Hearts of Steel

Chaper 1

The rain-slicked streets of Rome blurred into a dizzying kaleidoscope of neon and shadow. Cody, his breath coming in ragged gasps, pressed himself against the damp brick wall, a chill seeping through his worn leather jacket. The familiar ache in his shoulder reminded him of the struggle, the near-death experience, the relentless chase. He'd spent weeks tracking this man, a shadow from his family's past, a ghost who had returned to haunt them. Cody wasn't sure what he was seeking - vengeance, power, something else entirely - but he knew one thing: this man was dangerous. And he wouldn't stop until he'd silenced him, even if it meant risking everything he ever loved.

A sharp crack of thunder echoed through the alleyway, followed by a flash of lightning that momentarily illuminated the scene. Cody saw him then, the man in the trench coat, disappearing into the darkness. He lunged forward, ready to close the distance, but a sudden jolt of energy sent him sprawling backward. A figure materialized from the shadows, a blur of motion in the flickering streetlights, and a bolt of electricity crackled through the air, stunning the man in the trench coat. It was Maxine, her eyes blazing with determination, a strange mix of fear and fury in her gaze. "He's not going anywhere," she said, her voice low and fierce.

Cody was a mix of relief and fury. He was furious that Maxine had intervened before he could finish the job, but relieved that she had managed to subdue the enemy. "Max," he said, his voice tense, "What happened? How did you..." He stopped himself, his anger momentarily eclipsed by a sense of urgency. "Father?" His voice was barely a whisper, the name resonating with a weight that only he understood.

Maxine's expression sobered. "He just called. It's urgent. You need to come home immediately."

Cody was on his feet, his heart pounding. His father didn't call unless it was serious. This was something bigger than he'd anticipated. He knew, deep down, that he wasn't done with this enemy, but for now, family came first. He looked back at the unconscious figure in the alleyway, his gaze filled with a chilling intensity. "Tie him up," he ordered, his voice clipped. "I'll be back." He had to protect his family, and he would.

The familiar stone gates of the Collins mansion loomed before him. He pulled up the sleek black car, the engine purring like a hungry beast. As he stepped out, he saw his father standing at the front window, his figure silhouetted against the warm glow of the interior lights. His father was a man of few words, but the urgency in his posture spoke volumes. Cody approached his father, his heart pounding in his chest. "Father," he began, his voice strained. "What is it?"

Gabrielle, his father, met his gaze with an intensity that sent a chill down Cody's spine. "You're ready," he said, his voice a low rumble. "We've been training you for this. The time has come."

Cody felt a knot of unease tighten in his stomach. He had always known this day would come, the day he would take his place among the ranks of the Collins family, the day he would become an assassin. But knowing it was one thing. Feeling the weight of it, the responsibility, the darkness that lay ahead, was something entirely different.

"Who is it?" Cody asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Gabrielle's lips curled into a grim smile. "Someone who has been on our back since you and Maxine were very young. Someone who has been waiting for the right moment to strike. Someone we need to silence." He paused, his eyes meeting Cody's. "It's time to finish what we started, Cody."

Cody felt a cold dread creep into his heart. He had always known his family was involved in something dangerous, something shadowy, but this felt different. He felt a sense of betrayal, as if a part of his world was crumbling. "Who?" he asked again, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Marcus Brooks," his father said, his tone flat, devoid of emotion. "You'll be leaving tomorrow for Berlin. You'll be living there, working under a new identity. This is your mission."