Page 75 of The Diávolos: Part Two
“He’s responsible for too much death and pain. We can’t let him off the hook.”
I remember when I first brought up the plan to kill Angelica’s father, how quick she was to reject the idea. But it seems like she’s warming up to it more and more.
By the time we arrive at the meet-up location with the others and I pull over, Angelica’s fingers are tapping against her thigh in an erratic rhythm. When I reach over to touch her, her shoulders bunch up and her arms cross protectively over her chest.
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. We can go in without you,” I say in a gentle tone.
“No, I want to help, I swear, but I feel stuck. So much has happened—it’s too much to handle,” she murmurs.
I hug her against my chest. “One day, you’ll be happy again, I promise. You’ll look back at this bullshit and realize how strong you are, how resilient you’ve become.”
She doesn’t pull away and, for a few moments, we stay like this. Too soon, she moves away with a sigh. “When I went back to my house, Eldora showed me a box of my mother’s belongings, and I found a note she’d written before she passed. She said something like that in one of them, that I’m strong, but I don’t believe it right now, Evan.”
“Look around you, my angel. Look at what you’ve been doing, what you’ve accomplished. It might seem like you’re stuck, but it’s the complete opposite.”
She breathes in deeply.
“You just have to believe it,” I say, letting my thumb caress her jaw. “Fake it ’til you make it.”
Angelica lets out a nervous chuckle, an attempt to diffuse her inner turmoil.
“You ready?” I ask.
She nods.
“Then, let’s go.”
We meet the others to plot the attack. They’re all gathered around their cars in an isolated stretch of the land near the forest.
Xander pulls out a blueprint of the underground tunnels and a map, and places them on the hood of his car. With a steady voice, I begin outlining our mission and the strategy. “The Sisterhood's stronghold lies above these tunnels.” I point to the map. “It’s guarded by layers of security and a web of secrecy. We’re determined to pierce through the veil and uncover the truth that has eluded us for far too long.” They all gesture for me to continue. “Our mission is to gather vital information about the leaders of the Sisterhood that will allow us to bring them down and shut down the institution.”
Eyes locked in determination, the team nods in agreement. “Our entry point will be on the outskirts of the land at the edge of the forest. Xan made arrangements to ensure the coast is clearby distracting the guards. The below passageways lead directly to the heart of the Sisterhood’s main building.”
Xander points to a path on the north side of the Sisterhood. “We'll need to move swiftly and silently. Here is the main point of entrance to the tunnels. If we go through the forest here.” He places a finger on the trail. “We have less chances of being seen. I’ve disabled all the cameras facing that way, but there are still guards on the property.”
“If you encounter any, make sure to eliminate them before they get the chance to radio for backup,” I add.
As we delve deeper into the details, the gravity of our mission weighs on everyone. Our plan has to be flawless; any misstep could lead to exposure and dire consequences.
“At the same time, Angelica will enter the establishment through the main doors over here,” Xander says, pointing to the map.
“Once inside, she’ll gather intel," I add. Angelica’s frame stiffens next to me. I place my hand on the small of her back and keep it there for support. She softens at the contact.
Xander looks at her for confirmation.
“Got it,” she says.
“Alright, let’s do this,” I declare.
I kiss Angelica’s forehead. “See you on the other side, angel.”
21
ANGELICA
“Scream so that one day a hundred years from now another sister will not have to dry her tears wondering where in history she lost her voice.”
—Jasmin Kaur
