Chapter 5 A Night Raid

The apartment was quiet-too quiet. Eve Bennett stepped inside, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. The weight of the day pressed on her shoulders, but exhaustion didn't stop the unease creeping up her spine.

She locked the door behind her, engaging both the deadbolt and the chain. Maybe it was paranoia, or maybe it was the growing sense that she was being watched.

She dropped her bag onto the kitchen counter, exhaling slowly as she poured herself a glass of water. Her hands trembled slightly-a frustrating betrayal of how much the day had rattled her. She clenched them into fists to stop the shaking

This case was bigger than her, bigger than Luis Ortega. If she won, it wouldn't just put him behind bars-it could unravel a network of corruption, exposing those shielding El Reino Oscuro from within the system.

But was she even capable of winning? The judge had already blocked crucial evidence, weakening her case. The justice system she had built her life around felt less like a system and more like a game-one where the rules had been rigged long before she ever stepped onto the board, and only she seemed oblivious to that fact.

A sharp creak broke the silence.

Eve froze, fingers tightening around the glass. Her heart pounded. It could've been the building settling. The wind. A neighbor maybe.

Then she heard it again.

A slow, deliberate footstep. Not the win. Someone was in her apartment.

Adrenaline surged through her body. She set the glass down carefully, soundless. Her hand inched toward the drawer beside the sink, fingers curling around the cold metal of a kitchen knife.

Another sound. Closer.

A shadow shifted near the hallway leading to her bedroom. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. Her mind raced through options. Run? Fight? Hide? No, hiding was pointless-she was alone, and had just doubled locked the only exist out.

The figure moved fast.

Eve reacted on instinct, hurling the knife toward the intruder. The blade slashed through the air, missing by inches as he dodged. It planted itself into the wall with a dull thud.

Shit.

The man lunged. She twisted away, reaching for anything-a lamp, a book, a frying pan-but before she could grab anything, he caught her wrist. His grip was iron-tight, shoving her back against the counter.

She barely saw his face-he wore a black ski mask, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement.

"I like when they fight back" he muttered.

Eve didn't waste time on words. She drove her knee into his stomach, hard. He grunted, stumbling back just enough for her to break free. She darted toward the front door and slammed into a second intruder.

Two of them?!

A fresh wave of panic shot through her, but she forced it down. The second man was taller, broader, and he moved faster, catching her arm before she could retreat.

She struggled violently, twisting, kicking, and clawing. The first man recovered quickly, coming up behind her and yanking her other arm back.

"Enough," one of them growled.

"Boss wants her alive."

That single word-boss-sent ice down her spine.

El Reino Oscuro.

This wasn't a robbery. This wasn't some random break-in. They had come for her.

She went still for half a second, processing. Then, with a sudden burst of strength, she yanked her head back, slamming her skull into the nose of the man holding her. He let out a strangled curse, his grip loosening. She tried to move quickly but then...

A gun clicked. She froze.

The second man had drawn a pistol, aiming it directly at her. Her breaths came fast and shallow. The man wiped at the blood dripping from his nose, glaring at her with anger.

"Don't. Alive, remember."

The other muttered something in protest.

Then-pain. Sharp and blinding. Something struck the back of her head, the world tilted sideways. The last thing she saw was the dim glow of her kitchen light before-darkness.

-

She woke to the rumbling vibration of an engine beneath her, the air thick with the scent of leather and gasoline. Her wrists ached from the zip ties around them. A blindfold pressed against her eyes, and the slight swaying motion told her she was in the back of a moving vehicle.

El Reino Oscuro cartel. Rage burned through her hazy mind. They had finally made their move.

A deep voice, laced with amusement, broke through the darkness. "She's awake."

"Should I knock her out again?" another voice asked.

"No, leave her. She'd too scared to do anything."

Eve clenched her jaw, suppressing the instinct to lash out. Think, Bennett. There had to be a way out of this.

Then suddenly, something changed.

The SUV lurched violently, tires screeching as the driver swerved. Gunfire erupted, shattering the air.

"Shit! It's an ambush!"

Eve was thrown against the seat as the SUV skidded, bullets pelting the metal frame. Men shouted orders in Spanish, the sound of doors flying open, the crunch of boots against gravel.

Another volley of gunfire.

Someone yanked the door open and dragged her out. Eve hit the cold pavement.

The world spun, but she forced herself to focus. Was this a rescue? Another kidnapping?

Then silence.

"What the hell are we gonna do with her?"

"I say we kill her. We can't kidnap a lawyer." Her blood ran cold.

"That's not your choice to make."

A decision was made.

Rough hands yanked her up, pushing her forward. Before she could resist, she was thrown into what had to be another car.

The door slammed shut.

---

When the car finally stopped, Eve was pulled out. Her hands felt numb from the zip tie around them.

"We received word that some of El Reino Oscuro's members were heading to some rich neighborhood uptown. We guessed it had to be El Gusano's hideout. We thought we could gonna intercept them. Capture him." The voice sounded hesitant, as though the person he spoke to didn't approve.

He continued hesitantly, "A-anyway, we found her instead."

Silence.

"She's a prosecutor," another man muttered with a heavy Spanish accent.

"Interesting." A different voice. She had recognized the other two from earlier, but not this one. The voice was smooth and commanding.

Eve spoke finally. "If you're expecting gratitude, don't hold your breath. You didn't save me. I had it under control."

"And yet, here you are." The voice retorted.

She heard a series of footsteps approach her, getting louder with each step.

Her body tensed and her breath drew quicker. Still, she remained composed.

The steps stopped directly in front of her, then-her blindfold was yanked off.

Her eyes stung from the sudden change in light. She blinked frantically, trying to adjust. When her vision finally cleared, she saw where she was.

A dimly lit underground parking lot. The walls were lined with sleek, high-end cars, the scent of motor oil and cigarette smoke almost palpable in the air.

A group of men stood at the entrance; their eyes sharp with suspicion.

Then, she focused on the man standing before her...

Mateo DeLuca.