Rain lashed the windshield as Adrian’s car tore through the mountain road, headlights slicing through the fog like twin daggers. The world behind them was burning literally. Smoke curled in the sky where the safe house once stood. Valentina hadn’t spoken in fifteen minutes. Her knuckles were pale around the grip of her gun, a haunting stillness resting on her face.
They’d been ambushed. Again.
Adrian’s jaw ticked as he gripped the wheel tighter. “You hurt?”
“No,” Valentina replied, voice cold, clipped. “But we lost Leo.”
He exhaled through his nose. “I know.”
Leo had been guarding the perimeter when the explosion hit. There was no body to recover, just ash and silence. Adrian had seen too many of his men die, but Leo’s loss… it stung. Loyal, ruthless, and sharp. Gone in an instant.
V
