Chapter 5 TRAITOR LURKING IN THE SHADOWS

"I never said my family was clean."

Valerio's tone was calm. Terrifyingly so. Aurora opened the folder and froze. The face in the photograph belonged to someone she had met just hours ago. One of the senior guards. Dorian Holt. Calm. Loyal. The kind of man who looked far too obedient to ever betray anyone.

Aurora looked up. "Why me?"

Valerio leaned back. "Because you don't know anyone here. You have no interests. No blind loyalty."

Something cold crept into Aurora's chest.

"And besides," Valerio added softly, "I want to see how you react when you're ordered to kill someone who's supposed to be your ally."

Aurora fell silent.

"If you hesitate," Valerio's gaze bored into her, "you're no different from them."

"Oh?" Aurora leaned forward. "And what does that make me?"

"Weak." Valerio didn't blink. "And weak people don't live long under me."

Aurora clenched her jaw. "I won't hesitate."

"Good." Valerio stood and slowly walked around the desk, stopping close behind her. "Because one thing needs to be clear..."

He halted directly behind her. His breath was almost against her neck.

"...you work for me, Aurora Vale. You move when I order you to. And you stop when I tell you to stop."

Aurora felt her heart pound anger mixed with adrenaline surging through her veins.

"You're testing my limits?" she said quietly.

"I want to know if you have any," Valerio replied.

Aurora turned her head slightly, looking at him over her shoulder. "If I kill someone who turns out to be innocent, that means it's your mistake."

Valerio let out a soft laugh. "I'm never wrong."

Aurora snorted. "Until the day you are."

A heavy silence filled the room. Valerio studied her, as if deciding whether her words warranted anger... or deeper interest.

"I look forward to that day," Valerio said at last. "Because that day will decide whether I kill you... or keep you."

Aurora stood. "Give me the mission details."

Valerio regarded her for a moment, then pulled out his phone and sent a file.

"Live location. Timing's on your phone. He thinks he's on a routine assignment watching the northern warehouse. You'll stay off the radar. If he meets someone he shouldn't-"

Valerio lifted a finger, pressed it lightly to Aurora's temple, then slowly pulled it back like an invisible trigger. "-eliminate him."

Aurora took the folder. "And if he doesn't meet anyone?"

"Then," Valerio stepped closer until only inches separated them, "you follow him tomorrow. And the day after. And after that. Until you find the answer."

Aurora didn't look away.

"But remember, Aurora..." Valerio's voice dropped, low and cutting, "...if Dorian isn't the traitor, then whoever leaked my information is still free. And that person will hunt anyone who gets too close to me."

Aurora lifted her chin slightly. "Including me?"

"Especially you."

She didn't need him to say the rest. Because you've drawn the attention of someone you should never have drawn.

Aurora nodded once. "Understood, boss. The mission starts tonight."

She turned and headed for the door. But before she stepped out, Valerio spoke again.

"Aurora."

She stopped without turning. "Don't be the one who dies at the end of this mission."

Aurora smiled faintly. "I don't plan on dying. Not yet."

"Good," Valerio said quietly. "Because I'm not done testing you."

Aurora closed the door behind her. At 02:17 that night, Aurora was already on the rooftop of a parking structure, her body concealed behind a concrete wall, watching the warehouse Dorian was assigned to guard. Dim lights illuminated the entrance. Dorian stood below, like any ordinary guard.

Aurora scanned the area through a compact scope, tracking every movement within a two hundred meter radius. Seconds ticked by. Rain began to fall. Dorian barely moved standing, smoking, then walking toward the back of the warehouse. Aurora followed from above, a shadow trailing another shadow.

She descended using the side fire ladder, landing silently in the rear yard. Dorian slipped inside. Aurora entered through a broken window on the left side. Her steps were soundless. Her breathing slow. The warehouse was dark, thick with the smell of metal and rotting wood. Dorian stopped in the center of the room. Aurora raised her pistol. Then-

Click!

The lights snapped on. Aurora narrowed her eyes. Dorian was already aiming his gun straight at her hiding place.

"Come out," Dorian said coldly. "I know you followed me."

Aurora slowly rose from behind the wooden crates. Dorian watched her with an unreadable expression. And his first sentence made her freeze.

"How long does Valerio plan on testing our loyalty?"

Aurora stiffened. That wasn't the voice of a traitor. That was the voice of someone who knew far more than he should. She didn't lower her gun. Neither did he.

"You think I'm the traitor?" Dorian asked calmly.

"I think you're hiding something."

Dorian smirked. "We all hide something from Valerio."

Aurora didn't move. "Prove you're not the enemy."

Dorian stared at her for a long moment. Then he spoke quietly words that made Aurora's body slowly go cold.

"Aurora... I'm not the one who leaked the information." He lowered his gun, inch by inch. "Because that person... has been watching you since the day you entered the mansion."

Aurora tightened her finger on the trigger. "Who?"

Dorian swallowed, his eyes sharp with warning.

"The one who wants Valerio dead. The one who wants everyone close to Valerio dead." He took a step closer. "The one who... wants you dead, Aurora."

Aurora steadied her weapon. "Name."

Dorian shook his head. "I only have one clue."

Aurora waited.

"He's not an outsider." Dorian's breath hitched. "He's... on the inside. Someone who stands very close to Valerio."

Aurora's heart slammed against her ribs.

"Very close..." she repeated softly. "Who?"

Dorian finally answered. And the single name made Aurora feel like her body froze in place.

"Vixen."

Silence swallowed the warehouse not the absence of sound, but the kind of silence that held its breath along with Aurora. The name hung in the air. Aurora stared at Dorian without blinking, her gun still raised. Outside, the rain intensified, pounding against the metal roof like war drums.

"Say it again," Aurora said slowly.

"Vixen," Dorian repeated. "He's the one. He leaked the meeting information."