Vanessa had never prepared for a mission like this before.
Usually, when she went out at night it was with a police badge, a squad car, and a radio connected to the entire department.
Tonight—
She stood inside the dressing room of a mafia mansion while Marco handed her a black leather jacket and a compact handgun.
She stared at the weapon.
"You're giving a detective an illegal gun."
Marco shrugged.
"You already own one."
"Not one without registration."
"Details."
Vanessa checked the weight of the pistol in her hand.
Balanced.
Well maintained.
She looked up.
"You trust me with this?"
Marco grinned.
"I don't."
Vanessa smirked.
"That's reassuring."
The door behind them opened.
Gale stepped into the room.
Black suit.
Black gloves.
Calm as always.
Vanessa noticed something else too.
He had changed from his earlier clothes.
The faint bloodstain from the interrogation was gone.
Now he looked like the man from the rumors again.
The mafia king.
Gale looked at the gun in her hand.
"You know how to use that."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"I'm a detective."
"That doesn't always mean competence."
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"You're very charming tonight."
Marco laughed.
"I told you, boss."
"Told me what?"
"She doesn't scare easily."
Gale's gaze moved back to Vanessa.
"I noticed."
Vanessa slipped the gun inside the jacket.
"So where are we going?"
Marco answered first.
"Romano's territory."
Vanessa's eyes lit slightly.
"Direct attack."
Gale walked toward the door.
"Reconnaissance."
Vanessa followed.
"That's a disappointing word."
"Violence without information is stupidity."
"Violence with information?"
"Strategy."
They walked down the hallway together.
Guards moved aside as they passed.
Vanessa noticed how everyone reacted to Gale.
Immediate obedience.
No hesitation.
No questions.
It wasn't just respect.
It was authority.
The kind built over years of control.
Outside, three black vehicles waited.
Engines running.
Vanessa stopped beside the first car.
"You travel like a president."
Marco opened the back door.
"Occupational hazard."
Vanessa climbed inside.
Gale sat beside her.
Marco took the front passenger seat.
The convoy began moving immediately.
The estate gates opened silently behind them.
Vanessa looked out the window as the city lights grew closer.
Night traffic.
Neon signs.
The city looked normal.
Which was strange.
Because beneath that normal surface—
An invisible war was starting.
She glanced at Gale.
"You do this often?"
"What?"
"Night hunts."
Gale leaned back slightly.
"Sometimes."
"Romano must be important."
"He is."
"Why?"
"He controls the western districts."
Vanessa frowned.
"And you want them."
"Yes."
"Ambitious."
"Necessary."
Vanessa studied him carefully.
"You're expanding."
"Yes."
"Why now?"
Gale didn't answer immediately.
Instead he looked out the window.
Then he said quietly—
"Because someone else is."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"The Circle."
Gale didn't confirm.
But he didn't deny it either.
The convoy slowed.
Marco turned slightly in his seat.
"We're close."
Vanessa leaned forward.
Outside the window she saw the change immediately.
The streets became darker.
Less populated.
More industrial buildings.
Marco pointed ahead.
"Romano owns most of this area."
Vanessa spotted the building quickly.
Large warehouse.
Fenced perimeter.
Guards outside.
"Subtle."
Marco chuckled.
"Romano isn't subtle."
The vehicles stopped two blocks away.
Engines shut off.
Silence returned.
Vanessa stepped out of the car.
Cold night air hit her face.
She looked toward the warehouse again.
"How many guards?"
Marco answered quietly.
"Eight outside."
"Inside?"
"Unknown."
Vanessa looked at Gale.
"So what's the plan?"
Gale studied the building calmly.
"We observe."
Vanessa frowned.
"That's it?"
"For now."
She sighed.
"I was hoping for something more exciting."
Gale's eyes moved toward the fence.
"You might get it."
Vanessa followed his gaze.
Movement.
Two new vehicles pulled up near the warehouse.
Men stepped out.
Not Romano's guards.
Different posture.
Different clothes.
Marco narrowed his eyes.
"Those aren't Romano's men."
Vanessa whispered.
"The Circle?"
Gale's expression hardened slightly.
"Possibly."
Vanessa watched as the new arrivals entered the warehouse.
"This meeting wasn't planned."
"No," Gale said quietly.
"It wasn't."
Vanessa looked at him.
"You want to see what's inside."
"Yes."
Marco glanced between them.
"That's risky."
Vanessa smiled slightly.
"Good."
Marco sighed.
"You two are insane."
Gale looked at the fence again.
"There's a side entrance."
Vanessa cracked her knuckles lightly.
"Now we're talking."
Marco muttered under his breath.
"I should have stayed home tonight."
Vanessa stepped closer to Gale.
"You lead."
Gale studied her for a moment.
Then nodded once.
"Stay close."
Vanessa grinned.
"Don't worry."
She looked toward the warehouse again.
"I want a front row seat."
Because inside that building—
Romano.
And possibly the mysterious Circle—
Were meeting.
And Vanessa had a feeling the night was about to become far more dangerous.
And far more revealing.
Because the deeper she stepped into Gale De Luca's world—
The harder it became to tell who was the hunter…
And who was the prey.