BREAK THE HANDLER

The Bait

Dante needed a new strategy. Every move he made, someone anticipated it. Every safehouse, every meeting, every plan—they were all compromised.

He sat in the dark motel room, staring at the map spread across the bed. Red dots marked known network locations. Blue dots marked his safehouses. Yellow dots marked potential Aldrich hideouts.

Naomi sat across from him, watching. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking I've been reacting. Every time they move, I follow. That's what they expect." He tapped the map. "I need to make them react to me."

"How?"

"By giving them something they can't ignore." He pulled out his phone. "I'm going to leak a location. A meeting. I'll tell different people different places. Whoever shows up where I'm not supposed to be is the traitor."

Naomi's eyes widened. "That's risky. They could just send a kill team."

"That's exactly what I want. I want them to reveal themselves." He met her eyes. "I need your help. I need you to spread the word. Tell Viktor I'll be at the old docks tomorrow at midnight. Tell Sasha I'll be at the power plant. Tell your old contacts I'll be at the airport."

Naomi nodded slowly. "And where will you really be?"

"Nowhere. I'll be watching all three locations from a distance. Whoever shows up with a kill team is the one I'm after."

Naomi hesitated. "What if they all show up?"

"Then we have a bigger problem than I thought."

She left to spread the word. Dante stayed in the room, checking his weapons. He had three spares, two knives, and enough ammunition for a small war.

The hours crawled. He watched the clock. Midnight approached.

He took position on a rooftop overlooking the old docks. The location was a maze of rusted containers and crumbling piers. Perfect for an ambush.

From his vantage point, he could see the entire area. He waited.

At 11:45, a black SUV pulled into the docks. Two men got out. They moved cautiously, weapons drawn. They checked the perimeter. They were looking for him.

Dante noted their positions. Not a kill team. Scouts. Someone was testing the location.

At 11:50, a second vehicle arrived. A van. Four men emerged. Heavier weapons. They fanned out, taking cover.

Dante's pulse quickened. Someone was planning to ambush him.

He watched the men. They were professionals. Coordinated. They knew what they were doing.

At 11:55, a third vehicle appeared. A sedan. One man got out. He was older, distinguished. He walked to the center of the docks and waited.

Dante's blood went cold. It was Aldrich.

He was there. In the open. Waiting.

Dante's hand tightened on his weapon. He could take the shot. End it. But Aldrich was surrounded by guards. The shot would be difficult. And if he missed, Aldrich would vanish.

He watched. Aldrich checked his watch. He was waiting for someone.

Who?

At midnight, a figure emerged from the shadows. A woman.

Sasha.

Dante's jaw tightened. She was meeting Aldrich. Behind his back. After everything she'd said about wanting to destroy him.

Sasha approached Aldrich. They spoke. Dante couldn't hear the words, but he could read their body language. Aldrich was calm. Sasha was intense. She gestured, pointed toward the city.

Aldrich nodded. He handed her something. A folder. Then he turned and walked back to his sedan.

Sasha pocketed the folder and disappeared into the shadows.

Dante had seen enough. He descended from the rooftop and moved through the docks. He found a position near the sedan. Aldrich was inside, talking on his phone.

Dante could end it now. A bullet through the window. But he needed information. He needed to know what Sasha was planning.

He backed away and returned to the motel.

Naomi was waiting. "What happened?"

"Aldrich and Sasha met. They're working together. She's not trying to destroy him. She's trying to take control."

Naomi's face went pale. "Then she's been playing us the whole time."

"All of us." Dante sat on the bed. "I need to find out what's in that folder."

"Where is she now?"

"Gone. But I know where she'll go. The factory. That's her base."

Dante stood. "I'm going there tonight. I'm going to find out what she's planning."

Naomi grabbed his arm. "It's a trap. She knows you'll come."

"Then it's a trap I'm walking into willingly." He pulled free. "I've been running for too long. It's time to go on the offensive."

Naomi's eyes searched his. "Then I'm coming with you."

"No. You're staying here. You're my backup. If I don't come back, you know what to do."

Naomi's jaw tightened. "Don't do this."

"I have to."

He left the motel and drove to the factory.

The building was dark. Silent. But lights glowed from the office above.

Dante entered through the loading bay. Moved through the shadows. Climbed the stairs.

Sasha's office door was open. She sat at her desk, reading the folder.

"Cross. I knew you'd come."

"Give me the folder."

Sasha looked up. "Why would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, I'll kill you and take it."

Sasha smiled. "You won't kill me. You need me."

"I don't need anyone."

"You need me to find Aldrich. To bring down the network. You need me to expose the truth about your family." She stood. "I know everything, Cross. Everything about your parents. Everything about Kessler. Everything about the conspiracy that destroyed your life."

Dante's hand moved to his weapon. "Then tell me."

"Not until you agree to help me."

"Help you do what?"

"Help me take control. Aldrich is weak. He's running. I can rebuild the network. Better than before. Stronger. And you can be my second-in-command. My enforcer. My weapon."

Dante shook his head. "I'm done being a weapon."

"Then you're done being alive." Sasha's voice hardened. "Aldrich is already planning his escape. He has a plane ready. He's leaving tonight. If you don't stop him, he'll disappear forever. And you'll never get the closure you need."

Dante stared at her. She was playing him. Again. But she was also right. Aldrich was the key. The final piece of the puzzle.

"Where is he?" Dante asked.

Sasha smiled. "I'll tell you. But first, we make a deal. You help me take control. I give you Aldrich. And I give you the truth about your family."

Dante's jaw tightened. He had no choice. He needed Aldrich. He needed the truth.

"Fine," he said. "We have a deal."

Sasha extended her hand. He shook it.

She pulled out a folder and handed it to him. "Aldrich's location. He's at a private airstrip thirty miles north. His plane leaves at 3 AM."

Dante took the folder. Opened it. Maps. Photos. Security details.

He looked at Sasha. "If you're lying—"

"I'm not. You'll find him there. But you'll need help. He has at least twenty men."

Dante nodded. "I'll handle it."

He turned and left the office.

Outside, the night air was cold. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Naomi.

"I have Aldrich's location. Meet me at the airstrip. 2 AM."

Her reply came fast. "On my way."

Dante got in his car and drove.

The airstrip appeared ahead. Lights. A private jet on the tarmac.

He parked a mile away and approached on foot.

Aldrich was there. Surrounded by guards. He was boarding the plane.

Dante raised his weapon. He had a clear shot.

He pulled the trigger.

The shot rang out. Aldrich dropped.

The guards scattered. Returned fire.

Dante dove for cover. He was outnumbered. Outgunned.

But he had the truth.

Aldrich was dead.

The network was falling.

Dante retreated into the darkness.

His phone buzzed. Naomi.

"I saw the plane. Did you get him?"

"Dead."

Silence. Then: "It's over."

Dante looked back at the airstrip. Chaos. Fire. Confusion.

"It's not over," he said. "Sasha is still out there. She's already planning to rebuild."

"Then we stop her. Together."

Dante nodded. He walked away from the airstrip.

The war was still on.

But he was closer than ever.

---

Can you ever trust someone who's betrayed you, even when they give you what you want?