Chapter 5

Havana was bathed in a golden glow as the sun started to rise, illuminating the cobblestone streets. Letty found herself on Mia's balcony, enjoying her coffee while lost in thought and feeling the cool morning breeze against her skin. Her mind lingered on last night's events - from chasing down their enemies to fighting them off until Giselle came for an unexpected rescue. Preoccupied with memories of what had happened before, she struggled not to forget about present dangers hiding around every corner.

"Mia called Letty into the kitchen for breakfast, interrupting her thoughts."

After casting a final glance at the lively cityscape, Letty retreated back inside. The kitchen exuded warmth and hospitality, permeated with the scent of scrambled eggs and buttered toast. Giselle was already seated in her chair, her plate laden with food towering before her.

"Greetings, warrior princess," Giselle teased with a mischievous smile. "Did you have a good night's rest following your exciting adventure?"

As she seated herself, Letty chuckled lightly. "Not really. I was preoccupied for the majority of last night strategizing on how to deal with Cilghal and his team. Our plan needs to be concrete and prompt."

"Letty, have some food first. It's not wise to plan on an empty stomach. Plus, we need to come up with a strategy for the auction wisely as I understand that you want revenge on Cilghal, but we can't rush into this." said Mia while putting a plate in front of Letty.

Digging into the food, Letty experienced a surge of gratefulness towards her friends. Despite seeing her at rock bottom, these women remained loyal by her side and had become more than mere allies; they were like family to her.

"Alright, what's our strategy?" Giselle inquired eagerly while leaning forward with a determined sparkle in her eyes.

Before responding, Letty consumed another mouthful. "There must be a motive behind Cilghal's focus on that auction. If we obtain the asset before he does, it could give us an advantage over him. However, our approach to entering the venue should not arouse any suspicion."

"Are there any contacts that we can ask for help to get in?" Mia inquired.

Giselle added, "In the underground scene, I know some people. However, they aren't completely dependable. Additionally, we might require technical assistance for gathering information."

With her mind racing with possibilities, Letty nodded. "I'll connect with some of my former acquaintances and we may need to don a disguise to blend in. As soon as we have enough information about Cilghal's intentions, the tables can be turned."

Mia warned, "That seems dangerous," but added, "Nevertheless, it's a deliberate decision. We must be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances."

After completing their morning meal, Letty noticed a vibration from her phone resting on the table. Curious, she retrieved it and found an SMS from an unfamiliar contact. The message read: "Join me at La Habana Café urgently! I possess essential information regarding Cilghal that you must know. Don't trust anyone except for me.- M."

With her heart racing, Letty glanced at Mia and Giselle before announcing that she had a lead which needed to be checked out.

"Would you like us to accompany you?" Mia inquired with a worried expression on her countenance.

"I have to deal with this on my own," Letty answered, shaking her head. "If it's a setup, I don't want to endanger you. However, remain vigilant since if something appears peculiar; then I'll notify you."

Letty was cautioned by Giselle, who placed her hand on Letty's shoulder. "Be cautious, as you are aware of the dangers involved," warned Giselle.

Letty gave a resolute nod, donned her jacket and secured her Glock in the waistband. "I'll manage. Keep your phones handy," she declared confidently.

As she emerged onto the busy Havana streets, the dazzling hues of buildings mingled with lively music embraced her presence. However, despite this liveliness that permeated throughout, an unmistakable unease prickled at every fibre within her being. Unwaveringly determined to succeed in her mission and obtain any intel possible from "M," she hastened towards La Habana Café with a flurry of thoughts racing across her mind.

As Letty headed towards the café, her instincts sprang into action. She carefully surveyed the area for potential hazards, on high-alert for any loitering men or suspicious glances that could signal a trap. Despite being packed with locals chatting over warm coffee cups, she scouted out an isolated table in the corner where someone sat inconspicuously wearing a wide-brimmed hat obscuring their face from view.

With caution in her approach and heart pounding, Letty asked as she drew closer, "Are you M?"

Looking up, the figure exposed a face that was known. "It has been quite some time, Letty."

"Carlos!" she exclaimed with recognition, realizing that he was her former partner during their days in the cartel. "What brings you here?"

"I am now working for the opposing team," he retorted with a smirk on his face. "I have been monitoring Cilghal and I am aware of his schemes."

Her mind racing, Letty sat down and asked, "What do you mean?"

Carlos drew nearer, lowering his voice to a hush. "The auction's loot is in danger, as Cilghal seeks to purloin a highly valuable item that could alter everything. He has enlisted an entire team for the heist but there's someone secretly conveying information about it to law enforcement."

"Letty's heart raced as she pressed, "Do you happen to know who it is?" She was eager for any advantage.

After glancing around nervously, Carlos leaned in closer and whispered, "I'm not entirely certain, but my intuition tells me that the person after you is someone within your inner circle. You must exercise caution because Cilghal isn't the only one on the lookout for you."

A cold shiver ran down Letty's spine as she asked, "What do you mean?"

"Letty, he's watching you from all angles. In the event that he perceives a danger in you, he won't hesitate to take action against you."