Chapter 6

"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."

As the café door swung open, Letty's instincts were triggered. A surge of adrenaline ran through her as a group of men strode in, their eyes quickly surveying the premises. Her heart racing with fear and recognition; one among them was Fernando - an enforcer for Cilghal.

Standing up, Letty urged Carlos to leave immediately by saying "We need to go now, Carlos!"

As they planned their next move, Fernando caught sight of them and strode toward their table with a menacing expression.

He called out, "Letty," with a grin spreading across his face like a predator. "It's quite unexpected to see you here. I believe we should have a small talk."

With her eyes darting around for a way out, Letty's thoughts raced. She knew she couldn't allow herself to get trapped at this moment. Urgently, she whispered to Carlos: "Divert his attention!"

Carlos got up instantly and lifted his hands in a mock gesture of surrender. "Hold on, my friend. We were simply engaging in an amiable conversation."

Fernando retorted with a sarcastic tone, "Oh sure, 'friendly.' I highly doubt it. Letty, you're coming along with me."

Letty retorted firmly while reaching for her firearm, "I am not."

Chaos erupted just as Letty was about to draw her weapon. Fernando was knocked off balance by Carlos who lunged towards him, while his henchmen rushed forward simultaneously. With gunfire erupting in the café, Letty's heart raced as she dove behind a nearby table for cover.

As her instincts kicked in, she shouted "Get down!" while retrieving her Glock from its holster at the waistband.

Letty's training kicked in as the approaching thugs swarmed towards her. The patrons screamed and scrambled for cover while she fired back, determined to safeguard herself and secure an escape route.

Scanning the room for an exit, she yelled "Carlos, we have to relocate!"

Carlos swiftly punched one of the henchmen on his jaw and then grabbed Letty's arm. "Follow me this way!" he exclaimed, leading her towards the rear exit.

Letty's heart was pounding in her chest as they entered the narrow alley by bursting through the door. Glancing behind them, she saw henchmen spilling out of the café and asked anxiously, "What's our plan?"

Carlos suggested, anxiously scanning his surroundings, "We must discover a method to elude them. A market is situated close by; we can blend in with the multitude and escape."

Filled with adrenaline, Letty nodded as they sprinted through the alley and burst onto a bustling street. The vendors were selling bright wares and appetizing food.

"There!" Letty indicated a fresh fruit stall. They hid behind it, leaning against the wooden cart to catch their breath.

"Have you obtained the information?" Carlos inquired, speaking softly while monitoring the alley's entrance.

"We can't do that right now. Let's concentrate on finding a way out of here first," replied the speaker.

Letty's mind raced as she and the others crouched behind the stall. Their top priority was to survive this encounter, but they also needed to warn Mia and Giselle of Cilghal's plans.

"Have you got a plan?" Carlos anxiously scanned around before asking.

Fast thinking occurred to Letty. "We could turn the market in our favor by separating ourselves. This way, we can disorient them. I'll make a commotion while you try to seek assistance unnoticed."

With worry evident on his face, Carlos paused before stating, "This seems too dangerous. I'm not fond of it."

Letty responded decisively, "I'd rather take a risk than be dead. Believe me. Let's rendezvous at the abandoned automobile workshop located on the outskirts of town. Our pace needs to quicken!"

"Fine," Carlos reluctantly acquiesced. "Letty, please take care."

Letty gave a slight nod, inhaling deeply before quietly making her way out of the stall and seamlessly disappearing into the bustling crowd. The sounds of Fernando's men could be heard in the distance as they shouted after her but became increasingly muted while she expertly maneuvered through the market.

As she arrived at the opposite side, a loudspeaker booth caught her attention. In that instant, an idea materialized in her thoughts - setting up a distraction might provide Carlos with the opportunity to flee unnoticed.

Rushing to the booth, Letty grabbed a microphone from the counter with her heart pounding. Using the speaker system she shouted urgently, "Listen up everyone! A violent gang is lurking nearby. I advise immediate evacuation for your safety!"

As Letty's heart raced in her chest, the crowd burst into pandemonium with individuals screaming and scrambling towards the exits.

As she caught sight of Fernando and his enraged entourage plowing through the masses, her heart pounded with fear. "Come this way!" She implored anyone in earshot to trail after her as she took off running towards safety.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Letty bolted towards the rear exit of the market while her mind raced with thoughts about protecting her loved ones, Cilghal's plans, and the imminent auction.

Upon bursting into the sunlight, she rapidly surveyed her surroundings and wondered where Carlos had disappeared to. It was crucial for them to regroup and strategize their next steps.

Prior to anything else, Letty had to endure and overcome this encounter. Fueled by her resolve, she propelled herself into the vibrant cityscape with a readiness to confront any difficulties that awaited her. The risks were at their pinnacle, yet she was determined to emerge victorious.