It's coming

The next day, each woman on the list of Marco and Gabriela Gambino, the children of Tony Gambino, received a seemingly innocuous postcard in the mail. These were the same women whom the Gambinos wanted to abduct to uncover the truth behind their cybercrime business and prevent its exposure to the world. They intended to make them talk, one way or another.

It bore a simple message: "Scan the code and spin an arrow to receive cash up to 5000 euros." Who wouldn't take a chance to earn easy money just by spinning?

The moment they scanned the QR code, they were instead added to a secure group chat.

Miracle watched as the number of participants in the chat grew, her fingers resting lightly on the keyboard.

Almost immediately, messages flooded the chat:

"Why are we here?"

"Where's the spin wheel?"

"Is this a scam?"

But before any of them could leave, Miracle sent a message.

"Once all the participants are in the group, we will begin the game."

As soon as everyone had joined, she dropped the real message:

"You have been targeted by the Gambino family."

The group chat fell silent. Not a single message came through for minutes.

Then, finally, one person broke the silence:

"How do we know you aren't the one targeting us?"

Miracle was expecting the question. She quickly typed:

"We are working with the police. What we need from you is a little cooperation to catch them and track their activities."

Another long pause. The group members, faceless and anonymous behind their screens, hesitated.

Then, a single message appeared: "What do we need to do?"

Miracle's fingers flew across the keyboard as she outlined their plan:

"As a consolation prize, each of you will receive a watch by tomorrow. Make sure you wear it at all times. It has a GPS tracker. If you feel that someone is following you or you are in danger, press the red button on the watch. We will receive an alert and track your location. It will keep all of you safe."

After Miracle's message, more messages poured in:

"This sounds insane."

"How do we know we can trust you?"

Miracle responded swiftly with another message:

"Your safety is our priority. We are risking everything to take down the Gambino family. Together, we can stop them. But if we fail, they will soon come after you, and if they are not satisfied, they might target your family as well. We know all too well what happens when they have our family members. All we need is your support."

Another silence. But this time, it wasn't fear that held them back. It was cautious determination.

Then, one by one, thumbs-up emojis filled the chat.

Amara and Dane had been watching silently from the group, assessing the reactions. Amara's lips curled into a satisfied smile. The group was ready to fight back.

She leaned back, recalling the words her mother, Eve San, had once told her:

"If you want to take down an organization, you need an army. Alone, a person cannot achieve what can be done by working with a team of dedicated people who want justice by any means—especially the victims, if the law has failed them."

Amara smiled at the memory, but the warmth of nostalgia quickly faded. Her mother's death was still an unsolved puzzle that gnawed at the edges of her thoughts.

Eve had been a strong woman. The backbone of everything Amara had learned. Her mother was the reason she could endure the pain and still stand tall. She had learned a lot from her mother. But then, why would such a strong-willed woman take her own life?

The question haunted Amara until today. No matter how much time passed, the answer remained just out of reach, lurking in the shadows like a ghost of a past that refused to be forgotten.

*

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In Future Quantum, Liora and Rachel sowed another seed.

This time, Liora approached Sven during her lunch break, while Rachel met Frank, one of Sven's victims, for more details.

It was ironic—both Amara and Liora were trying to protect each other by hiding their plans for revenge, each unwilling to let the other get hurt. Yet, unbeknownst to them, they were both on the same path of vengeance, following the teachings of Eve passed down from Amara to Liora.

The university café buzzed with young energies. It was filled with students' chatter that merged into an indistinct hum, like the constant chirring of crickets on a summer night. The space felt tighter as students jostled for seats and queued up at the counter, where baristas worked quickly, barely pausing for breath.

Liora spotted Sven in a corner, detached from the chaos, his eyes glued to his phone, chuckling softly at the screen. A cigarette dangled from his fingers. She walked towards him, keeping her disgust hidden.

"Mr DeCosta....Hi! I'm Li. I don't know if you remember me." Liora paused, then looked behind him before continuing. "You gave me your business card and asked if I was looking for a job." She forced herself to sound neutral.

Sven's face brightened with recognition. "Of course, signora. How could I ever forget this beautiful face?"

Liora fought to keep her expression calm, suppressing the instinct to grimace at his revolting flattery. Every compliment he offered made her want to vomit it out, but she held firm.

