185Alaric’s POV
The room buzzed with tension as my men gathered around the long oak table. Maps and documents were scattered across the surface, lit by the dim overhead lights. Everything was laid out—routes, contacts, even a vague plan to storm Cruz’s villa. But none of it felt like enough. I already felt like I was too late to save her.
“Where the hell is Allesio?” I barked, pacing at the head of the table. The knot in my chest tightened with every second that ticked by. My body was heavy with exhaustion, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing.
“He’s pulling together more intel on Cruz’s men,” Marcus replied, his voice steady but low. “The informant said there’s been heightened activity near the port.”
“Which means nothing,” I snapped, slamming my hand down on the table. “That bastard coul
