𝟷𝟼. "... 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚢"

I always forget how long the flight to Italy is until I actually take the flight. The air hostess heals clinked lightly on the floor as she approached me. "Miss Vega" she called and I only hummed in response without looking up.

"We've landed"

I took the cigar out of my mouth and looked up at her. "Ready my car" she nodded and left to do my bidding. Sighing, I shut the papers and sat up from my seat.

Looks like I haven't missed anything here in Italy, all they could rave about on the paper was the Apex of the Venetian Accord happening here in Venice in 2 days time.

I ashed the cigar before getting up, grabbing my bag and my coat, I put it on. We landed at noon, a few minutes past 5 and I knew it will be chilly by this time.

Stepping out of the jet, I paused at the top of the stairs, taking in that familiar breeze once again. I've missed this city. At the other side stood Cassian, with his men.

He intended I flew with him but I wasn't down for that inconvenience, plus I had a jet of my own. I walked down the stairs and headed towards them.

I never did reciprocated how dangerous Cassian is but now we were in Italy, I was anticipated the reveal of his true colours.

"Hope you had a bumpy ride" he said, walking to me and I chuckled. "Are you still mad I didn't fly with you?"

His hands circled round my waist and he laid a kiss on my shoulder. I honestly didn't know what he was to me, it started as a business dinner and now we've both crossed the line multiple times.

But definitely for a reason, I do everything for a reason.

He pulled away, tilting my chin for me to look up at him. He's always been a man that exerts control. "Someone might think you're tryna stay away from me"

"How could I do that?" I asked, a little smile on my lips and he smirked. "Well, you'll be on your own this evening. I have business to handle" he informed and I nodded.

"Ivan will take you to the house. And better be there when I get back" he warned and my smile widened. "Of course"

➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣

"Are you in Italy or are you gonna stay out till the storm is over?" I inquired and she chuckled. "I do want to see it first hand"

I sighed and placed the gun down on the table before looking out the window. "Everything will go exactly as planned" she tried to assure and I got up and walked to the window.

"And how certain are you that the Society will go down that night?" I inquired, leaning on the windowsill.

"I've got words from an inside guy, Cassian and his people has made alliances with deadly Italian mob groups, if Cicatrici tries to rise, we'll be taken out in a minute"

But I doubted that.

"Didn't you say he isn't... Incompetent?" I reminded. "He isn't and I know his rage will also drive him to do something too which will lead to the biggest mob clash ever, putting an end to either one of them"

I paused for a second, staring into the city. "Are you coldfeet?" Her voice broke into my thoughts and I scoffed. "It's just another party"

She chuckled over the phone, "And that's the Pearl, I know. I'll raise a glass to you alright"

My call with Josephine ended after that and I turned around and faced the room and backed the window, my hands crossed over my chest as the cold air whipped my back.

How did he get so powerful? Over the years, news of his achievements and power play had always reached me, I've heard about how he conquered notable mob group and how he refurbished the Society.

He was the inevitable and I wonder how he got here.

Travis was a different man, he has gotten even more interesting. He has all the power to his disposal, he played the Society like a chess game and everyone did his bidding.

They intended him to work with them but never to work for him and that's why Committee members like, Josephine, were walking tooth and nail to bring him down, to get the power back.

I thought he was a man of respect, honoured amongst the people but now he was feared. I never knew he had it in him, I never believed he could be this ruthless.

And it has only fueled my urge to want to break him even more. I won't mind being his plague.

The loud honk of cars outside caused me to unclench my jaw and turn around to the window. Cassian and his goons were back.

Show time.

I tucked the gun away back to where it was hidden at first and then I headed out. For tonight, I wore something more...sensual, cause let's be honest, a woman's weapon is her body.

I flicked my hair over my shoulder and walked past one of his men who stood rooted at the end of the stairs. I headed straight to the wine cellar and selected only but the best.

Cassian voice booms through the place, he was mad and that's the exact mood I needed him in. I picked out the bottle of Everclear and smiled before walking around the counter to mix it up.

In minutes, I stepped out into the living room to see him pacing around, I plastered on a smile before stopping in front of him. He looked up, frustration evident in his features and I straight out the glass to him.

He took it and immediately gulped it all down without flinching. He took mine and drowned it all before trashing the glass on the floor and turning back to his men.

"Убирайся с глаз моих!" He shouted and they all trikled out, one after the other. The place got silent and I turned back to him, my hands trailing down his back.

"Perhaps you should rest" I suggested calmly and his eyes shot to mine and immediately he pulled me to himself, his lips pressing on mine.

In seconds, he backed me into the room, his kisses now slowed and slurred. It was kicking in. I shoved him back on the bed and got over him, his drowsy eyes made way to mine, he tried grabbing my waist but couldn't muster up strength.

I slowly leaned down on him, my hands trailing down his chest, he was trying so hard to keep his eyes on me but it wasn't in his power.

And slowly he gave up and went dead cold, I pulled his face up but he fell back limp. Took that long enough to kick in.

I grabbed his hand and slowly slid the gold signet ring out of his finger before getting off him. He made a mistake bringing me into his house, because now I had to do what I do best.

I yanked the closet door open and stepped inside, moving without hesitation. My eyes locked onto the suit rack, and I shoved aside the neatly pressed fabric, my pulse hammering in my ears.

There it was. A silver safe, embedded in the wall. Not exactly hidden. He should've done better.

I crouched, pulling his ring from my pocket. This was the only key. I knew it, and so did he-which is why he never let it out of his sight. Except tonight, he had.

Big mistake.

I shoved the ring into the slot. A sharp click echoed in the silence. The lock disengaged instantly. A slow smirk pulled at my lips. Too easy.

I pulled the door open, expecting stacks of cash, weapons-something fitting of a man like Cassian.

But it was neither.

A single black envelope sat in the center, pristine, deliberate, like it was waiting for me.

A prickle of unease crawled up my spine. I didn't touch it. Not yet. Instead, I slipped on a glove, my breath steady but shallow, my instincts screaming at me that whatever was inside wasn't meant to see the light of day.

I plucked it from the safe and peeled it open. A thick stack of documents slid into my lap, and as I settled on the floor, I flipped through them with growing urgency.

Drugs. Arms deals. Smuggling routes. Names and locations scribbled in careful, calculated code. But then-

Travis.

His name. His face. Over and over again, stamped across the pages. A phrase attached to every single one.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡.

A chill slithered through me. My fingers tightened around the pages as I flipped faster, scanning line after line. It was all in codes and ciphers, deliberately obscured, but one thing was clear-Cassian was obsessed.

I slid to the next section. This wasn't just about tracking Travis. They were trying to understand him. His power. His reach. His untouchable status.

And one thing kept repeating.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡.

Even Volkov, with all his resources, hadn't cracked it. They were still chasing shadows, desperate for answers.

But I wasn't.

Because if this was what made Travis invincible-if this was the reason no one could touch him-then I needed to know what the hell The Labyrinth really was.

And more importantly... how to get inside.