The morning after the pier, sleep was a memory I barely remembered. Every word from that hooded stranger replayed in my mind, twisted and turned as I tried to extract the truth from his warning. Carlos Rosario knew I was after him—and he wanted me to know. But why?
I pulled into N.O.V.A. headquarters, the weight of my mission pressing heavier than ever. Inside, the usual hum of activity greeted me, agents moving with the same hard stares and careful steps. But today, there was a new undercurrent—a tension I hadn't felt before. Whispers followed me, as if everyone knew I was walking a thin line.
As I rounded the corner to my office, Leo, one of the only people I trusted in N.O.V.A., fell into step beside me. His usual easygoing smile was gone, replaced by a shadowed look.
"Lilith, I need to talk to you. Now."
"Isn't that what we're doing?" I tried to keep my tone light, but even I could hear the edge in my voice.
"In private," he muttered, steering me toward an empty conference room. Once we were inside, he closed the door, crossing his arms as he looked at me with an intensity I rarely saw.
"What's going on?" I asked, already dreading the answer.
"You're being watched," he said bluntly. "Someone has been snooping through your files, and I don't mean a fellow agent. This is outside interference."
"Carlos," I said immediately, the name falling from my lips like a curse.
He nodded. "My sources picked up chatter from Serpente D'Oro. They're tracking you. Last night's little meeting at the pier wasn't a secret—they knew exactly where you were and who you spoke to."
A cold sensation ran down my spine. "And you're just telling me this now?"
"Because I only just confirmed it. Lilith, you're walking into a trap. If you're not careful, you're going to end up exactly where Carlos wants you."
I forced myself to meet Leo's eyes, my voice steady. "Then let him set his trap. I'll play along. But I'm getting to Carlos."
He stared at me for a long moment, his jaw clenched. "I knew your brother, Lilith. He wouldn't want this—he wouldn't want you to get yourself killed."
"Then he shouldn't have died," I snapped, the words sharper than I intended. Regret hit immediately, but Leo's face softened, understanding the anger under the hurt.
"Fine," he said. "But I'm not letting you go in alone."
That night, Leo and I made our way to a rundown warehouse on the outskirts of the city. It was Serpente D'Oro territory, a place I knew Carlos's men frequented. Leo had tracked their movements here, and if Carlos was baiting me, this was where I'd take his challenge.
We slipped inside, keeping to the shadows. The air smelled of rust and mold, the faint sound of voices carrying from the back of the warehouse. I moved carefully, silently, each step calculated as we approached the source.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind us. Leo grabbed my arm, pulling me into the darkness just as a group of men rounded the corner, their voices low and guarded. I recognized the tattoo of the coiled serpent and silver dagger—the mark of Serpente D'Oro—on one of their necks.
"Keep it quiet," Leo whispered, his grip on my arm tightening.
But I was already moving, my eyes fixed on the men as I stepped out of the shadows. "Looking for someone?" I called out, my voice steady and clear.
The men turned, surprise flashing across their faces before recognition dawned. "Lilith," one of them sneered, his eyes narrowing. "Carlos said you'd be stupid enough to come here."
I didn't give them a chance to act. Before they could reach for their weapons, I was on them, my knife flashing as I struck. Leo was beside me in an instant, his movements efficient as we took down the men in a blur of steel and shadows.
As the last man fell, I grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close. "Where is Carlos?" I demanded, my voice a deadly whisper.
He laughed, blood staining his teeth. "You think he'd make it that easy? You're in over your head, girl. Carlos knows every move you're going to make. And when he gets his hands on you...well, you'll wish you had never crossed him."
I released him, letting him collapse to the ground as he choked on his final breath. The words lingered, though—Carlos was a step ahead. And if I wasn't careful, he'd make sure I paid for every step I took.
