Reborn Heart of Steel

The heat driving through my body, I could hardly contain myself as Chase accelerated up speed and drove away from the burning casino, the oranges and reds of the night sky reflected in the flames behind us. I did not think we were capable of it, to launch a second attack and this time to bring down The Raven’s empire. The casino had been a larger target than the warehouse, and more dangerous too, but it had gone like clockwork. For the first time I saw Chase taking a roundabout route, twisting through county roads as a way of losing a tail, I couldn’t help but smile. Alessandro shot me a look from the driver’s seat and nodded before smiling back at me; I rarely saw him animated, but he was clearly excited. “We really proved it to them this time,” he said in a tone of both astonishment and triumph. Chase simply nodded, keeping his gaze to the front. The Raven will be feeling that one for sure. A casino, you know, is a real money-spinner. ” I put my head back on the headrest to catch my breath: We had been about it, avoiding the presence of persons in the building whilst setting our fires. There had been no casualties, but we had eliminated a number of The Phoenix Organization and disrupted their operations. It was pleasing to be the one to go out there doing something and not merely fighting for your life. At that point, my phone vibrated, which was in my pocket. I pulled it out thinking that I would find a news alert on the fire. Well, instead of doing that, my blood froze when I received an SMS from an unidentified number. Clutching the text in my hands, I started shaking and opened it. Four words glowed on the screen, sending a chill down my spine: Four words glowed on the screen, sending a chill down my spine: “Game on, baby girl. ” Perhaps sensing my discomfort, I made a noise and the moment I did, Chase looked up in the mirror and caught my eye. “Brianne? What’s wrong?” My heart raced as my hands shook while I tried so hard not to be tense when I read the message out loud. This change in behavior silenced the car and the festive disposition was replaced by cold as frost. It’s him, isn’t it? “The Raven,” Alessandro said, his lips turning into a thin line. ”

I just looked at them and dropped my jaw for a moment before I could grasp the situation though deep down we had been expecting this. We were needling one of the most dangerous men in the city. But to see his words on my screen, being aware that he was out there, watching, waiting, in some sense, made me feel almost alive again. . . It made everything suddenly, terrifyingly real.

At this, Chase grasped the wheel even more enthusiastically, his fists white-knuckled. “That’s all that he wants, Bri, is to intimidate you. Don’t allow him to do so. ” I couldn’t help tensing up a little, so I inhaled deeply to calm down. Chase was right. This, of course, was exactly what The Raven wanted he aimed to bring fear into my life, to unbalance me. I just could not have him win. “You are right,” I stated more confidently than I felt. “This does not alter anything,” he said, “We were aware that he would respond, sooner or later. ” Finally, I noticed Alessandro twisted in his chair and looked at me, his face grave like a health officer. “I guess it is about time we lie low for some time now, he will be anticipating an early attack from us. ” I looked at him, and in my eyes he must have seen the flare for battle in me because he nodded grimly and said, “No. No, that’s why we need to strike him again, and the sooner, the better. He thinks he’s got us on the run, that we’ll flee and hide from him. Chase looked me straight in the eyes through the mirror and I could see that there was concern but also respect in his eyes. ‘Are you certain, Bri? If he has become aware of us, it is going to be even riskier from now on. ” Good!, I thought, my mind already plotting ways of how I was going to win him over. ‘Yes we are sure. We cannot stop now. What next?’ Alessandro took out his laptop, showing me the list of Phoenix Organization affiliate properties that we had managed to put together. ‘They have a strip club downtown, the Red Phoenix, and it’s one of their largest facilities, lots of unlawful conduct behind the scenes. ‘ “Yes,” I told him, moving closer to study the screen and adding, “Perfect. ” “That’s where we will strike next” Chase said, looking like a man with a plan, “Tonight. ” Chase raised an eyebrow. ‘And do it tonight? That sounded a bit on the fast side. ‘ ‘Well, that is the point,’ I said quickly, I was getting more and more comfortable sharing my opinion with him. “The Raven will be tearing his hair trying to defend his property, but he won’t be expecting us to move again so soon! This is the time to capitalize on him. ” Chase and Alessandro looked at each other and the silence filled the room for some few seconds. Finally, Alessandro nodded. I’m in. We’ve seen the potential and reasonable profit that is possible in this market. Shaking my head, I continued, Chase just groaned, smiling faintly. ‘You are both out of your minds,’ Chase said, but then he thought about it and agreed ‘Alright, let’s go. ‘ The next few hours were used for preparation as well as assembling items needed and re-strategizing. The strip club would be far more complex to set ablaze than the casino or the warehouse. It would remain open very late into the night when people would be working, as well as customers, inside the business. We had to be very cautious so as not to cause any person an accident. Being nighttime, we parked the car a few blocks from The Red Phoenix. The neon was red-colored the street in a rather sickly hue and the bass was audible even from here. I drew in the air, confronted with what I was yet to be faced with. “Do you people understand the plan?” I asked Chase and Alessandro. They all agreed as their stiff jaws indicated that they were determined to do the job. This time we’d have agreed to go separately. Alessandro was to make a noise at the entrance of the club, whilst Chase and I went round the back to put our pyrotechnic devices in. “You be careful in there,” Chase smiled softly and gave me a slight kiss on the lips. “I love you. ” ‘I love you too,’ I murmured softly, which made me cringe thinking of how, perhaps, this might be the last time I’d be telling him that.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.