Hunters

CHAPTER 2

                       DANTE POV

The night was thick with tension, a darkness that seemed to press in from all sides as Dante moved through the sprawling mansion. This mission should’ve gone like all the others—smooth, calculated, over in a flash. But something was off. It had been from the moment they crossed the threshold. Normally, Dante thrived in chaos. It was his playground, his stage. But tonight, it wasn’t the fun, exhilarating kind of chaos. It was the kind that crawled up his spine, warning him that things were slipping out of control.

He gripped the handle of his hunting knife tighter, his knuckles white as he pressed against the wall, blending into the shadows. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, but it wasn’t from excitement this time—it was frustration. His earpiece crackled with static, cutting in and out with garbled sounds that weren’t Isabella’s calm voice guiding them. Something was jamming their comms. They were completely cut off from her, and Dante hated the feeling. It wasn’t the first time something had gone wrong on a mission, but it was the first time they had lost their link to Isabella.

“Come on, Izzy,” Dante muttered under his breath, tapping the earpiece as if that would magically fix the issue. Nothing. Just more static.

He crouched lower, listening intently for any sound from his team. Raymond and Evan had split off earlier, each of them heading for their own targets, and now Dante couldn’t hear either of them. The plan had been simple enough—synchronize their movements, take out their targets quickly, and get out before anyone knew they were even there. But now they were all flying blind.

A flicker of movement in the hallway ahead caught Dante’s eye. His pulse quickened, and he pressed his back tighter against the cold stone wall, holding his breath. He wasn’t sure who it was—one of the targets or just a security guard—but he couldn’t take any chances.

He needed to regroup with Raymond and Evan. That was priority number one. Without Isabella feeding them information on security patrols, blind spots, and timing, they were vulnerable. His usual cocksure confidence faltered for just a moment, and he cursed under his breath, scanning the hallway for any sign of his team.

“Ray, Evan, you better be nearby,” Dante whispered, trying the comms again even though he knew it was pointless.

The static persisted.

Dante’s mind raced as he edged closer to the corner, trying to remember the layout of the mansion from the blueprints he and Isabella had studied. There was an old servants' passage somewhere nearby, a hidden route that would take him closer to where Raymond was supposed to be. He just had to find it.

Moving silently, Dante darted across the hallway, pressing himself against a large wooden cabinet that lined the wall. His hand brushed against the edge of a small, almost invisible door. The servants' passage. Perfect.

He slipped inside, pulling the door closed behind him. The narrow passage was dark and cramped, but it was better than being out in the open. His breath was steady now, his focus sharp as he made his way through the dimly lit corridor. The sound of his boots on the stone echoed faintly, but otherwise, it was deathly silent.

As he reached the end of the passage, Dante paused, pressing his ear to the door. He could hear faint voices on the other side. His target was nearby, but without Isabella’s guidance, he had no idea where Raymond or Evan were in relation to him. If they weren’t careful, they could end up crossing paths in the worst possible way.

He pushed the door open just a crack, peering into the room beyond. It was a large study, lined with bookshelves and expensive furniture. One of the brothers was sitting at the desk, oblivious to the danger lurking just beyond the door. Dante’s fingers tightened around the handle of his knife. Normally, he would’ve enjoyed this part—the slow, methodical build-up before striking. But not tonight. Not with everything going wrong.