Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Knew the Building Better Than the Boss
The tunnel entrance was hidden beneath the orchestra pit.
Luca knew the general location.
Elena knew how to find it.
She listened.
Water moved beneath the floor.
Air traveled through a narrow shaft.
A hollow space existed beneath the stage.
"Here."
They pulled back the wooden panels.
A passage opened.
They descended.
Behind them, gunfire erupted.
Luca pulled Elena close.
"Run."
They moved through darkness.
The tunnel twisted beneath the opera house.
At one point, the ceiling collapsed.
Elena fell.
Luca caught her.
His hand closed around her waist.
For a second, they stared at each other.
"You okay?"
"Yes."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Good."
He didn't release her.
She noticed.
"So..."
He looked down.
"Yes?"
"You can let go now."
"I know."
He still didn't.
She smiled despite herself.
"You always this stubborn?"
"Only when I'm worried."
That answer silenced her.
They continued.
Eventually the tunnel opened into an old railway platform.
Waiting there was a man.
Daniel.
Alive.
Elena stopped.
Her world seemed to disappear.
"Daniel?"
Her brother turned.
"Elena."
She ran.
They collided.
She cried against him.
Daniel held her.
"I thought you were dead."
"I needed everyone to think I was."
"Why?"
"Because I found out who was behind everything."
Luca approached.
Daniel looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
Luca's expression was hard.
"You're dead."
"I know."
"Your sister watched you die."
Daniel looked at Elena.
"I had no choice."
Elena stepped back.
"You let me believe you were dead."
"I had to."
"Why?"
Daniel pulled a small drive from his coat.
"Because your father is alive."
Elena froze.
"My father died."
"No."
Daniel shook his head.
"He disappeared twelve years ago."
Luca stared.
"Why didn't you tell her?"
"Because he made me promise."
Daniel looked at Elena.
"He was working undercover."
"For whom?"
Daniel's eyes shifted toward Luca.
"The government."
Silence.
Luca laughed bitterly.
"My family has been infiltrated for twenty years?"
"Not infiltrated."
Daniel shook his head.
"Controlled."
He explained.
Luca's father had created the identity network.
But years later, he discovered someone above him.
A secret organization called The Atlas.
They controlled judges, corporations, criminal families, and intelligence officials.
Luca's father tried to leave.
Atlas threatened his family.
So he faked his death.
Daniel had discovered the truth and infiltrated the network.
Elena stared at the drive.
"What does this contain?"
"Names."
"Whose names?"
"Everyone."
Then footsteps echoed through the tunnel.
Daniel looked toward the darkness.
"They found us."
Luca drew his gun.
"How many?"
Daniel's face tightened.
"Enough."
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Elena ducked.
Luca fired toward the muzzle flashes.
Daniel grabbed Elena.
"Move!"
They ran toward the railway tunnel.
Behind them, the platform exploded into chaos.
Then Elena heard something.
A voice.
Familiar.
"Elena!"
She stopped.
Her father.
Alive.
Standing in the darkness.
"Baby girl."
May you like
She turned.
And the man she had mourned for twelve years stepped into the light.
