LOGINNestore's POV Needing to be needed is a dangerous grace. It made me push off the ground, the pain a bell in my ribs. Nevio dragged the nearest man’s gun away with a sharp twist and fired down the line of the compound like a man with nothing left to prove. Marco and Paolo were already fighting at the water’s edge, pulling girls into the boat. A woman with a bruise down her temple crawled into Aurora’s arms and clung to her like a lifeline.We staggered, limping and moving because there was no time to be noble. A trash can erupted in a spray of flame as a stray round hit a can of petrol; the night flickered orange and the smell of burning rubber kissed the air. Someone behind us cursed and then screamed. Rocco, who had been on rounds, was shouting into a radio that now screeched back to life—somebody had a backup power source.“Move faster!” I shouted. “Get them to the boat!”Sergio sprinted beside me, face pale with the engine of fear. “The breaker will come back online in three minut
Nestore's POV We ran.The path narrowed into a tunnel of palms and plastic tarps, and every shadow looked like a man. Boots came at us from both sides, and then suddenly the night was full of noise—the sound of boots, the bark of a guard’s curse, the staccato rattle of a weapon pulled from a holster. The ten minutes we’d trusted like a promise snapped into something brittle and dangerous.“Down!” I snarled, and we hit the earth hard. Dirt and grit stung my palms. A flashlight swung over us, slicing the dark, and a shout answered it—“Intruders!”Sergio cursed under his breath; he’d miscounted a patrol. Rocco was on his rounds early. The island was waking up.“Move,” I hissed. “Aurora, with me. Nevio, cover—Marco, Paolo, take the rear. Get the girls.”He didn’t need the order twice. Nevio already had his pistol out, face blank in that animal way he takes on when the world is only geometry and threat. He moved like a man with a hole in his ribs that was not visible—fast, silent, and abs
Nestore’s POVThe river smelled like blood and danger, the kind of smell that sat on the back of your tongue and reminded you of everything you’d ever been willing to lose. We rode the trawler low and quiet, three shadowed figures against the hum of a diesel engine and the soft slap of water. Marco kept his face in the boat’s fold, eyes on the shoreline. Paolo checked the ropes again, though they’d been checked twice already. Aurora sat between Nevio and me, small and taut as a wire. She hadn’t spoken in hours; her jaw was set like something brittle. Every so often she’d close her fists and let them relax. I watched the motion because it told me what words did not...she was ready.We’d gone over the plan until the words had become muscle memory. Sergio — Draci’s man — would be at the harbor master’s office at dusk, his card tucked inside the ledger like a secret. He’d slip the key signal and a lantern placed in the office window, an old code that meant the generator would be cut for
Nestore’s POVAurora’s words hung in the room like smoke, heavy, suffocating, impossible to ignore.“An insider,” Nevio repeated slowly, his jaw tightening as if the thought alone irritated him. “That’s easier said than done. You don’t just walk into a place like that and convince someone to betray their masters.”Draci crossed his arms, his gaze flickering between us. “I might know someone. But it’s a risk—more than a risk. It’s suicide.”“Who?” I pressed.He shook his head, reluctant. “A man named Salvatore. He was part of the trafficking ring years ago, one of their lower members. He’s been… disillusioned. Kept around only to maintain the current systems—the power, the alarms, the water.” His eyes narrowed on Aurora. “But he won’t do it for you. Not unless you give him a reason.”Aurora leaned forward in her chair, the fire in her eyes both dangerous and mesmerizing. “Then we’ll give him one. If he hates them enough to turn against them, we’ll be the match that lights it.”Draci ga
Nestore's POV "Mr Cavarallo," a guard called, stepping into the living room."There's someone here, Draci, he's here for you," He relayed and stood still, awaiting orders.Nevio and I turned to each other before gesturing to let him in."Cavarallo..." He dragged as he walked in, his step pausing at the sight of Aurora."Is that...""What are you here for Draci?" Nevio cut in, pulling his glare away from Aurora."Nothing, I came to return the company you wanted to give me," He said, stepping closer."It wasn't a joke when we said we were going to give up the company for the information that we needed..." "I know, you sent the papers, but I'm not going to let you throw away your life because you want to find information about the traffickers," He said, throwing the papers."I didn't sign the document, and here's the most explicit information you'll be needing, the one for the lady you're looking for.""They're located off grid, off camera, no where where you can find them even if you
Aurora's POV The next two days were filled with finding out the hideouts of these men, after breaking in on the last meetings, they had been super secretive but Nevio and Nestore were making sure they got to the bottom of it, and tonight, we were breaking in another meeting."Miss," One of the maids called, and stood in a distance as though she was too afraid to get close to me."You've someone here for you," She relayed and I turned to both Nevio and Nestore, my glare questioning."Who's it, we're not expecting anyone?" Nestore replied, getting off the chair."I-I don't know, he didn't mention his name, he just stated that he was here for the missus," she said and before I could stand up, a familiar voice cut through the room."Dad..." I dragged as she stood at the door, glaring like he was searching for even a single tear on my body."Are you okay?" He asked, stepping closer, while the guards looked like they were going to be roasted alive for failing to hold him back."You can go,







