Operation Redemption

THE GAMBIT

The boat rushed over the dark seas, the city lights faded in the distance. Killian kept focused on steering, his gaze scouring the horizon for any indications of trouble. I sat next him, the crisp night air rushing through my hair, as the truth of our predicament dawned on me. We had escaped, but the enormity of what remained to be done bore hard on my thoughts.

I turned to Killian, who appeared to sense my concern.

"What's on your mind?" he inquired, his voice low.

"Moretti isn't the type of guy to let things slide. He'll come after us, especially now that we have the proof," I said.

Killian nodded. "You're right. But we have an advantage: he has no idea where we're going or what our next move will be. That allows us some time to consider our next steps."

I groaned and looked back at the receding cityscape. "I simply wish there was more to go on. The evidence we have is insufficient. We need something tangible, anything that will really bring him down."

"We'll find it," Killian stated. "There is always a weak link, someone in his organization who is just waiting for the right opportunity to flip. We just need to dig deeper."

We fell into a comfortable stillness. Only the sound of the boat's motor and the lapping of the water, impeding the silence.

After what felt like hours, the silhouette of a small island appeared. Killian slowed the boat as we approached the beach and directed it into a hidden inlet. The spot was isolated, away from prying eyes, and provided some temporary relief.

"This is where we'll lay low for a while," Killian stated, turning off the engine. "We've got enough supplies for a few days. After that, we'll reconvene ."

I nodded, feeling the tiredness finally hit me. We unloaded, and I helped Killian lock the boat before heading to a small, abandoned cabin nestled among the trees.

Inside, it was sparsely furnished, but it was enough. Killian quickly began unpacking the few items we had, while I found a place to sit.

I hesitated, but my tired bones won out.

"You're right," I responded, getting up. "But promise me, if anything happens—"

"Nothing's going to happen," Killian interrupted, his voice steely.

I gave him a brief, grateful smile before walking to the corner where I could rest.

As I closed my eyes, I gave myself a moment of optimism. Tomorrow, we would start over. And we wouldn't stop until Moretti was brought down for good.

"Nat," Killian spoke out softly, catching my attention. "Take some rest. We're safe for the time being."

Soon after, light came through the cabin's gaps as I stirred awake, bewildered for a while before recalling the events of the previous night. The sound of the waves faded, leaving only the rustle of leaves in the early morning breeze.

Killian was already awake and stood at the small window, his silhouette against the lovely light outside. His posture was stiff, like a coiled spring poised to snap at the least provocation.

"Morning," I quietly replied, blinking the sleep out of my eyes.

He looked over his shoulder and his expression softened somewhat. "Morning. I didn't want to awaken you. You needed to rest."

I pushed myself up, releasing the stiffness in my limbs.

Killian turned completely to face me, his gaze piercing. "We need to make contact. We have some evidence, but we need more. I have been thinking... Moretti has several fronts, including his businesses and connections. There must be something we have overlooked."

I nodded. "How about the encrypted flash drives? If we can c***k them, maybe there's something on there that might provide us an advantage."

Killian frowned slightly. "It's worth a chance, but we'll need the proper equipment, and it's too dangerous to enter the city right now. We are being pursued, and Moretti's men will be on high alert."

"We don't have a choice," I answered. "Every minute we wait allows him more time to recover. We need to take the fight to him and attack him where it counts."

Killian seemed to consider this, his attention returning to the window. "I know a guy," he admitted finally. "He's off the grid and a tech whiz. If anyone can c***k those drives, it's him. However, getting to him will not be easy. He's paranoid and doesn't trust anyone."

"Where is he?" I asked, already mentally preparing for the following steps. "I hope he's not like or last guy that stabbed us in the back."

"No...this one peronally works for me." Killian replied.

"About two hours inland," Killian answered. "It's a distant location with heavy fortifications. He dislikes visitors, especially those who arrive unexpectedly."

Killian continued. "Pack what you'll need. We'll leave in thirty minutes. We'll take the boat further up the coast and then hike the rest of the way. It is the safest route."

I swiftly gathered my belongings with my mind set on the work ahead. We didn't have much, but I made sure to include some flash drives and other necessities. As I was finishing up, Killian came over and handed me a tiny map.

"This is the terrain we'll be crossing," he explained, pointing to a location on the map. We'll have to move quickly and remain beneath the radar. To evade detection, we can use a network of old logging roads and trails."

I studied the map and committed the route to memory. "Understood."

With everything ready, we left the cabin and returned to the boat. The morning was cool, the sky was a delicate blue, and there was no evidence of the impending storm in our life. Killian started the engine, and we drove along the coast, the island vanishing behind us.

When we eventually reached a remote stretch of the shore, Killian turned off the engine and we anchored the boat in a secret bay. From here, everything was on foot. The terrain was tough, with deep trees and steep inclines, but we progressed steadily and deliberately.

As we got closer to the place, my pulse quickened. The forest around us was strangely silent, with the only sound being our own footsteps on the damp earth. We approached a little clearing, Killian indicating we stop.

He murmured.

"There," he pointed through the trees.

I followed his eyes and discovered a small, well fortified bunker carved into the side of a hill. It was practically undetectable, blended in with the surrounding greenery.

"How do we approach?" I responded with a whisper.

"Carefully," Killian answered. "Everywhere he goes there is surveillance. We need to make sure he understands we are not a threat."

We entered the clearing with our hands visible, signaling that we were unarmed. As we reached the bunker, I felt the pressure of unseen eyes. Every instinct warned me to be wary.

Suddenly, a voice broke across the air, amplified by hidden speakers. "That's close enough."

We froze. The voice sounded deep and calm.

"We're here to talk," Killian said. "We need your help."

There was a pause followed by a mechanical buzzing noise. A part of the bunker's exterior wall slipped open, exposing a tiny entryway. The voice spoke again.

"Inside. Slowly."

We exchanged glances before moving forward. Stepping into the darkly lighted interior, I couldn't help but feel as if we were walking into the unknown, with no certainty of what would await us.

But there was no going back now. This was our only chance to c***k the drives and gather the evidence we needed to bring Moretti down for good.