The subterranean access tunnel beneath the southern wall of the Ferrante estate was cold, damp, and smelled of wet stone and old iron.
Outside the perimeter fence, parked under the canopy of pines, sat the armoured command vehicle.
Mara sat in the backseat, wearing her dark leather jacket, watching the live infrared feeds on the satellite monitor. Beside her, two heavy-set Bratva bodyguards maintained perimeter watch, their radios tuned to Nico's encrypted channel.
Down in the narrow concrete corridor beneath the estate, the only light came from the low green glow of Luca's tablet.
Nico moved at the front of the line, covered in a dark tactical coat and a suppressed sidearm held low at his side. Right behind him was Luca, followed by Petyr and seven elite soldiers, their boots moving over the damp concrete silently.
Luca stopped in front of a heavy steel blast door marked with an old Ferrante maintenance seal.
