The War That Never Ended

Ariella sat across from Alexander LaVey, her pulse steady, her mind sharp.

The abandoned cathedral in Rome was dimly lit, flickering candles casting long shadows over the walls. It was the kind of place where deals were made and betrayals were sealed.

She wondered why Rome. Who knows all the shitty deals the Order must have pulled through in this city. They virtually run smooth operations across various cities unhindered.

They practically have hold on the government of different cities. Little wonder they have been so impossible to eradicate. But not Ariella, she intends to see to their very end even if it's the last thing she does. For the sake of her daughter.

Leo stood beside her, a silent wall of lethal intent, his hand resting close to his weapon. Carter and Vincent flanked the exits, watching every movement in the room.

Alexander LaVey, once believed to be dead, leaned back in his chair, smiling like a man who knew too much.

"The Order never died," he said smoothly, fingers steepled together. "You only took out one of its limbs. Now, the rest are preparing to strike back."

Ariella's jaw clenched. "If that's the case, then why are you here? Why send for me?"

LaVey's smirk widened. "Because you interest me."

Ariella's patience thinned. "I'm not here to entertain you."

"No," LaVey mused. "You're here because you need to understand what you've stepped into."

Leo finally spoke, his voice cold. "She understands just fine. The Order came for her. They lost."

LaVey chuckled. "Oh, Carter. You of all people should know—when one leader falls, another rises. And the Order has never been a single entity. It's a network, one that spans governments, industries, and bloodlines older than any of us."

Ariella's stomach tightened. She had known the Order wasn't just Silas Vaughn. But hearing it confirmed like this? It changed everything.

"What do you want?" she asked.

LaVey's eyes gleamed. "To offer you a choice."

Ariella lifted a brow. "And that is?"

LaVey leaned forward, voice lowering.

"You can fight them. Or you can take your place among them."

The room went silent.

Leo stiffened beside her.

Carter's expression darkened.

Vincent let out a low whistle. "Now that's interesting."

Ariella, however, didn't blink.

"You think I'd ever align with the people who destroyed my family?"

LaVey shrugged. "The Devereux family wasn't destroyed. It was assimilated. You were supposed to be part of something greater, but instead, your parents resisted. And we both know how that ended."

Ariella's nails dug into her palm. "You mean how my mother was imprisoned for decades?"

LaVey sighed. "That was Silas's mistake, not mine."

Ariella leaned in, voice sharp as a blade. "And yet, you stood by and did nothing."

LaVey didn't deny it. "You're right."

Ariella's heartbeat pounded in her ears. "Why tell me all this?"

"Because," LaVey said smoothly, "I believe you're different. Unlike your parents, you don't just survive—you dominate. And the Order has taken notice."

Ariella's lips curled. "So, what? You want me to rule alongside them?"

LaVey's smirk didn't fade. "You already do, whether you realize it or not."

A Dangerous Proposition

Back at their safe house, Ariella paced, her mind racing.

Leo sat on the edge of the bed, watching her. "You're considering it."

Ariella stopped, turning to him. "No. I'm considering what it means."

Leo's jaw tightened. "It means they're trying to recruit you. They're afraid of you."

Ariella exhaled. "Which means I have leverage."

Leo stood, crossing the room. "Ariella, you don't need to play their game."

She met his gaze, her resolve unshaken. "I don't intend to play it."

Leo's frown deepened. "Then what?"

Ariella's voice was quiet, dangerous. "I intend to end it."

Leo studied her, then sighed. "I had a feeling you'd say that."

Laying the Trap

Ariella gathered her team—Leo, Carter, Vincent, and their most trusted allies.

"The Order wants me to step in line," she said, eyes scanning the room. "I say we let them think I will."

Carter arched a brow. "And then?"

Ariella's smirk was razor-sharp. "And then we take them down from the inside."

Leo's expression remained unreadable. "You're proposing infiltration."

Ariella nodded. "Exactly."

Vincent grinned. "Oh, darling, I love when you think like a villain."

Carter, ever the strategist, frowned. "It's risky."

Ariella met his gaze. "Every move I've made has been risky. But if we take the Order down completely, it ends. No more threats. No more shadows. My daughter gets to grow up free."

Leo exhaled. "Then let's do it."

Ariella agreed to meet LaVey on her terms—a neutral location, heavily guarded, ensuring she controlled the setting.

The moment she arrived, LaVey greeted her with a knowing smile.

"I take it you've considered my offer?"

Ariella sat, crossing her legs. "I have. And I have conditions."

LaVey arched a brow. "Bold."

Ariella smirked. "I don't play by anyone's rules but my own."

LaVey chuckled. "I expected nothing less. What are your terms?"

Ariella leaned forward. "I want full access to the Order's financial network. Every offshore account, every political tie, every asset."

LaVey tilted his head. "That's a dangerous request."

Ariella held his gaze. "I'm a dangerous woman."

LaVey exhaled, amusement dancing in his eyes. "And what do I get in return?"

Ariella's smile was cold. "Loyalty."

LaVey studied her, then smirked. "Deal."

Ariella extended her hand.

As LaVey shook it, he had no idea—

He had just made the worst mistake of his life.

The Beginning of the End

Days later, Ariella stood before Leo, Carter, and Vincent, her plan in motion.

"We have access," she said, tossing a USB drive onto the table. "Every secret, every name, every weakness."

Carter picked it up, a slow grin spreading across his face. "You actually did it."

Vincent laughed. "Darling, you are a menace."

Leo's eyes met hers, something unreadable in his gaze. "What's next?"

Ariella exhaled.

"We burn them to the ground."

Because she wasn't just going to dismantle the Order.

She was going to erase it.