The SUV tore through the empty streets of Prague, the city lights flickering past in a blur as Julian pushed the engine to its limit. The lingering scent of gunpowder and smoke clung to the air inside the vehicle. Dominic's shoulder throbbed, but he barely felt it—his mind was elsewhere.
Alyssa sat beside him, pressing a makeshift bandage against his wound. Her touch was firm but careful, her brows drawn together in concentration.
"You keep getting shot, billionaire," she murmured. "At this rate, I'm gonna start thinking you like it."
Dominic smirked, despite the pain. "It's not the getting shot part I enjoy. It's the part where you have to patch me up."
Alyssa rolled her eyes but didn't pull away. "Don't get used to it."
Julian's voice cut through their moment. "We need a new safehouse. Volkov's gonna have his people scouring the city by morning."
Alyssa leaned back, her eyes flicking to the side mirror. "We can't just keep running. Volkov's not going to stop until we're dead, and after tonight? He knows we're onto his weapons shipments."
Dominic flexed his fingers against his thigh, deep in thought. "Then we stop running."
Julian snorted. "You planning to invite Volkov to brunch and ask him to surrender?"
Dominic ignored the sarcasm. "We just made a big move against him. He's going to retaliate, which means we can use that to our advantage. He's predictable when he's angry."
Alyssa's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're talking about baiting him."
Dominic met her gaze. "We know where his weapons are going. We hit another shipment this time, we don't just track it. We destroy it. We make it hurt."
Julian whistled. "Damn. Rich guy wants to start a war."
Alyssa exhaled, then looked at Dominic. "You sure about this? Once we do this, there's no turning back."
Dominic's jaw tightened. "There was never any turning back."
Alyssa held his stare for a second longer before nodding. "Then let's make Volkov bleed."
By the time they reached the new safehouse an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city it was nearing 3 AM.
Laura, Marcus, and Eleanor were already inside, sifting through blueprints and satellite images of Volkov's smuggling routes. The moment the trio walked in, Marcus looked up.
"Please tell me the explosion at the docks wasn't you," he said dryly.
Julian grinned. "You know it was."
Laura sighed, rubbing her temples. "Volkov's men are everywhere. The explosion took out a significant part of his weapons cache, but it also put every one of his guys on high alert. We're all walking targets now."
"Which is why we need to strike before he does," Dominic said. He stepped up to the table, wincing slightly as his shoulder protested. Alyssa caught the movement and gave him a warning look, but he ignored it.
Eleanor arched a brow. "You've got something in mind?"
Dominic nodded and pointed to a red-marked location on the map. "This. Volkov's second-largest shipment is scheduled to move through here in twenty-four hours."
Alyssa's brows lifted slightly. "How do you know that?"
Dominic smirked. "Because I own the logistics company Volkov's using to smuggle his weapons. He just doesn't know it yet."
Silence. Then Julian let out a low whistle. "Now that's some billionaire-level power play."
Laura leaned forward. "If we intercept that shipment, we're not just hurting Volkov's operation we're forcing him to react."
Marcus folded his arms. "And reactions mean mistakes."
Alyssa studied the map, then looked at Dominic. "We'll need a distraction. Something big enough to pull his security away from the convoy."
Dominic's grin turned sharp. "Leave that part to me."
Alyssa tilted her head, assessing him. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Dominic met her gaze. "I enjoy winning."
Alyssa smirked. "Then let's make sure we do."
The next night, the team moved into position along a secluded stretch of highway outside Prague.
The plan was simple
Eleanor and Laura would hack into Volkov's communications, feeding false intel to his security forces.
Julian and Marcus would set up roadblocks to funnel the convoy into a kill zone.
Alyssa and Dominic would take out the drivers and seize the weapons.
Simple in theory.
In practice? A complete war zone.
The moment the convoy approached, Julian detonated the first charge. The explosion rocked the highway, forcing the trucks to screech to a halt.
Gunfire erupted as Volkov's men poured out, weapons raised.
Alyssa and Dominic moved fast, ducking behind cover as bullets whizzed past them.
Dominic fired two clean shots, dropping a guard before he could react. Alyssa flanked left, taking out another with a well-placed knife throw.
Julian's voice crackled in their earpieces. "More inbound! Volkov's men are sending reinforcements!"
Dominic swore. "We need to move now!"
Alyssa sprinted toward the lead truck, using its bulk for cover. She yanked the driver's door open and shot the man inside before he could draw his weapon.
Dominic climbed into the second truck, tossing out the driver and taking the wheel. "Julian, Marcus, clear a path!"
Marcus unleashed a barrage of gunfire, forcing the remaining guards into retreat.
Dominic slammed his foot on the gas, the massive vehicle roaring to life. Alyssa followed, her truck close behind.
They were almost in the clear
Then Volkov's voice echoed through their earpieces.
"You think you can steal from me, Hayes?"
Dominic's blood ran cold.
Alyssa cursed. "How the hell is he on our comms?"
Volkov's chuckle was dark. "You disappoint me. I expected more from you."
Then, ahead of them, black SUVs emerged from the darkness. A full blockade.
Dominic clenched his jaw. "Hold on."
He didn't slow down.
Instead, he slammed his foot down harder.
The truck plowed through the first SUV, metal crunching, glass shattering.
Gunfire rattled against the steel exterior.
Alyssa's voice was sharp. "Dominic!"
"We're getting out of this," he growled.
But then...
Another explosion.
The road behind them lit up in flames as Volkov's men pursued, the night alive with chaos. And Dominic knew..... This was far from over.