Jenny's chest felt tight as she slipped through the storm drain into the dark alley behind the safe house. The steady hum of the city felt distant here, like a world she'd left behind. Beside her, Nora pressed a hand to Jenny's arm.
"You okay?" Nora asked, voice low. "Colhart's men are waiting inside."
Jenny nodded, clutching the flash drive San had pressed into her hand. "I'm fine. Just… processing."
They climbed a rusted ladder to a narrow window, red tape around its frame marking it as off-limits to strangers. Inside, Detective Colhart and two agents crowded around a battered metal desk, lit by a single desk lamp. Papers, phones, and coffee cups were scattered everywhere.
"Jenny." Colhart stood, relief flooding his face. "Thank God. We heard shots."
Jenny handed him the drive. "San gave this to me. It's everything on Project Aurora."
He took it with shaking fingers. "Good work." He gestured to the agents. "Get this decrypted immediately."
As the agents booted up a laptop, Jenny sank into a threadbare armchair. She felt numb. Bullet casings, improvised alliances, a bullet almost missing her—this was her life now.
Nora settled on the desk's edge. "Did he—did San get away unhurt?"
Jenny closed her eyes. "He looked fine, but…" She paused. "He let me go."
Colhart glanced her way. "He let you go? Or he couldn't do more without blowing his own operation?"
Jenny met his gaze. "I think… it was personal."
Colhart frowned. "Personal and dangerous. We have to move fast." He turned back to the laptop. "Agent Vale, report."
The agent tapped rapidly. "We've got partial access. Shipment manifests, coded references to clients in Berlin and Moscow. Dates. Locations. It's all here."
Colhart exhaled. "This is what we needed." He looked at Jenny. "You did well."
Jenny forced a smile. But her mind was elsewhere—in San's eyes when she'd fled, on the echo of his promise, I'll be waiting.
Later that morning, Jenny slipped out to get coffee. The safe house was silent, heavy with tension. As she reached for the door handle, Nora's voice stopped her.
"Be careful."
Jenny turned. "I will."
"Don't fall for him, he's a crime lord."
Jenny nodded, but inside she knew the truth: San had already gotten under her skin.
As she headed outside, it strangely felt colder than usual. She tightened her coat around her and went down the street, as she continued she realized someone was watching her.
Her heart stopped for a moment. She turned her head and on turning it again, he was gone .
She went inside, ordered a latte, and kept her eyes on the door. When she left a few minutes later, the street was empty. Still, she hurried back to the safe house, adrenaline buzzing. San's men? Marco's spies?
Inside, Colhart and his team had set up an impromptu command center. Maps were strewn across the table, red pins marking port cities. On the whiteboard: BERLIN – MAY 5, MOSCOW – MAY 12, MILAN – MAY 20.
"The next shipment hits Berlin in ten days," Colhart said, pointing to the first pin. "We move on to Berlin first."
Jenny watched him write a plan: intercept teams, undercover agents, seizure points. Her mind raced. She'd also promised San she'd be careful—don't fight—yet here they were planning to dismantle everything he'd built.
Colhart looked up. "We need your inside access, Tara."
Jenny swallowed. "I'll go back."
Nora's eyes widened. "Back to the lion's den?"
"I have to," Jenny said. "I need to know who else is involved."
Colhart nodded. "Good. We'll cover you." He paused. "Be careful whom you trust."
That afternoon, Jenny prepared to re-enter the Moretti estate. She changed into a conservative dress—the kind she'd worn at breakfast—tied her hair back, and applied minimal makeup. Underneath her coat, she secured a body wire and tucked the extra flash drive into her boot.
Nora handed her a dossier. "New intel on the accountants. Luca's right-hand men. Their aliases, phone numbers, vehicle plates—everything."
Jenny hugged her. "Thank you."
"Come back in one piece," Nora whispered.
Jenny forced a grin. "Always do."
The Moretti gates swung open at her approach. San sat in the driver's seat of a black sedan, suited and poised. His expression was impassive. When she appeared, he stepped forward, coat over one arm.
"Tara," he said, voice calm. "Right on time."
She gave him the code name he'd taught her. "Phillipa Moretti."
His lips curved. "Welcome back."
He opened the passenger door for her. As she slid inside, the weight of every lie pressed down on her.
They rode through the estate in silence until they reached the family conference room—a long glass chamber overlooking the gardens. Inside sat Luca, Marco, Dante, and two unfamiliar faces: a tall Russian woman in a fur coat and a lean German man adjusting his cufflinks.
Luca looked up, cool and measured. "Tara, We're glad you could join us."
Jenny offered her practiced smile. "Family business requires family presence."
Marco smirked. "Let's get down to it."
San gestured for her to sit beside him. Jenny's heart pounded. These were the buyers and facilitators for Aurora's next phase. She slid a discreet hand to her bag, touching the dossier and ready to record.
The Russian woman spoke in accented English. "Berlin shipment confirmed. Documents require your signature, cousin." She slid a stack of papers toward Jenny.
Jenny met San's gaze—help me. He dipped his head imperceptibly.
She picked up the pen, her pulse racing. Signing would guarantee her place—and give her undeniable proof.
Her hand shook as she signed. The pen clicked shut.
Luca nodded. "Excellent. Next meeting in Milan."
As the room buzzed with logistics, Jenny quietly activated her wire recorder. Every hushed tone, every code word, would feed Colhart's operation.
Marco excused himself under a pretext. He shot Jenny a cold glance. "Good to have you back."
She offered a curt nod.
Outside the conference room, San intercepted her. He stepped close, voice low. "You're playing a dangerous game."
Jenny exhaled, heart pounding. "I know."
He looked at her for a while, leaned in, kissed her cheek and said. "You'll always be careful. Right?"
"Always" she said
He let her go and re-entered the meeting. Jenny stood alone in the glass room, the dossier in her hand, the wire humming under
her blouse.
Behind her smile lay the truth: she was the Morettis' most dangerous secret.
And the storm was only beginning.