We were Born to Die

Chapter 13

"The mission is simple." Enrico declared, his voice steady and commanding as he stood in front of the building map, a laser pointer in his hand. I couldn't help but admire the way he exuded confidence, his hazel eyes focused on the task at hand. "You need to get inside the building and all you have to do is get these papers." With a swift motion, he tossed a file in my direction, and I caught it effortlessly, my gaze never leaving his.

"But if you already have these papers, why do you need the real ones?" I asked, my tone cool and collected despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Enrico leaned back slightly, a small smile playing on his lips as he explained, "These are replicas, Cara Mia. We need authentic ones for our purposes."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Enrico continued, his voice lowering slightly as he leaned in closer, making a specific location on the map. "You'll enter the building posing as a normal worker. Your objective is to gain access to this room." His finger pointed to a room marked on the map, the target of our mission. "This room holds the key to your mission's success." He murmured, his gaze intense as it locked with mine. "The challenge lies in the limited entry points. There are only two viable options: the main door or the vent pipe."

As Enrico placed the laser pointer down and took a seat beside me, I couldn't help but feel a surge of determination mingled with apprehension. "The vent pipe is our best bet," he continued, his tone confident yet calculated. "Zane will handle the cameras from his end, which is here giving you the window of opportunity to retrieve the papers and make a clean exit."

I absorbed every detail, my mind already racing with possible scenarios and contingences. "And where do Min-Woo and Ryder come in?" I inquired, curious about their roles.

Enrico's expression softened slightly, a hint of admiration glinting in his eyes as he regarded me. "Min-Woo will provide backup if things go sideways. His expertise in combat will ensure your safety." He paused, his gaze flickering to the mention of Ryder. "Ryder will be our eyes and ears outside the building, monitoring the external threats and ensuring our escape route remains clear."

Enrico placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding me amidst the looming challenges ahead. "We've planned for every scenario, Cara Mia." He whispered in my ear before he got up and begin to discuss matters with Zane.

I stared at myself in the mirror, feeling utterly ridiculous in the bright orange sanitation worker's clothes. The overall hung loosely on my frame, with its grey straps making me look more like a clumsy clown than a member of any respectable workforce. "This was your plan of being a normal worker." I muttered to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. My gaze shifted to Min-Woo and Ryder, who were failing miserably at holding back their laughter. Their smirks only added to my frustration.

"I guess I was expecting something else." I said, my voice tinged with disappointment and frustration as I faced them.

Min-Woo and Ryder exchanged amused glances, "You'll change eventually once you're in the building." Zane, leaning against the back of his chair chimed in with his trademark boredom evident in his tone and expression, "You don't know how it feels to wear this." He joked.

I shot him a look, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "You are on a mission, princess, and the least you could get is this," he replied, his grin widening as if he took pleasure in my discomfort. Which he did right now.

"Jerk," I muttered under my breath, but Zane only seemed to revel in my annoyance.

Ryder interrupted the brewing tension by informing me, "We've packed your basic combat outfit in the cart, along with some weapons you'll need." I felt a flicker of relief at the thought of shedding the embarrassing attire. But any hope of a smooth transition was shattered when Ryder casually reached for Zane's cup and took a sip, only to recoil in the horror and spitting it back in the cup.

"What the f**k is that?" Ryder exclaimed, his face contorting in disgust.

"Coffee," Zane deadpanned, tossing the cup away dismissively.

Ryder's expression turned incredulous. "This is what evil must taste like!" he retorted, shooting Zane a pointed look. Zane responded with a bombastic side-eye, his lips twitching with amusement at Ryder's expense.

I couldn't help but stifle a giggle as I watched Zane and Ryder bicker over "How a coffee should taste like?"

Min-Woo reached out to me, his fingers moving in graceful motions that spoke volumes without uttering a single word. "Are you alright?" he signed, his eyes filled with genuine concern. I couldn't help but feel a warmth spreading through me at his gesture.

With a soft smile, I nodded, replying back, "I'm good." His worry melted away any lingering tension from the previous mission, and suddenly, all I could focus on was the present moment. "I'll be fine this time, and you'll be there too. Right?" I asked, my heart fluttering with anticipation. His response came swiftly, his hands moving with a reassuring certainty. "Right," he signed back, his eyes locking with mine in a silent promise.