Page 72 of Eternal
Their eyes flicked to me first, then to her, and I noticed the brief hesitation in their gazes when they saw Voron, it wasn’t just fear but also a hint of respect.
My partner was feared even in the Cosa Nostra ranks. How interesting.
One of them spoke first, his voice gruff. “The Don told us that you’ll need help for your plan. He told us to follow Voron’s orders.”
I met his gaze, not backing down. “Good,” I replied.
Another man, his face marred with a scar running from his eye to his cheek, stepped forward. His eyes narrowed at Voron. “It’s an honor to meet you.” His tone was almost respectful, admirating even.
She didn’t flinch, she shook his hand with a firm grip, her eyes locked on his without a flicker of emotion. “No need for that,” she said coolly.
The men exchanged looks but didn’t argue, they were used to her, they all knew the stories, the persona behind that name, Voron, and they all respected her.
But there was something else about her that seemed to leave them a bit scared.
I nodded slightly. “Let’s get this done.”
Voron stepped back and took out from her pocket a map, she laid it down on the car’s hood and started explaining the plan.
They simply nodded and moved around her to listen, and I watched. Her commanding these men, focused and ready. She planned it all and never asked my opinion on it, after all, I wasn’t a commander here, I was her partner.
“Okay, listen,” I said, my voice even. “We’ve got a shipment to find, and I’m not about to waste time on anything that’s not part of the plan.”
One of the men shifted, “What exactly are we looking for?”
I exchanged a brief glance with her, she didn’t seem fazed by the question or the undercurrent of doubt lacing the man’s tone, instead, she moved with that deliberate calm that made people follow her without question, like the answer was already decided, and they were merely pieces in her mind.
“We’re looking for a shipment of weapons. Hidden somewhere in the industrial district, the usual drill. We find it, we secure it, and we move out, but here’s the breakdown.”
She stepped closer to the map and pointed to the exits. “We’ll need three positions covered. Two of you will take the west exit, two others, the north, and for the east, this car will be parked there as backup, even if there’s no one inside.” Her eyes scanned the group, and her voice hardened. “No lights, no noise, and if Damir and I don’t return after thirty minutes, you leave. Understood?”
They nodded, albeit hesitantly.
There was something almost... unnerving about how easily she handled all of this. The simplicity of her plan, how she controlled the room, it made it hard to forget how dangerous she was.
Such an interesting target, never thought I’d be so amused during any mission.
“Let’s get to work, then,” I said, breaking the silence, the men moved without hesitation, knowing their roles, knowing their orders.
As we started walking toward the building, I caught her gaze one last time.
“Stay close,” I muttered to her as we moved further in the mission zone.
She didn’t respond immediately, but after a moment, I heard her voice. “Better be a quick mission, I have other things to take care of.”
23
AZRA
“Risingson” by Massive Attack
Present
Two missions in one, easy. But the huge man behind me who won’t leave me alone for more than a second is a variable I never had to worry about before.
Damir is a pain right now.
That’s okay, I have three minutes alone to find something.
