Rome, Italy
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoKbakZ7El
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXGBJFRvWk
Both worked efficiently, gathering their gear. Bree retrieved a pistol for Mathis, along with extra magazines from a hidden compartment. Mathis couldn't help but smile as he inspected the weapon meticulously, checking the magazines before holstering it with precision. As they put on their jackets, Mathis glanced at Bree.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGDCFjMk0Z
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsZdxEZW6n
"Do we have any vehicles here?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh12Px3tH1d
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOWUXhPgEH
Bree's gaze turned teasing, her lips curling into a playful smile as she retrieved a key from a drawer and tossed it to him. Mathis caught it, examining the key with a grin.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqtL7jGyFT
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCIwHzOX0y
"A Mini Cooper S? Should handle the narrow streets just fine."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQNLpWZKcL
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMHZU9WSWK
Bree laughed, and they walked out of the apartment together.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS2TGGZaRN
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMEvpYhQYj
In the dimly lit garage, Mathis uncovered the car beneath a dusty tarp. As he pulled off the cover, a dark blue Mini Cooper S emerged, modified with rugged, round extra lights and shiny sporty rims that complemented the car's sleek undercarriage. Mathis looked at Bree, raising an eyebrow.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrkWY9I8y9
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIRoOohYOL
"Modified?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuFVY5NzZK
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDQX6szdt3
She laughed. "Of course. It needs some punch."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAs5Sran8q
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIq7fevRQb
The engine roared to life with a deep, booming tone as they set off. With the garage's address plotted into the GPS, they navigated through Rome's winding, bustling streets. Bree admired the historic landscape bathed in morning sunlight. The sights stirred memories of a simpler time, when her role here had been vastly different—undercover as a model in a city that now felt like a battlefield.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwZ0kqIMSD
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWkHqr5KtZ
Mathis, his eyes focused on the road, was less captivated by the city's beauty. The looming threat weighed on him, sharpening his senses. Every passing car, every pedestrian felt like a potential danger. He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel, tension coiling within him.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMDNxWfdUU
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnff4T3Ai8N
A sleek black car rolled through a checkpoint ahead. Mathis's eyes locked onto the driver, his pulse quickening. The face was unmistakable—sharp jawline, smooth black hair, and cold eyes that matched a face he had met long ago.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjprBGCNHS
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8uSbi6mXm
"Vince Slovek?" Mathis murmured, a mix of surprise and anger in his voice.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOecnZQDG3
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIwQ0bAE22
Bree looked over at Mathis, her eyes widening. "You know him?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqROyadSUx
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnasa9nRup
Mathis nodded, his expression tightening. "Yes. He's younger than me, but we were part of a joint operation years ago. We flew two helicopters into hostile territory to stop a guerrilla group. Both were shot down. I was the only survivor but completed the mission alone. How could he have survived?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSK72kA9vh
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNx3V2yMQOP
The question lingered, unresolved, as they followed Slovek's car discreetly through the crowded streets. Mathis's hands gripped the wheel tighter, his mind reeling with confusion and suspicion. Bree, noticing his tension, studied his face but said nothing, her concern growing.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjT4UnJILY
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0t6IvvwsY
Several stops through the busy city yielded little progress. They trailed Vince closely, snapping pictures of everyone he interacted with. None of the faces brought them closer to their goal. Bree's eyes remained on Mathis, noting his mounting frustration.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl1GMWi5zu
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mytYrumxO
"This isn't just about tracking him down," Bree said, her voice tight. "If Vince is involved, it's bigger than we thought."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg75bhyCE0M
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq0LjxvQOb
Eventually, Vince parked outside the Colosseum ruins. Mathis and Bree kept their distance, moving stealthily through the maze of ancient stones. The grandeur of the Colosseum loomed over them, its weathered walls whispering of battles fought centuries ago. As Mathis crouched behind a crumbling pillar, he couldn't help but draw a parallel between the ancient combat and their own deadly game in these ruins. It felt as if they were part of some timeless struggle, a battle of survival written into the city's very bones.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzEIXaipM2
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs47yUUqMkg
