Chapter 35

Chapter 35: In the Lion's Den

The old, candlelit room was draped in shadows, with every flickering flame casting ominous silhouettes on the walls. Victor sat alone at a grand table in the center, studying a map marked with red dots, each one representing the locations he had fortified to capture Marco. His jaw clenched as he traced the lines connecting each dot, mentally calculating every possible move Marco might take. This wasn't just business anymore—this was personal.

The heavy doors creaked open, and Isabella entered, her face a portrait of poised fury. "Victor, we need to talk."

Victor's eyes flicked up, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "What now?"

Isabella's eyes narrowed, and she slammed a file on the table in front of him. "Your plans have failed. Marco and Luca keep slipping away, and each failure costs us credibility with our partners."

Victor's gaze sharpened, his face turning to stone. "Do you think I haven't noticed? Everything is under control. Marco will slip up; it's only a matter of time."

Isabella leaned in, her voice icy. "Under control? He has the drive, Victor. If he releases those files, we could lose everything. Do you realize the position that puts us in?"

A cold silence settled between them as they each absorbed the magnitude of Marco's leverage. But Victor's lips curled into a smirk, a cruel gleam in his eyes. "Oh, I realize it well. Marco wants to expose us. But he won't have a chance. Not when he's walking straight into our hands."

"Do you have something in mind?" Isabella asked, suspicion lacing her tone.

Victor gestured toward the map. "I know Marco better than anyone else. He has a strong sense of loyalty. And now that he's made his way to Jake, I know exactly where he'll go next." He tapped a specific location on the map—a hidden mansion on the outskirts of the city, an isolated place where many of Victor's most dangerous allies convened. "We'll be ready."

Meanwhile, Marco, Luca, and Jake sat around a small table in a dimly lit café on the outskirts of town. Jake had carefully avoided crowded places where they could be spotted, and the dingy café, with its cracked tiles and flickering light, provided the perfect cover.

"Are you sure about this?" Luca asked, his voice barely a whisper as he leaned closer. "If Victor's men catch us before we reach the mansion, this is over."

Marco nodded, his gaze resolute. "Victor has made a web around this city, and he's pulling the strings tighter. We need to get in close, find out his weakness, and unravel it from within. This mansion—it's where he keeps his most trusted allies. If we can infiltrate it, we can turn them against him, break down his power from the inside."

Jake's fingers drummed nervously on the table, his gaze darting around the room. "It's dangerous. This isn't just Victor's headquarters—it's where he meets people willing to do anything for him. They won't take kindly to us poking around."

Luca placed his hand over Marco's, grounding him. "Are you sure we can trust Jake?" he asked softly, his eyes searching Marco's face.

Marco looked between Luca and Jake, a storm of conflict in his eyes. Jake had come through for them, but the risk of betrayal still lingered, like a shadow that wouldn't fade. Finally, he nodded. "We don't have a choice. We're going in together. We're in this till the end."

Hours later, they found themselves outside the sprawling mansion. It was an architectural marvel, hidden from view by dense foliage and guarded by walls so high they seemed impenetrable. Marco, Luca, and Jake crouched low in the shadows, studying the patrols that moved methodically around the perimeter. The tension was thick, their breaths shallow as they planned their next moves.

"Okay," Marco whispered. "There's a gap in the rotation every seven minutes on the north side. We need to move fast and stay low. Once we're in, we split up. We each take a wing of the house and look for anything we can use against Victor. Any names, plans, anything."

Luca's hand lingered on Marco's shoulder, and their eyes met in the dark, a silent promise passing between them. "Be careful," he murmured, his fingers tightening momentarily before he let go.

They moved silently, slipping into the shadows with a precision honed by desperation. The grounds were a maze of shrubbery and statues, eerie and beautiful in the moonlight. Every creak, every whisper of movement set their nerves on edge. Marco led the way, signaling each of their steps, their hearts pounding with every second they crept closer to the mansion.

When they reached the north wall, Marco gave Luca and Jake a final nod. Then, one by one, they disappeared through the mansion's side entrances.

Inside, the halls were dark and empty, the only sound the faint hum of distant voices and the soft ticking of an ancient grandfather clock. Marco moved swiftly, searching each room he passed, skimming over tables and rifling through papers. He found only mundane documents, nothing that would take down Victor.

His heart hammered with frustration and worry. Time was running out, and he could sense the walls closing in on them.

Just then, footsteps echoed down the hallway. Marco froze, slipping behind a door as two of Victor's guards passed by, their voices low and tense.

"Victor wants everyone on high alert," one of them muttered. "He's convinced Marco's coming here."

The other guard grunted. "If he does, he won't be leaving alive."

The two guards disappeared down the hall, and Marco exhaled, silently cursing the close call. But the tension in his gut only tightened. Victor was expecting him, and it was only a matter of time before the net closed around them.

Across the mansion, Luca sifted through a study filled with ancient books and manuscripts. He was about to give up when his gaze landed on a dusty ledger tucked away in a drawer. He flipped it open, and his eyes widened at the contents—lists of transactions, dates, and names, all of which pointed to a vast network of illegal dealings orchestrated by Victor.

But before he could read further, a shadow appeared at the door.

"Looking for something?" a cold voice asked.

Luca's heart plummeted as he turned to see Isabella standing in the doorway, a smile as cold as ice.

"You and Marco have been a thorn in our side for far too long," she said, stepping into the room. "But I must admit, I expected better from him. And from you."

Luca backed away slowly, clutching the ledger tightly. "You won't get away with this, Isabella. We have everything we need to destroy you."

Isabella's laughter echoed through the room, chilling him to the bone. "Oh, Luca, you really don't understand, do you? We've already won. You're just the last loose ends."

Just as she raised her weapon, a shot rang out, and Isabella stumbled back, her face contorting with shock. Marco stood in the doorway, gun in hand, his expression dark.

"Get away from him," he growled, stepping between Luca and Isabella.

Isabella clutched her shoulder, blood seeping between her fingers. "You can't win this, Marco," she spat, her face a mixture of pain and fury. "Victor will hunt you down. He'll never let you go."

Marco's jaw clenched, his voice a low snarl. "We'll see about that."

Without another word, he grabbed Luca's hand, and they raced down the hallway, heartbeats thundering in sync as they navigated the maze of corridors. Just as they reached the exit, alarms blared, and the entire mansion was flooded with light.

"Go!" Marco shouted, pushing Luca ahead as they bolted toward the edge of the grounds. Behind them, footsteps thundered as guards scrambled to cut off their escape.

But they didn't stop. They sprinted through the shadows, darting between trees and vaulting over hedges, their only thought survival. With one final burst of energy, they broke free from the mansion's grip, racing into the night with Victor's men hot on their heels.

As they vanished into the darkness, Marco knew this was only the beginning. Victor would come for them with everything he had. But he also knew one thing with absolute certainty: as long as Luca was by his side, he would fight until his last breath.

To be continued...