His Viper

Chapter 29: bring her back

LORENZO

I glanced up from my computer I was looking through Scarlett's thumb drive. I saw Michael looking at me frustration and concern all over his face.

"She called," he told me causing me to straighten up in my chair.

"My attention snapped to Michael as he delivered the unexpected news. "What? Scarlett called?"

He nodded, clearly still processing the abrupt conversation. "She said to tell you to back off Ivan. That's it." my rival? why would she ask that?

I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing to comprehend the sudden turn of events. Scarlett's disappearance, her cryptic message—it all painted a picture of a game with high stakes, and I was caught in the crossfire.

"Did she say where she is?" I asked, my tone revealing both concern and frustration. Michael shook his head, mirroring my own uncertainty.

"She's gone, Lorenzo," he said, his words carrying a weight I couldn't ignore. "She won't be found unless she wants to be found."

I clenched my fists, grappling with a mixture of emotions—anger, worry, and an unsettling sense of loss. Scarlett had woven herself into the fabric of my life, and now, she seemed determined to unravel it.

"Keep searching for any trace of her," I ordered, my jaw set in determination. "I need to know where she is."

As Michael left the room, I found myself staring at Scarlett's note, the crumpled paper reflecting the chaos that had befallen my once-ordered existence. The viper had slipped through my fingers, leaving behind a trail of questions and a void that I wasn't prepared to accept.

I called Thomas the only other person who knows anything about her. As soon as he answered I spoke.

"How does Scarlett know Ivan?"

Thomas hesitated on the other end of the line before responding, "Ivan? Like the Russian mob boss?"

I nodded even though he couldn't see me. "Yes, that Ivan. Apparently, Scarlett has a history with him. How deep does that rabbit hole go?"

Thomas sighed, and I could almost feel the weight of his own concern through the phone. "I don't know the details, Lorenzo. Scarlett is a mystery, even to me. I knew she had a past, but Ivan... that's something else. If she's asking you to back off, there's something big going on."

The truth was, she was more than just an assassin; she was a complex web of secrets and shadows. And now, as I grappled with the uncertainty of her whereabouts, I couldn't shake the feeling that the game had just begun, and Scarlett held the cards.

"What do you know?" I asked him.

" I don't know much, she met him at the club one night." he sighed " I told her to stay away from him, she didn't listen. I only realized she didn't after she started showing up to work with blood all over her bruises. She was working for him" Realization hit me she's working for the enemy, why? The pieces of the puzzle were slowly falling into place, revealing a darker side to Scarlett's past.

Thomas continued, "She didn't talk much about it, but it was clear Ivan held some power over her. She left him eventually, but I don't know the details. Scarlett doesn't share that part of her life willingly."

I clenched my jaw, frustration building within me. Scarlett had been working for a man who was now a threat to everything we had built. It was a betrayal, and yet, I couldn't ignore the desperation in her voice when she'd asked me to back off. Michael sounded like she was doing it against her will.

"She's hiding something, Thomas, and I need to find out what," I said, my determination resolute. "Get everyone ready. We're going after her, and this time, she won't slip away." I hung up the phone as Carson spoke I didn't even realize he had entered the room.

" you think she's playing both sides?" he asked.

I glanced at Carson, his expression mirroring my own internal conflict. The possibility of Scarlett playing both sides was a haunting thought, and it added another layer of complexity to an already intricate situation.

"I don't know what to think," I admitted, frustration evident in my tone. "But I won't let her disappear again. We need to find her and get to the bottom of this."

Carson nodded in agreement, a silent understanding passing between us. Scarlett had become a crucial part of our lives, and despite the uncertainty surrounding her actions, I couldn't let her face the danger alone. We had to bring her back, no matter the cost.

"Get ready," I told Carson. "We're going after the Viper, and this time, we're not letting go."