chapter 7: The mole

Rain lashed the windows of the safehouse as Alessandro, Rachel, and Nico regrouped. The warehouse smelled of oil and rust, a far cry from the glittering hotel they'd barely escaped. Alessandro stood at a map pinned to the wall, red pins marking Consortium activity across the city.

Rachel was pacing, phone in hand. "The man at the gala… he knew things only someone inside our circle could have told them."

Alessandro's eyes narrowed. "Someone close is feeding The Consortium information."

Nico slammed a folder on the table. "I checked every contact, every agent. It's not Monroe or his team. But…" He hesitated, jaw tightening. "One name kept coming up in phone records—Marco Vescari."

Alessandro frowned. "Vescari? He's an old friend of my father's. He's helped us for years."

Rachel's voice was sharp. "Or he's been pretending. Lulling you into trusting him."

Nico pulled up security footage on a laptop: Vescari meeting with a Consortium courier at a cafe in Queens. Money exchanged hands. A file folder changed owners. The image froze on Vescari's face—smug, self-assured.

Alessandro's fists clenched. Memories of Vescari teaching him to shoot, giving him fatherly advice after his father's death—now twisted into betrayal. "He was like family," Alessandro said quietly. "And he sold us out."

Rachel touched his arm. "What do we do?"

He exhaled slowly. "We end it tonight. Vescari knows too much. And if we don't stop him, he'll bring the Consortium straight to our door."

That night, they tracked Vescari to a country house outside the city—one Alessandro remembered from childhood. Moonlight washed over the gravel drive as Alessandro stepped from the car, gun ready. Every window glowed warm and inviting, but the darkness behind those lights felt suffocating.

Inside, Vescari was waiting at a dining table set for one, a glass of wine in hand. He didn't look surprised to see Alessandro.

"You found me," Vescari said calmly. "You always were your father's son."

Alessandro stepped closer, fury simmering in his eyes. "Why? After everything we've been through?"

Vescari sighed, eyes sad but cold. "Your father tried to leave the Consortium. He thought he could save you. But you can't save what was born in blood."

A hidden gun flashed under the table. Alessandro dove sideways as a shot rang out, splintering the dining chair. He rolled, firing twice—one bullet hit Vescari in the shoulder, spinning him to the ground.

Rachel and Nico crashed through the back door, weapons raised. Vescari lay bleeding, breathing raggedly, defiance still burning in his eyes.

"You think killing me will save you?" he rasped. "The Consortium is everywhere. And they're coming."

Alessandro's eyes were like ice. "Then let them come. But your part ends tonight."

He raised his gun—and fired.