Chapter 24

POV: Enzo

The forest was unnervingly silent, as if nature itself was holding its breath. I tightened my grip on the pistol, the weight of it both familiar and alien. Tony limped beside me, his movements slowing us down. He kept insisting he was fine, but the blood soaking his pant leg told a different story. Isabella trailed behind, her eyes darting around like a cornered animal. Vince took point, scanning the dense underbrush for threats, his demeanor as rigid as the barrel of his rifle.

We'd been walking for hours, each step taking us farther from the safe house we'd barely escaped with our lives. The ambush had been swift, brutal. We were lucky to have survived at all, but the assassins wouldn't let us off that easily. They were out there, tracking us, waiting for the right moment to strike again.

"Enzo," Vince called out from ahead, his voice low. "We've got movement."

I froze, my ears straining for any sound. And then I heard it-a faint rustle, just beyond the trees. I raised my gun, motioning for the others to stay back.

"Show yourself," I barked, my voice cutting through the stillness.

The rustling stopped. For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of my own breathing. Then, a figure stumbled into view, clutching their side. It was one of the assassins.

"Don't shoot," he gasped, collapsing to his knees. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining the dirt beneath him.

Vince stepped forward, his weapon trained on the man. "Why shouldn't we? You and your friends just tried to kill us."

The assassin coughed, a grim smile tugging at his lips. "Because... you're already dead."

My stomach tightened. "What do you mean?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he tilted his head toward Isabella. "The mole... closer than you think."

Isabella's face paled. "What are you talking about?"

Before we could get more out of him, his body went limp, his head lolling to the side. Dead.

I cursed under my breath. "Great. Another cryptic warning."

Tony stepped forward, his face twisted in pain and frustration. "What if he's right? What if someone's been feeding them information?"

Vince's gaze flicked to Isabella, suspicion darkening his eyes. "We've been ambushed too many times for it to be a coincidence."

Isabella's voice rose, trembling with anger. "You think I'm the mole? After everything we've been through?"

"That's enough!" I snapped, stepping between them. "We don't have time for this. We need to move before more of them show up."

The tension was thick, but they reluctantly fell in line. We continued through the forest, the unease hanging over us like a storm cloud.

An hour later, we reached a river. The water was swift and cold, the kind of current that could sweep you away if you weren't careful.

"We have to cross," Vince said, already scanning for a safe spot.

Tony groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Would you rather stay here and wait for the assassins?" I shot back.

He didn't answer, just gritted his teeth and waded into the water. I followed, the icy current biting at my skin. Isabella hesitated for a moment before stepping in, her expression a mix of determination and fear.

Halfway across, I heard it-a twig snapping. I spun around, catching sight of movement in the trees.

"Move!" I shouted, shoving Tony forward.

Gunfire erupted, bullets ripping through the air. We dove into the water, the cold shocking the breath from my lungs.

I surfaced, gasping, and grabbed Isabella's arm, pulling her toward the opposite bank. Vince was already there, firing back at our attackers.

"Keep going!" he yelled.

We scrambled onto the shore, soaked and shivering. Vince laid down covering fire as the assassins closed in, their dark figures blending into the shadows of the forest.

"Enzo, behind you!" Isabella screamed.

I turned just in time to see one of them lunging at me. I fired, the bullet hitting its mark. He collapsed, clutching his chest, but not before something slipped from his hand-a bracelet.

I froze. It was a simple silver chain, but I'd seen it before. On Isabella's wrist.

We didn't stop running until we were sure we'd lost them. By then, night had fallen, and the forest was bathed in darkness. We found a small clearing and set up camp, though none of us felt safe enough to sleep.

As the others tended to their wounds, I sat by the fire, staring at the bracelet.

"Where did you get this?" I asked, holding it up.

Isabella's eyes widened. "That's mine. I lost it days ago."

"Or you gave it to them," Vince muttered.

She rounded on him, her voice trembling with rage. "I've risked my life for this group! How dare you accuse me of-"

"Enough," I said, my tone sharp. "We're all on edge, but turning on each other won't help."

Vince looked like he wanted to argue, but he stayed quiet. Isabella crossed her arms, glaring at him before sitting down by the fire.

I sighed, the weight of everything pressing down on me. The assassin's words echoed in my mind: "Closer than you think."

Was the mole really among us? And if so, how long before they made their move?

I stared into the flames, my grip tightening on the bracelet. Whoever it was, I'd find them. And when I did, they'd wish they'd never betrayed me.

As I sat there, the fire casting flickering shadows, Vince's burner phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening. He didn't say anything, but I saw the message before he could hide it. "They're closer than you think."