Chapter 5 Devil's Bargain

SCARLETT'S POV

The flash drive burned a hole in my pocket. I sat in the dim glow of Xavier's safe house monitors, scrolling through Elena Volkov's encrypted files. Every page dripped with blood, blackmail operations, assassinations, entire governments bought and sold. And there, buried in subfolder seven: Vaughn, J. Termination Order. My finger hovered over the key. "You don't have to look." Xavier's voice came from the doorway, rough with exhaustion. I clicked it anyway. The document loaded in brutal clarity.Target: Jonathan Vaughn. Authorization: Daniel Vaughn. Payment: $20 million. Assigned Operative: Cross, X. The screen blurred. Xavier was across the room in two strides, ripping the keyboard from my hands. "That is forged." I stood so fast my chair toppled. "Prove it." He typed furiously, pulling up another file."Look at the metadata. The signature's cloned. Someone planted this." I studied the code. He was right-the dates didn't match. The order was placed after my father's death. "Elena." The realization tasted like bile. "She knew you would show me these files eventually." Xavier's jaw tightened. "She's covering her tracks." I paced the cramped room, adrenaline burning through my veins. "We need leverage. Something she can't fake." "There's one possibility." He hesitated. "The Syndicate vault in Monaco." I stopped mid-step. "The impregnable vault?" "Where they keep originals of every contract." His gaze locked onto mine. "Including your father's." I laughed bitterly. "So we just waltz into the most secure facility on earth?" "No." He pulled up blueprints on screen. "We get invited." The plan unfolded between us, dangerous and dazzling. A high-stakes gala. A disguised approach. And the one thing Elena valued more than secrets "Her diamond collection," I murmured, tracing the security schematics. Xavier nodded. "She adds a new piece every year. The gala's her pride and joy." I studied the documents, then him. "You have been planning this awhile." "Waiting for the right partner." His thumb brushed a cut on my knuckles. "Someone as crazy as I am." I pulled away. "This is not a partnership." "Then what is it?" "Justice." I grabbed my jacket. "Pack your tux, Cross. We're going to Monaco.

XAVIER'S POV

The Côte d'Azur glittered below as our plane descended. Scarlett slept in the next seat, her dark hair tousled against the headrest. In the golden morning light, she looked almost peaceful. I knew better. The moment we landed, she would be a live wire again-all sharp edges and sharper instincts. I had seen her take down six men in as many seconds. Watched her hack systems that would make the NSA blush. And now I was leading her straight into the viper's nest. My phone buzzed with an encrypted message: "Gala security tripled. She knows you're coming." I deleted it. Scarlett stirred, her eyes fluttering open. For a heartbeat, unguarded, she looked at me with something almost like trust. Then she remembered. Her spine straightened, voice crisp with suspicion. "How long till landing?" "Twenty minutes." I passed her a tablet. "Time to memorize your alias." She scrolled through the dossier-Lady Antonia Beaumont, British heiress and gem collector. "Cute. You get to be yourself while I play dress-up?" "You want to walk in as Scarlett Vaughn?" She smirked. "Point taken." The plane touched down with a jolt. As we taxied, I handed her a velvet box. "Your ticket in." Inside rested an exquisite sapphire necklace-the exact shade of Elena's signature color. Scarlett whistled. "Stolen?" "Borrowed." I fastened it around her neck, my fingers lingering on her pulse. "Try not to lose it." She caught my wrist. "One condition." "Name it." "If we find that contract..." Her nails dug in just enough to hurt. "I pull the trigger on Elena." I held her gaze. "Deal."

SCARLETT (Monaco, Evening)

The Monte Carlo Grand Hotel dripped with obscene wealth. Chandeliers the size of cars. Champagne flowing over ice sculptures. And everywhere, the glitter of diamonds on tanned skin. I adjusted my emerald-green gown, feeling the weight of the wire sewn into its seams. Across the ballroom, Xavier schmoozed with arms dealers in a tux that cost more than most cars. Right on schedule, Elena made her entrance. She floated down the staircase in a white gown, her platinum hair coiled like a crown. The crowd parted like she was royalty. Because here, she was. I grabbed a champagne flute and moved. "Madame Volkov!" My British accent was flawless. "What an absolute

pleasure." Elena's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Lady Beaumont. I adore your necklace." "Yours is divine." I gestured to her diamond choker. "Van Cleef?" "Custom." Her fingers brushed the gems. "Like all my treasures." Xavier appeared at my elbow. "Ladies." Elena's gaze turned predatory. "Xavier. I wondered if you'd come." "Wouldn't miss it." He raised his glass. "To old friends." "To loyalty, " she corrected, watching me. The orchestra struck up a waltz. Xavier bowed. "May I?" Elena's laugh tinkled like broken glass. "By all means. But return her intact." His hand settled on my back as we swept onto the dance floor. "Third pillar," he murmured against my hair. "Pressure plate behind it." I spun us closer to the vault entrance. "She knows you." "Not as well as she thinks." His grip tightened. "Security's changing shifts in ninety seconds." The music swelled. We moved as one, a lethal harmony. At the pillar, I pretended to stumble. Xavier caught me, his body shielding mine as I palmed the scanner override from my garter. A soft beep. The hidden door slid open an inch. Elena's voice cut through the crowd. "Xavier, darling" I melted into the shadows as he turned, flashing that infuriating smirk. "Elena. Let's talk." The door sealed behind me with a whisper. Darkness. Then motion sensors flickered on, revealing the vault. Walls of safety deposit boxes. A display case with Elena's newest diamond. And in the far corner, an antique desk. My father's file lay atop it. As if waiting.

XAVIER

Elena's nails bit into my arm. "Did you really think I would not notice?" She gestured subtly two of her goons flanking the vault door. I kept my voice light. "Notice what?" "Her." Elena's smile turned vicious. "Scarlett Vaughn in a wig doesn't stop being Scarlett Vaughn." The orchestra reached a crescendo. I downed my drink. "Guess I overestimated you." Her eyes narrowed. "What?" The explosion rocked the ballroom. Not large, just enough to shatter the champagne tower and send guests screaming. In the chaos, I broke the glass against Elena's head. She went down hard. I sprinted for the vault, taking out her guards with two clean shots. The door was already open. Scarlett stood frozen, staring at an open file. "Move!" I grabbed her arm. She didn't budge. "This is not just about my father." I glanced at the papers. Felt the blood drain from my face. Project Blackout. A list of names. And at the top, Cross, L. Vaughn, J. Volkov, E. Our parents. All murdered. All by the same hand. Scarlett's voice was steel. "Who the hell is.." The vault door slammed shut behind us. Elena's laughter echoed through hidden speakers. "Game over, darlings..."