Chapter 80: A Step Ahead
The silence in the car was oppressive. Dante sat beside me, his jaw clenched and eyes fixed on the road ahead. Matteo sat in the passenger seat, his gun resting on his lap, his sharp gaze scanning the darkness outside. We were returning to the estate, but the weight of the evening lingered between us.
"Elizabeth, are you hurt?" Dante finally asked, breaking the silence.
"No," I replied softly. "I'm fine."
He turned to look at me, his dark eyes narrowing. "Fine isn't good enough. Viktor slipped through our fingers again. He was there—right in front of us—and we couldn't stop him."
"It wasn't a failure," Matteo said, his tone calm but firm. "We've weakened his forces, and we captured some of his men. They'll give us information."
Dante let out a low growl of frustration, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel. "It's not enough. Viktor won't stop until he's destroyed everything I care about."
I placed a hand on his arm, trying to soothe him. "We'll stop him, Dante. Together."
---
Interrogating the Captives
Back at the estate, the captured men were brought to the basement, a space Dante had repurposed into a secure holding area. The walls were bare, the air cold and damp. Dante and Matteo stood before the prisoners, their expressions grim.
I stayed back, watching as the interrogation began. Dante's voice was low and dangerous, each question laced with menace. The first few captives refused to talk, their loyalty to Viktor unshaken.
But the third man cracked under the pressure. He was young, barely older than twenty, and his fear was palpable.
"He's planning something big," the man stammered, his voice trembling. "A full-scale attack on your operations."
"When?" Dante demanded, his tone icy.
"I-I don't know the exact timing," the man stuttered. "But soon. He's been gathering allies, strengthening his forces."
"And his target?" Matteo pressed.
The man hesitated, glancing nervously between Dante and Matteo. "The shipment is in two days. The one at the docks. He wants to cripple your supply chain."
Dante's expression darkened, and he turned to Matteo. "Double the security at the docks. Make sure everything is locked down tight."
Matteo nodded, already pulling out his phone to relay the orders.
As the prisoners were escorted away, Dante turned to me. His face was hard, his eyes burning with determination. "Viktor thinks he can outmaneuver us. He's wrong."
---
Preparing for Battle
The next 48 hours passed in a blur of activity. Dante's men worked tirelessly, securing the docks and reinforcing our defenses. Every detail was scrutinized, every contingency planned for.
I spent most of my time in the war room, going over maps and blueprints with Dante and Matteo. It was exhausting, but I refused to be sidelined. Viktor's obsession with me made this personal, and I wasn't about to let him win.
Late one night, as the preparations continued, I found Dante in his study. He was sitting at his desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand, staring at a map spread out before him.
"Can't sleep?" I asked, stepping inside.
He looked up, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Not when there's so much at stake."
I walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've done everything you can, Dante. Now we wait."
He covered my hand with his, his touch warm and reassuring. "I can't lose you, Elizabeth. Not to Viktor. Not to anyone."
"You won't," I said firmly. "We're in this together."
---
The Showdown
The night of the shipment arrived, and tension crackled in the air. Dante and I stood on the upper deck of a cargo ship, overlooking the bustling docks below. His men were positioned strategically, their weapons at the ready.
The hours dragged on, the anticipation building with each passing moment. And then, just as the shipment was being loaded onto the ship, the first explosion ripped through the night.
Chaos erupted as Viktor's men swarmed the docks, their attack swift and ruthless. Gunfire echoed through the air, and the once-orderly operation descended into a battlefield.
Dante's voice was sharp as he barked orders into his radio. "Hold your positions! Don't let them near the cargo!"
I stayed close to him, my heart pounding as the fight unfolded around us. Matteo appeared at our side, his face grim. "They've got more men than we anticipated, but we're holding them off."
Dante nodded, his eyes scanning the chaos below. "Keep pushing them back. I want Viktor alive."
As the battle raged on, I spotted a familiar figure in the distance. Viktor stood near the edge of the docks, his confident smirk visible even from afar.
"He's here," I said, pointing him out.
Dante's gaze followed mine, and his expression hardened. "Stay here," he ordered, turning to Matteo. "Keep her safe."
"No," I said, grabbing his arm. "I'm coming with you."
"It's too dangerous," he argued.
"I'm not sitting on the sidelines while you face him alone," I shot back.
Dante hesitated, his jaw tightening. Finally, he nodded. "Stay close to me."
---
Facing Viktor
We moved through the chaos, Dante's men covering us as we made our way toward Viktor. The air was thick with smoke and the sound of gunfire. My pulse raced as we closed the distance, my determination outweighed my fear.
When we reached Viktor, he greeted us with a mocking smile. "Ah, Dante. And Elizabeth. How lovely of you to join me."
"Enough games, Viktor," Dante said, his voice cold. "This ends tonight."
Viktor chuckled, his gaze shifting to me. "You've always underestimated me, Dante. That's your fatal flaw."
Dante raised his gun, his aim steady. "And your flaw is thinking you're untouchable."
Before Viktor could respond, a burst of gunfire erupted nearby, drawing his attention. Dante seized the opportunity, lunging at Viktor and tackling him to the ground.
The two men grappled, their movements swift and brutal. I stood frozen, my heart pounding as they fought.
"Elizabeth, get back!" Matteo shouted, pulling me to safety as the fight intensified.
Dante gained the upper hand, pinning Viktor to the ground. "This is for everything you've done," he growled, his fist connecting with Viktor's jaw.
Viktor laughed, blood dripping from his lips. "You think this changes anything? I'll always be a step ahead."
"Not anymore," Dante said, his voice deadly.
With Matteo's help, Viktor was subdued and taken into custody. The battle was over, but the war was far from won.
As we returned to the estate, I couldn't shake the feeling that Viktor's words held a deeper meaning. Whatever his next move was, we would be ready.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone