Chapter 3

Raven's POV

The moment the alarm sounded, the world shifted from precision to chaos.

The high-pitched wail cut through the air like a knife, signaling the end of our quiet operation. Every corner of the warehouse was alive with movement now, guards rushing to secure their posts, weapons drawn, their feet pounding against the concrete floor. We were no longer invisible shadows. We were now a target.

I didn’t waste a second. "Move!" I barked at Lucas, already making my way back down the corridor we had just come through. Every step felt like it was echoing louder than the alarm itself.

Lucas was right behind me, a quick glance telling me he had the duffel bags slung over his shoulder. Thirty million in cash. The weight of it, both literal and figurative, was something I had to push aside. Right now, I had to think—plan—survive.

I sent my hands into my pockets and brought out a sheet of paper. Written on it was a note and our contact address. Yes, we wanted them to know who was behind this. I wanted them to know who had the audacity to break into their most secured facility and move out 30 million dollars in cash.

"I DID IT! A BIT SHOCKING RIGHT? HOWEVER, I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF KEEPING THE CASH... I'VE GOT SKILLS AND TALENT, AND I'M LOOKING FOR A PARTNER WHO APPRECIATES BOTH. MEET ME AT THE OLD WAREHOUSE AT MIDNIGHT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING A POTENTIAL COLLABORATION."

I placed the written note on the floor, centralizing it to make it an easy find. Then turned to look at Lucas, who in turn glanced at me.

The sound of the approaching guards was getting louder, their boots slamming against the ground like the ticking of a bomb. We had no time for subtlety now. We needed to get out fast—and quietly.

I scanned the hallway, eyes flicking between the exits, and then the familiar sound of the comm in my ear buzzed.

"Franca," I said, keeping my voice level despite the rising panic. "Where the hell are the backup routes?"

"Third door on your left, Raven," came her calm reply, a sharp contrast to the pandemonium surrounding us. "I’ve already disabled the internal alarm system, but they’ll still have backup coming from the east exit. Move fast."

"Got it," I said, my heart pounding. The third door. I could already see it in my mind—the emergency exit hidden behind a stack of crates.

"Lucas, follow me," I said, not waiting for him to respond. We darted to the left, my boots slipping slightly on the slick ground as I reached for the door handle.

It wasn’t locked. I flung it open and motioned for Lucas to follow. The dark alleyway beyond was a godsend—an unmarked escape route that led to the back of the warehouse, where Carter’s truck was waiting for us.

But even with the alarm cut, we still had to move fast. No one could know we were out yet.

"Go," I whispered to Lucas, barely catching the edge of his expression as he nodded and fell into step behind me. We ran, pushing through the rain-soaked alley as fast as our legs would carry us.

The truck was parked just around the corner, its engine running low, ready to go. Carter was behind the wheel, his face hidden in shadow as we approached.

I didn’t look back. I didn’t need to. Every instinct in my body was tuned into the world around me, the sound of footsteps fading into the distance, the sense that something was just off. Someone was going to find us. Someone had to.

As soon as I reached the truck, I threw open the passenger door and jumped inside, the bags of money landing heavily beside me.

"Go," I told Carter, my voice firm. "Now."

The truck’s engine roared to life, and we peeled out of the alley, tires screeching on the wet road. It wasn’t until we turned the corner that I allowed myself to breathe again. But even then, my mind was racing, my heart still pounding in my chest.

"Franca," I spoke into the comm, eyes scanning the rearview mirror. "Status?"

"Nothing on the radar yet," she replied. "But you know that won’t last. They’ve already started reviewing the footage. The clock’s ticking, Raven. You need to get off the grid, now."

I nodded, my grip tightening on the seat. "We’re heading to the safe house. Get the extraction team in place."

"Already done," Franca said. "Carter, you better drive like you're being chased. It’ll be a few minutes before they realize you're in the wind."

Carter didn’t need any further encouragement. He floored the gas pedal, sending the truck lurching forward, the tires kicking up water as we sped through the city streets. We were heading for the back roads now, where the traffic was lighter and the chances of a pursuit slimmer.

But I wasn’t naive. I knew the Cartel’s reach. And I knew they wouldn’t let this go.

"How much time do we have?" Lucas asked, his voice tight, the bags of cash still clutched in his hands.

"Two minutes," I replied. "Once we hit the back roads, it’ll give us a little more room. But after that, we’ll need to move fast. We can’t let them find us before the extraction point."

"You think they’ll follow?" Lucas asked.

"They will follow," I said, my voice like steel. "They’ll have a team on our tail by the time we hit the outskirts. I need everyone in place. No mistakes."

The truck’s engine growled as we turned onto a narrow side street, the darkness of the city swallowing us whole. I glanced behind us, watching for any sign of pursuit, any headlights flashing in the distance. But there was nothing yet.

We made a hard right, taking us onto a road that led toward the old industrial area on the edge of the city. It was the perfect spot for an exchange. Low traffic, a maze of warehouses, and most importantly—nowhere the Cartel would think to look.

"Franca," I said again, "are we clear?"

"Clear for now," she answered. "But they’ll be sweeping the city soon. You've got about five minutes before they hit the outskirts. After that, they're going to start checking all routes."

We were getting close. My pulse was steady now, my mind focused. We had thirty million in cash and a few minutes to spare. It was enough to make this mission a success—if we didn’t screw up.

"Once we make the drop, we’re clean," Carter muttered, glancing at me.

I didn’t reply immediately. Instead, I stared out the window, watching the rain blur past, the city streets rolling by like a film in slow motion.

This was the moment. We were now one step closer towards the destruction of the Tito's empire. If we could pull off the next part without anyone noticing…

...We’d have the entire Gonzalez Cartel group in our fingertips.