The blinding yellow beam of the tactical flashlight violently pierced the suffocating darkness, slicing through the damp air of the subterranean labyrinth. I squeezed my eyes shut, raising my blood-stained arm to shield my face from the sudden, excruciating brightness. The massive, rusted iron gates groaned agonizingly as they were slowly hauled open.
Cassian stood at the threshold, flanked by four heavily armored Italian guards. The arrogant emissary wore a perfectly tailored white suit, his face set in a mask of supreme confidence. He had explicitly come down here expecting to find my mangled corpse torn to absolute shreds.
As my eyes rapidly adjusted to the harsh light, I lowered my arm. The expression on Cassian’s face was an absolute masterpiece of sheer shock. His confident smirk v
