Chapter 4 The test

The dim light of the warehouse cast long shadows as Victor stood in front of her, his expression unreadable. Emily had spent months training, her body hardened by pain, her mind sharpened like a blade. She had learned to fight, to kill, to lie, and to vanish into the night like a ghost. But this... this was the moment that would decide if she was truly ready.

Victor reached into his pocket and pulled out a single photograph, tossing it onto the table between them.

A man's face stared back at her. Stefan Ricci.

Emily's eyes narrowed as she picked up the photo. The name wasn't familiar, but she could tell just from the hard angles of his face that he wasn't an ordinary target.

"Who is he?" she asked.

Victor leaned against the table, his gaze never leaving hers. "Stefan Ricci is a money launderer. Works for the Moretti Family, low-level, but important. He manages offshore accounts for Don Carlo, and if he ever got caught, he'd have enough evidence to cripple their operations."

Emily studied the photo. Ricci looked like the kind of man who thought he was untouchable. That kind of arrogance made people reckless.

Victor continued, his voice calm but firm. "Your task is simple, eliminate him."

Evelyn's jaw tightened. She had trained for this moment, but taking a life was different from learning how to do it.

Victor stepped closer, his presence imposing. "If you can kill him without leaving a trace, no witnesses, no evidence, no police investigation then you're ready. If you fail..." He let the words hang between them. "Then you're just another body waiting to be buried."

Emily let out a slow breath, setting the photo down. "Where is he?"

Victor smirked slightly, as if pleased with her immediate acceptance. "He frequents a private casino downtown. Heavy security, but nothing you can't handle. He drinks, he gambles, he sleeps with the same blonde every Thursday. Predictable."

She nodded, already piecing together the puzzle in her mind. No mistakes. No loose ends. No hesitation.

Victor's voice softened just slightly. "This is the last step, Emily. Once you do this, there's no going back. Are you ready for that?"

She met his gaze, the fire in her chest burning hotter than ever.

"They took everything from me," she said, voice steady. "I'm ready to take everything from them."

Victor's smirk widened. "Good."

He reached into his coat and slid something across the table. A gun.

Evelyn didn't take it. Instead, she looked him in the eye. "I won't need that."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."

She turned away, gripping the photo of Stefan Ricci tightly. She had a job to do.

And she was going to make sure the Moretti Family never saw her coming.