Code of Shadows

Chapter 28 - The Exchange

The op in Vatican City was a masterpiece of planning and execution. Ethan, Luther, and I had spent hours poring over every detail, ensuring every contingency was covered. Our target was Owen Davian, a name that sent chills down the spine of anyone in the intelligence community. Capturing him was critical, not just for the sake of the mission but for personal reasons as well. We needed him alive to find out where Julia was. Ethan was more focused than I'd ever seen him, a quiet intensity radiating from him that kept me on edge. His fiancée's life hung in the balance, and that made this mission personal.

The grandeur of Vatican City, with its imposing architecture and history, should have been awe-inspiring, but my mind was too occupied with the task at hand. As we moved through the party, blending in with the diplomats and high-profile guests, every sense was on high alert. Luther, stationed off-site with a clear view of the surveillance feeds, fed us constant updates through our earpieces.

"Target moving towards the northeast wing," Luther's calm voice crackled in my ear. "Looks like he's meeting with a few buyers."

Ethan nodded slightly, acknowledging Luther's update. We maneuvered through the crowd, careful not to draw attention. My heart was pounding, adrenaline coursing through my veins. This was the moment we'd been preparing for.

We reached the northeast wing, a quieter part of the vast complex, and spotted Davian in a small room, casually negotiating with two other men. Ethan and I exchanged a quick look. This was it. The plan was simple but bold: I would provide a distraction while Ethan would use the IMF's mask technology to impersonate Davian.

I stepped into the room, all poise and confidence. "Gentlemen," I said, flashing a disarming smile. Davian's eyes flicked to me, surprise and suspicion crossing his face. Before he could react, Ethan slipped in behind him, expertly subduing the guards. Within moments, Ethan had placed a mask of Davian over his own face, assuming the arms dealer's identity with eerie precision.

The real Davian was swiftly gagged and restrained, his eyes wide with anger. "You'll regret this," he spat, his voice low and venomous. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."

Ignoring him, Ethan, now disguised as Davian, took his place, continuing the conversation with the buyers as if nothing had happened. The charade held, the buyers none the wiser. Once the deal was secured, we moved to extract Davian, ensuring he was hidden and incapacitated. Ethan slipped out of the mask, the switch seamless.

We navigated through the labyrinthine halls of the Vatican, every step calculated. Luther guided us, ensuring our path was clear. The extraction was going smoothly, too smoothly, and a part of me was waiting for the other shoe to drop. My instincts were on high alert.

As we made our way to the extraction point, Davian's eyes met mine, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth despite his predicament. "You think this changes anything?" he murmured, his tone unsettlingly calm. "This is just the beginning. You have no idea what's coming."

"We'll see about that," Ethan replied, his voice cold. I could sense the tension in him, the barely contained anger. This wasn't just a mission to him—it was a rescue operation, a fight to save the woman he loved. I knew what that kind of desperation felt like, how it could drive you to take risks you wouldn't normally consider.

We reached the extraction vehicle, a nondescript van waiting just outside the Vatican walls. As we secured Davian inside, I allowed myself a brief moment of relief. We had him. Now we could find Julia, end this nightmare once and for all. The plan was working.

Suddenly, my earpiece crackled to life. "Guys, we've got company," Luther's voice warned. "Davian's men are closing in. You need to move, now!"

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Let's go," he ordered. We started the van, pulling away from the Vatican, but the tension was palpable. I could see Ethan's knuckles whitening as he gripped the steering wheel, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror.

A black SUV sped into view behind us, gaining fast. "They're not going to let him go easily," I muttered, my hand instinctively going to my gun.

"Keep him safe," Ethan said, his voice low, the undercurrent of fear unmistakable. He was talking about Davian, but we both knew he meant Julia. If we lost Davian, we lost our only chance of finding her.

The chase was on, and the narrow streets of Rome blurred past us in a frenzy. Gunfire erupted, shattering the rear window of the van. I ducked, returning fire, my heart racing. We were so close to getting out clean, but now it felt like the walls were closing in. Just as we approached the bridge leading out of the city, an explosion rocked the van, sending us skidding out of control. The last thing I saw was Davian's cold, triumphant smile as darkness enveloped me. We'd lost him, and the game had just changed. The Rabbit's Foot, Julia's life—it all hung in the balance, and we were running out of time.