Book 6: The Devil's Lair

Tatiana

All I can hear as I follow Angelo and the others are our muffled footsteps on the forest floor and the relentless pounding of my heartbeat. I’m already out of breath—even though we’re not running—because the bulletproof vest Angelo made me wear is dragging me down like a weight.

I’ve already drawn my pistol and cocked it, holding it steady in front of me, arms extended and ready for whatever’s ahead. Adrenaline floods my system, sharpening my vision, heightening every sound, every shift in the shadows.

I expected guards—men stationed outside like before, guarding the gates and the main house like when I was kept here. But there’s no one. Where the hell is everyone? Are they inside, waiting for us?

Angelo was certain they weren’t expecting us tonight. So what’s going on?

As if answering my thoughts, he signals us to keep moving. We trail him to the back of the house. The plan is to enter through the kitchen and then split into te