Chicago's night air was sharp and wet with rain, a perfect cloak for predators.
Luca DeRossi and Amara Volkov moved through the abandoned docks on the river's edge, silent, deadly, blending with the mist. The warehouse attack had yielded more than just empty buildings—they had clues. Phone intercepts, vehicle tracking, and a faint trail of communications led here.
"This is it," Luca murmured, scanning the shadows. "Someone knows we're coming. Either they're brave… or stupid."
Amara's eyes glinted. "Or very confident."
A single light flickered across a distant pier. Footsteps echoed. Heavy. Calculated. Someone was waiting.
Luca's hand went to his gun. Amara mirrored him, fingers brushing hers over the cold steel.
"Come out," Luca called. "No more games."
The figure stepped into the light. A woman. Elegant. Black coat over tailored pants. Masked, but her posture screamed authority.
Amara stiffened. "I know her."
Luca's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
The woman removed her mask slowly. Dark hair, sharp cheekbones, piercing green eyes. Too familiar. Too precise.
"Meet your real problem," Amara said quietly.
Luca's jaw tightened as recognition hit. "Selena Vetrova."
A ghost from Amara's past. A rogue operative from the Russian syndicate. Exiled, cunning, and now… orchestrating an empire-wide war between DeRossi and Volkov to carve power for herself.
Selena's lips curved. "Welcome to my game, gentlemen," she said. Voice calm, lethal. "Your little feud has been… amusing. But now, the board is set. And I only need one king."
Amara stepped forward. "You won't win."
Selena laughed softly. "Oh, my dear Amara… that's cute. You think I play by your rules. You think I came here to kill you? No. I came here to watch the chaos, and then I take what's left. Your father, your king… all of you will be mine—if I choose to leave anyone alive at all."
Luca's fingers tightened on his gun. "You underestimate me."
Selena tilted her head. "And you," she said, eyes flicking to Amara, "underestimate her."
Amara's pulse quickened. She had trained for this. Every contingency, every possibility… she'd known Selena might surface. But nothing could prepare her for the thrill of facing her and Luca together in the same fight.
"Looks like we're going to have to work together," Luca muttered under his breath.
She glanced at him. "For now."
Selena's smile widened. "Oh, I love it when enemies unite. It makes the blood… far more satisfying."
A flick of her wrist and two masked men appeared behind her, rifles raised.
Luca reacted first, grabbing Amara and throwing her toward cover as shots rang out. The docks erupted in a storm of gunfire, echoing against the water.
Amara rolled, firing twice, taking down one of Selena's men. Luca moved like a shadow, eliminating the other.
Selena laughed again, disappearing into the mist. "The game has only begun," her voice carried over the chaos.
Amara rose, gun steady. "We can't let her escape."
Luca's gaze met hers, dark and dangerous. "We won't."
For the first time, predator and predator fought side by side. And as the rain soaked through their clothes, soaked through the night, both knew one truth:
Selena Vetrova was the deadliest piece on the board.
And to survive… they'd have to become more than allies.
They'd have to become monsters.