Ch-9
A dimly lit warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The air is thick with tension. Georgie stands near a crate, arms crossed, while Ethan leans against the wall, watching her with his usual unreadable expression. Luca paces near the entrance, his phone gripped tightly in his hand.
Luca Moretti
(Hangs up, his jaw tight) That was Santiago. We have a problem.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Raises an eyebrow) When don’t we?
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Pushes off the wall) What kind of problem?
Luca Moretti
(Glares at Ethan) A shipment went missing. One of ours. And I don’t believe in coincidences.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Taps her fingers on the crate) Who else knows about it?
Luca Moretti
(Exhales sharply) Only my men. Which means we have a rat.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Smirks) Took you long enough to figure that out.
Luca Moretti
(Steps toward him, voice low) You got something to say, Aviel?
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Casually) Just that you’re not as in control as you think. Rats don’t just appear. They’re bred in the cracks of weak leadership.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Interrupts) Enough. We don’t have time for this. If there’s a rat, we deal with it. Now.
Luca Moretti
(Nods, exhaling through his nose) I’ve already sent men to track the shipment. If we’re lucky, we catch them before it crosses the border.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Chuckles) Luck has nothing to do with it. Someone set this up. Someone who knows your operations inside and out.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Narrows her eyes) And that means it’s someone close.
A heavy pause. The weight of suspicion settles heavily.
Luca Moretti
(Clenches his jaw) I’ll handle my people. You two—find out who the hell we’re really up against.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Mockingly) Oh, so we’re a team now?
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Meets Ethan’s gaze) For now.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Smirks) Well, isn’t that dangerous?
Georgie and Ethan leave the warehouse, stepping into a sleek black car. Georgie takes the wheel, her expression unreadable.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Glances at her) You don’t trust Luca, do you?
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Eyes on the road) Trust is a liability.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Smirks) And yet, you trust me to sit beside you without a gun pointed at my head.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Dryly) Who says I don’t have one?
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Laughs softly, shaking his head) Fair point.
Silence stretches between them as the car speeds down the empty road.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Serious) If there’s a rat, they’re not just feeding information. They’re dismantling your empire piece by piece. You need to move fast.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Grips the wheel tighter) I know. That’s why we’re going straight to the source.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Raises an eyebrow) And who exactly is that?
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Glances at him) The man who made the offer on my life.
Ethan Aviel (ml)
(Smirk fades) You’re not serious.
Georgie May Adler (fl)
(Darkly) Dead serious.
The car speeds into the night, heading straight into danger.
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