"So, are you here about the job offer?" Sven's smirk widened, his eyes flickering with amusement.

Liora inhaled slowly, pushing aside the disgust clawing at her. "Yes. I've been considering your offer, and I believe I might be a good fit."

This time, she deliberately glanced beside him, waiting a few seconds before shifting her gaze back to him.

Sven, noticing her look, followed her line of sight as if expecting someone to be there. But there was nothing. His brows furrowed briefly before his phone rang, snapping his attention away.

He glanced at the screen, his demeanour shifting. "Signora, do you mind if we discuss this later, perhaps after your class? Send me a message, and I'll tell you where to meet."

Liora nodded, "Of course, Mr DeCosta. I'll message you after class."

Sven shot her a final smirk before striding away to take his call, leaving Liora standing alone.

She turned to leave but instinctively scanned the café, searching for a familiar face. Caspian was nowhere in sight. His usual corner was occupied by a male friend—one he never mentioned to her.

"Where are you, Caspian? I need my daily dose of happiness from just one sight of you," she murmured to herself, feeling an unexpected emptiness.

When the last class of the day arrived, Liora anxiously watched her smartwatch. The moment the professor closed her book, she shut hers, shoved it into her tote bag, waved a quick goodbye to Sia and Yo, and rushed outside toward the water stream.

By the time she reached the secluded area, she was breathless, but she forced herself to calm down before dialling Sven's number. He answered on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mr DeCosta, it's Li. Remember me?"

Sven's voice held a distracted edge. "Oh, yes, of course."

"I was hoping we could meet today—"

"Unfortunately, I don't have time. Can we meet tomorrow before your class? I have urgent matters to attend to off-campus."

Liora paused for a moment before speaking, her patience wearing thin. What the hell was Sven up to today that kept him so busy? It was a frustrating start. She kicked a stone on the ground in annoyance and said, "Sure. I don't usually say this, but just be careful."

Sven was about to hang up but paused. "Careful? What do you mean?"

"I'm just saying, be careful," Liora repeated cryptically before ending the call.

She smirked, knowing Sven would be left wondering about her words, and she hoped he wandered all night and did not get sleep. Simple mission accomplished!

Feeling satisfied, she looked at the time, and her phone vibrated. Rachel's message flashed on the screen.

"I have the list of students. Not all, but enough for now. I will find more names!"

Liora's heart leapt at the promising news. But before she could revel in it, she noticed Kai and Logan's girlfriends approaching her, their eyes burning with pure hatred.

She had expected them to come after her, just not this soon.

'How did they even find me on this massive campus?' she wondered, slipping her phone back into her pocket, preparing for verbal combat.

"Do you think you can mess with our guys and get away with it? Gold Digger," Harper spat, her voice grating like a malfunctioning engine.

Liora rolled her eyes and exhaled in exasperation. "Look, I don't care, and I'm definitely not interested in your boyfriends." She locked eyes with them, unwavering. She truly wondered what the trio could possibly find appealing in these women. One was ready to kill her, while the other two were there to insult her. Not just one, but three of them are after her.

"I have far more important things to deal with than entertaining your petty jealousy," Liora added, surprised at how effortlessly the confidence flowed through her. Then, with a smirk, she delivered the final blow. "Instead of wasting time trying to threaten me, why don't you girls work up on a word called trust?" These women didn't even trust their boyfriends. What kind of relationship were they in? Liora thought to herself.

Elena's face darkened with rage. "Says the girl who made them break up with us yesterday."

Liora barely had time to process that revelation before Harper lunged, grabbing her neck with a vice-like grip.

But Liora was faster.

In a swift motion, she twisted Harper's arm and shoved her to the ground with the same force Haper had used against her. The impact sent her sprawling.

"Get off me!" Harper screeched, cradling her bruised arm. She was no match for Liora's strength, thanks to years of Kali training.

Students under the nearby shades turned their heads, their eyes lighting up with interest. Some immediately pulled out their phones, recording the scene as if it were the highlight of their day.

Liora dusted off her hands, stepping back. "You can believe whatever you want, spoiled brats. Go find someone else to entertain yourself."

With that, she turned and walked away—only to find herself face-to-face with yet another obstacle just a few meters ahead.

A towering figure stood before her, like an immovable force, eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch.

She had fought off one storm, but it seemed another was beginning.