Vince paused by a section of the ruins that had once been a grand staircase leading up to the tribune. A new figure emerged—a man in a long gray coat and a hat. His posture was rigid, his movements precise. Mathis's gaze sharpened, instinctively recognizing this man as a key player.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5o8Q5MGeO
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XIyQ0ujYk
Hidden behind the ruins, Bree's heart raced. The stones felt cold despite the warm morning sun. She shot a glance at Mathis, sensing they were missing something crucial, a piece of the puzzle just out of reach. The gray-clad man turned slightly, revealing part of his profile.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSUvtTc0d8
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzunr43eXg
The two men spoke in low tones. The gray-clad man handed something to Vince—a phone. The exchange was brief, but the significance was undeniable. Mathis's gut tightened. This was the break they needed, but it was slipping through their fingers.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVyDVA74FO
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6cQ1FktnW
As the gray-clad man walked away, Mathis prepared to follow. Suddenly, Vince spun around, gun drawn. Bullets ricocheted off the stones. Mathis and Bree dove for cover, adrenaline surging.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwXn1FCEzb
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0OMGn3nde
Mathis fired back, his shots precise, forcing Vince to duck. He moved quickly, staying low behind the ancient stones as the gunfire echoed through the ruins. Bree, her breath coming in sharp bursts, was rattled but held her ground. She caught Mathis's eye for a fleeting second, the unspoken question clear: Are you okay?
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QAAzRGPKI
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtjuCmy8rb
Another volley of bullets cut the moment short. Two more assailants appeared, closing in. One lunged at Mathis, swinging hard. Mathis blocked the strike, twisting the man's arm sharply until a sickening crunch filled the air. The man's scream was quickly silenced as he crumpled to the ground.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFNnfIuI1c
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpEUTA5kCc
Bree fought fiercely with her own attacker. Mathis, seeing the struggle, moved in, delivering a brutal blow to the man's side. With a sharp kick to the knee, the man collapsed. Mathis turned to Bree, his hand brushing against her face, searching for signs of injury.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSa5lEDWRO
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRykBBXjWgA
"You okay?" he asked, his voice low, filled with concern.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnsXSGaGgI
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqWgrjnhUs
Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the world around them seemed to fade. Bree took his hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm okay."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVVII16e4Y
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lzBkiqHnm
Mathis quickly snapped back to the urgency of the moment. "Let's go!" he urged, pulling her along. They sprinted to the Mini Cooper as Vince's car roared to life in the distance, tires screeching as it sped away.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLohLvMGjE
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCekWsohoU
Without hesitation, Mathis and Bree followed, weaving through the chaotic Roman streets. The traffic was thick, the noise of the city adding to the tension as they maneuvered between cars, determined not to lose their target.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACd3BkImSi
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtA2kMVPgdO
"The car's too far ahead," Bree said, her voice laced with worry. "We need another route."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVH9tDUI3a
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTByk2vdPf1
Mathis's eyes scanned the streets, his mind working rapidly. "We'll catch him. We have to."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfNaUwQVxQ
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq0Jsz3jYw
With expert precision, Mathis pushed the Mini Cooper to its limits. As they approached a sharp curve on a winding road, he saw his opportunity. He nudged Vince's car, sending it skidding off balance. The black vehicle slammed into a stone barrier, teetering on the edge of a cliff.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2GBZX8alY
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTXSegvmK6
Mathis stopped the Mini and approached the wreckage slowly. Vince's face was pale, blood trickling from his lips, but his eyes still held defiance.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVlG7UYVud
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOON6PsfsU
"You're done, Kristensen," Vince rasped. "You just don't know it yet. Soon, everything will change."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCfaXnB4qf
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPY8dWZ8HQ
"What's going to happen?" Mathis demanded, but Vince only smiled as his car slid off the cliff, tumbling down before crashing violently. His body was flung out, landing with a sickening thud.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt73vVbJOao
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2T1gaeoQBS
The approaching sirens broke the silence. Mathis stared at the wreck, his mind racing. Bree placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice soft but urgent. "We need to go."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o1vhzjecE
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCCBIlgidq
Mathis nodded, still shaken. "Whatever's coming... we don't have much time."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgNWF43286
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTkP3u6w60
They sped off into the distance, the weight of Vince's cryptic warning hanging over them.
ns 15.158.61.46da2
