Jillian reached into her bag and pulled out a small, tattered notebook. It wasn't real—it was an old diary she had scribbled nonsense into, but Camilla didn't know that.
"I think this belonged to someone close to my mother," Jillian said, setting the book on the table. "It talks about a deal. A betrayal." She looked up, meeting Camilla's gaze. "It mentions you."
For the first time, Camilla's composed mask cracked, just slightly.
Jillian saw it.
Camilla let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "Oh, Jillian," she said, her voice filled with mock pity. "You poor, foolish girl."
Then, faster than Jillian expected, Camilla reached forward and snatched the notebook.
Jillian gasped, but before she could react, the sound of shattering glass filled the air.
The café windows exploded as masked gunmen burst in, guns drawn.
It was an ambush.
Camilla had played them just as well as they had played her.
Leo and Dante were already moving from their position outside, drawing their weapons as chaos erupted in the café.
Jillian's heart pounded. She had wanted Camilla to come to them.
But now, Camilla had brought backup.
Time seemed to slow as the masked gunmen stormed the café, their weapons raised. Jillian barely had time to react before Camilla slid back from the table, standing with a smirk of satisfaction.
"I knew you'd try something," Camilla murmured, flipping open the fake journal and skimming its pages before looking at Jillian with a gleam of amusement. "And here I thought you'd be more creative."
Jillian's pulse thundered in her ears. She could see at least four gunmen moving into position, blocking the exits. The few other patrons screamed and ducked beneath tables, scrambling for safety.
Where are Leo and Dante?
She didn't have to wait long for an answer.
A loud crack echoed through the air as the café's front window shattered once more—this time from a bullet fired from outside. One of the gunmen dropped instantly, his weapon clattering to the floor.
Chaos erupted.
Leo and Dante stormed in from the front, moving fast, their guns drawn.
"DOWN!" Leo shouted.
Jillian didn't need to be told twice. She flipped the table onto its side and dove behind it just as bullets ripped through the air. Camilla, meanwhile, had disappeared into the confusion, slipping toward the back exit while her men engaged in the gunfight.
Jillian gritted her teeth. She can't escape!
She reached for the knife hidden in her boot—Dante had insisted she start carrying one—and peered over the table. One of the gunmen was distracted, focusing his fire on Leo.
Now's my chance.
Jillian sprang forward, her body moving on instinct. Before the man could turn, she drove the knife into his arm, forcing him to drop his weapon with a pained cry. She kicked it away, adrenaline surging through her veins.
"Jillian, move!" Dante yelled, covering her as she sprinted toward the back exit.
Camilla was almost out the door.
Jillian pushed herself harder, shoving past overturned chairs and broken glass. She burst through the back entrance just in time to see Camilla slipping into a sleek black car.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, Camilla just smiled—calm, victorious. Then the tires screeched against the pavement as the car sped off into the night.
Jillian stood there, chest heaving, hands clenched into fists. She had been so close.
Dante and Leo rushed out behind her, guns still in hand.
"Damn it," Leo cursed, watching the car disappear down the street. "She set us up."
Jillian swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. "She knew we were luring her in. But that means she's afraid of something."
Dante holstered his gun and exhaled. "We need to figure out what."
Jillian wiped the sweat from her brow, her jaw tightening.
Camilla had made her move.
Now, it was her turn.
The warehouse was dimly lit, the only source of illumination coming from a single hanging bulb that flickered from time to time. Jillian paced the concrete floor, her mind racing. Dante leaned against a crate, arms crossed, while Leo loaded a fresh magazine into his gun.
"She knew we were coming," Leo muttered. "Someone tipped her off."
"No," Jillian said sharply, turning to face them. "She's just always been a step ahead. Camilla's been playing this game for years. She's not just going to slip up because we rattle her."
Dante exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Then what's the next move? We lost the chance to corner her, and now she's probably tightening security."
Jillian stopped pacing. "We don't go after her directly. Not yet."
Leo raised a brow. "Then what?"
Jillian took a deep breath. "We go after the people she answers to."
Silence.
Dante and Leo exchanged looks before Leo scoffed. "You're talking about Victor Holloway."
Jillian nodded. "Camilla has always been manipulative, but she's not working alone. She has backing—money, resources, protection. Victor's the key to all of it."
Dante straightened. "And how exactly do you plan to get to Victor? He doesn't exactly do small talk."
A slow smirk formed on Jillian's lips. "We make him come to us."
Leo sighed. "Why do I feel like I'm not going to like this plan?"
Jillian grabbed a chair and sat down, leaning forward. "Victor Holloway values control. He won't ignore it if he starts losing that control. We're going to start disrupting his operations, hitting him where it hurts, making it impossible for him to ignore us."
Dante raised a brow. "You want to provoke a crime lord?"
Jillian's expression was deadly serious. "I want to make him desperate enough to come looking for me."
Leo shook his head. "This is insane."
"No," Jillian corrected, her voice steady. "This is war."
Dante let out a low chuckle. "Well, if we're doing this, we better do it right." He stood up and cracked his knuckles. "Let's start planning how to shake up Victor Holloway's empire."
Jillian nodded. The time for waiting was over.
It was time to take the fight to them.