Lilith Castellano still stood across the ruined bridge, her pistol now casually tucked into its holster, as if she knew there was no need to rush. Her eyes remained locked on Vargas, measuring his every move, looking for an opening.
Vargas, on the other hand, stayed silent. He had played this game long enough to know that whoever spoke first, lost control.
Scar, still holding his gun to the driver's head, finally spoke. "So, what's your plan, Castellano? You've cut off all exits, killed your own men, and made it seem like this is the endgame."
Lilith gave a small smile, raising an eyebrow. "Scar, you always jump to conclusions too quickly."
She stepped forward, and almost simultaneously, two armed men behind her moved as well, making sure Vargas had no way to escape.
Vargas didn't flinch.
"I'm curious," he finally said, his voice calm, "if this is a game, what's the wager?"
Lilith shrugged as if the question wasn't that important. "Not what, but who."
In an instant, Vargas realized something. This wasn't just about him.
And before he could ask further—
BOOM!
Another explosion shook the air. But this time, not from the bridge.
Smoke and fire erupted from the empty warehouse behind Lilith! One of the armed men screamed before being thrown to the ground by the shockwave. The other tried to retreat, but it was too late—a second explosion followed, destroying their cover.
Lilith herself stepped back slightly, her expression still controlled, though it was clear she hadn't expected this.
Vargas smirked. "Did you really think you were the only one with surprises?"
Lilith glanced toward the explosion, then back at Vargas, her eyes now sharper. "Interesting," she murmured.
Scar wasted no time. With the reflexes of a veteran, he pulled the trigger—the first bullet struck the driver's head before the man could react.
Vargas, on the other hand, was already moving before the first shot rang out. He rolled to the side, pulled a pistol from beneath his jacket, and fired two rounds at the armed men behind Lilith.
One dropped instantly.
The other tried to return fire, but before he could pull the trigger—
The third explosion.
BOOM!
The warehouse on the other side of the dock erupted into flames, creating a moment of chaos that Vargas and Scar used to reposition themselves.
Lilith remained in place, unmoving. Her eyes never left Vargas.
Vargas knew that even in this situation, Lilith still had a card she hadn't played.
"Who gave you this backup, Vargas?" Lilith finally spoke amid the noise.
Vargas simply smiled. "If I told you, the game wouldn't be as fun, would it?"
Lilith chuckled slightly, as if she enjoyed the challenge.
But before she could respond—
Ck-ck.
The small communicator in her jacket pocket beeped. Lilith grabbed it, pressing the button without taking her eyes off Vargas.
The voice on the other end was static-filled, but clear enough for everyone around to hear.
"Operation failed. The second target has been evacuated."
Lilith's eyes narrowed slightly. For the first time that night, her expression changed.
Vargas simply watched, his smirk still in place.
"Looks like neither of us has all the answers tonight," he said softly.
Lilith was silent for a moment. Then, she slipped the communicator back into her pocket.
Her gaze returned to Vargas, but this time, there was something different in her eyes.
An understanding.
And a warning.
Then, with a simple hand gesture, she signaled to her remaining men. Without a word, they began retreating, vanishing into the shadows behind the still-burning flames.
Lilith, before turning away, looked at Vargas one last time.
"I will find them," she said.
Vargas just smirked. "I know."
And as Lilith finally disappeared into the darkness, Vargas let out a long breath, blood still dripping from his arm.
Scar stepped closer. "The second target?"
Vargas looked at him. "That's the question."
Scar nodded, then glanced at the still-burning wreckage. "So, what's our next move?"
Vargas stared into the night.
The night air was thick with the acrid scent of burning metal and explosives. The last echoes of the explosion still rang in their ears as Vargas and Scar stood amidst the chaos, watching the flames dance in the darkness.
Vargas exhaled slowly, steadying himself. The pain in his arm was secondary. What mattered was the message behind Lilith's retreat.
She wasn't giving up.
She was regrouping.
Scar kicked over a still-burning piece of debris. "We need to move. If Castellano's pulling back this fast, it means she's planning something bigger."
Vargas didn't respond immediately. His eyes scanned the ruins of the bridge, the gutted remains of the warehouse—then the road beyond. Lilith had been too composed, even after losing the upper hand. That wasn't like her.
And then, it clicked.
"She's not just after us," Vargas murmured, more to himself than to Scar.
Scar frowned. "What do you mean?"
Vargas turned toward him, his expression unreadable. "She had another target. Someone she was supposed to eliminate. But someone got to them first."
Scar's grip on his gun tightened. "Then we better find out who."
Before Vargas could respond, a soft, barely perceptible sound reached his ears—a subtle shift in the air, like the whisper of a blade cutting through the wind.
Sniper.
Vargas didn't hesitate. In one swift motion, he grabbed Scar and threw them both to the ground.
CRACK!
A high-velocity bullet tore through the space where Vargas had just been standing. The impact sent up a spray of shattered concrete, the force alone enough to rip through flesh and bone had it connected.
Scar swore, rolling behind cover. "That was too damn close!"
Vargas didn't answer. His mind was already working through the angles. The shot had come from an elevated position—long-range, precise, meant to kill in a single hit. This wasn't a random assassin.
This was someone with a personal stake.
A second shot rang out, but this time, Vargas was ready. He moved before the bullet reached its mark, dodging just in time as it buried itself into the wreckage behind him.
Scar peeked over his cover, gun drawn. "We need to take out that sniper—now."
Vargas's lips curled into a half-smile. "Or we make them come to us."
Scar gave him a look. "You have a plan?"
Vargas's fingers tapped against his pistol grip. "I always have a plan."
But even he wasn't ready for what came next.
Before they could act, a third shot rang out.
But this time, it wasn't aimed at them.
It came from the shadows across the street, striking the sniper's position with deadly accuracy. A muffled grunt of pain followed, then silence.
Scar's eyes narrowed. "The hell was that?"
Vargas slowly stood, scanning the darkness. Someone else was in play. Someone who had just saved their lives.
And then, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward.
A woman, clad in tactical black, a rifle still resting against her shoulder. Her face was half-hidden by a mask, but her voice, when she spoke, was unmistakable.
"You're slipping, Vargas."
His breath caught. He knew that voice.
Scar looked between them, confused. "You know her?"
Vargas's jaw clenched. "Yeah."
The woman tilted her head slightly, her piercing eyes locking onto him.
"Long time no see, Alessio."
Vargas's past had just caught up with him.
To Be Continued...