Empress Of Wrath, Blood And Desire

Chapter 15: Safe?

After what felt like hours flying through the now-morning sky, I finally landed the helicopter atop Marcello's refuge, a stunning waterfall cascading majestically before it.

The house is a simple wooden structure, blending in with the surrounding trees. At first glance, it hardly looks like a secret headquarters, which raises my suspicions.

In my line of work, things are rarely what they seem. No one would be foolish enough to rely solely on this facade to hide something important.

During the ride, I stayed quiet, concentrating on his directions. A part of me resented him for surviving and blocking my escape.

For a brief moment before I flew, I let myself believe I was free. It felt like a heavy weight had lifted off my shoulders. But that fleeting sense of liberation vanished the moment he opened the door, shattering my hopes for true freedom.

He just can't seem to die.

"You did a good job, darling," his deep voice cuts through my thoughts, pulling my attention away from my turmoil. "You fly back in the military?"

My fingers grip the controls, tension coiling in my body. One more word from him, and I might just crash this chopper off this building.

With a sudden burst of frustration, I slam the door open and storm out onto the rooftop, my feet carrying me down the iron stairs.

When I reach the bottom, I plant my feet in the dirt, grounding myself. I can sense Marcello approaching before I catch his musty scent, and before I know it, he stands beside me, towering just a few inches above.

"Welcome to one of my secret bases, sweet girl," he says, a hint of pride in his voice. "Nestled deep within a remote, dense forest, this place is virtually undetectable from above or on foot."

I follow him as he strides toward the waterfall, the cool mist refreshing against my skin, the sound of crashing water filling my ears.

Suddenly, he pivots to the side of the waterfall and steps behind the cascading water, revealing a massive steel door that raises my eyebrow in amusement.

I step closer, curiosity piqued as he rests his hands on the sides.

Then I spot it, a biometric scanner, partially concealed until now.

As a small section of the door slides open, it beeps and scans his hand, and I watch, intrigued, as something unexpected pushes through the door toward him.

After a second the steel door makes a loud noise and it starts dividing into the door for us to enter, quite slowly.

Upon entering, a narrow tunnel, illuminated by soft, blue LED lights, leads to the main facility, while men in suits or casual fit roam around busily.

"You must be familiar with a place like this since you were in the military." His voice once again soothes deeply through my ears and I stay quiet, looking around at what's surrounding me. "I had it built after I came back from the military ten years ago."

It is then I turn to look at him.

I would have never guessed he was in the military. Sure, he is fit, really fit, and well-trained, but I never expected it.

"What? You thought you were the only one?" he asks sarcastically, striding past a room filled with his soldiers and a few women focused on their laptops. "We have eyes almost everywhere, mostly in places I own."

Marcello guides me pass a set of double doors that stand open, revealing the main control room. I take a moment to peer inside.

The room buzzes with activity, showcasing a circular layout of advanced computer systems and holographic displays, surrounded by focused personnel.