phoenix," said Agent Chen looking at Jackson, Dylan, and Theo, "And of course, Mr. Jericho and Mr. Hanson here,".

"You can go with me, love," said Theseus, "We'll do it together,".

At once, the entire Phoenix looked at him which several of the men were trying so hard not to murder him. The women however were smirking and Megan shook her head as she looked at her husband who was overprotective of his little sister. 

"Ooooo.. A husband and an affair in one day," said Zara as she rolled her eyes looking at her brothers before glancing back at Theseus, "Looks like we're on, Theseus". 

"Excuse me?," said Dylan indignantly. 

"Seriously? We're doing this again?," said Zara glaring at her brother, "Besides, I'm taking Leon and Raven with me,".

"Double date," said Theseus, "I'm loving this already,". 

Zara gave him a scowl. 

"Come on guys, we have to trust her," said Jackson calmly before turning to look at Theseus, "But if you failed to bring her home, I will kill you and bring down your entire gang, Balthazar,".

"You don't have to worry about that," replied Theseus slyly, "I won't do anything to her that her family hates, although I won't say no if she begs,".

"In your dreams," Zara crossed her arms on her chest, sitting down and crossed her legs, "Can we continue?,".

"Our turn," said Miranda raising her hand. 

She gave a smile to Matt who smiled back. Zara and Sienna exchanging a knowing glance with each other. 

"While they went and stalked the assassin, we on the other hand stayed behind and found out that the coffee place's owner's name is Alberto Bianchi and he's involved with smuggling girls inside the country," said Miranda, "And he was talking to another man about a group of girls arriving this Sunday at their base in Scandellara,". 

"Holy shit, that's another base," said Agent Chen, "Do you think there's more?,".

"There is but they need to finish the report," said Karan. 

"Oh, sorry," said Agent Chen, "Carry on, Miss Lewis,". 

"Well, we went to Scandellara following the man who was talking with Alberto," said Matt, "Harvey put a tracker under his car,".

"We followed him there until he stopped at a building near Parco Scandellara," said Jake, "And bloody hell, we need a lot of people for this,".

"What are you talking about?," asked Dylan.

"There were like more than fifty men guarding that building," said Miranda, "Not to mention, we suspected there were few outside pretending to be normal people,". 

They were lost in thought for a while. 

"Well, we have the INTERPOL if there's an attack involved in the mission," said Megan.

"Of course, we have enough if we're going for the rescue mission in Scandellara," said Agent Caldwell.

"Unless they have more in their other bases," said Theo, "I mean, they must have men at their club, and their race track, and that building near Basilica Di San Petronio,". 

"What do you mean?," asked Agent Ford.

"We followed Lorenzo Morretti and a few of his men to another base," said Karan, "And I don't think they were the only one working there,". 

"It's like a four level building and a large compound so I'm guessing that there will be more than thirty people in there," said Zara. 

"Balthazar has dozens of men," said Ben glancing at Theseus, "I bet you have more now for the past seven years,".

But Theseus didn't answer. He looked down and smiled sadly.