The mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
Dante moved down the hallway.
Eyes sharp. Fingers twitching near the console in his jacket.
Elias followed. Calm. Always calm. But Dante could feel the tension beneath.
They entered the command room.
Screens. Files. Devices. Cold light. Cold air.
Dante slammed a folder onto the table.
"They knew."
Elias didn't respond. Just tilted his head. Watched Dante.
"They knew exactly where to hit him," Dante said.
Elias's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"…We eliminated the traitors Caesar recruited. Every last one."
Dante's jaw tightened.
"Not every one."
Elias finally looked him in the eye.
"Explain."
"The hotel attack," Dante said, pointing at the monitor.
"Timing. Routes. Room selection. Precision. Only someone trained by Caesar—or someone loyal to him—could have pulled this off. We thought we eliminated all loose ends."
Elias's brow furrowed.
"You're saying one slipped through?"
"Yes."
Dante's tone was flat. Certain.
"And now they're testing us. Seeing how fast we can react."
Elias sighed, a slow, measured sound.
"Caesar's betrayal of Izana…was unique. Only once. We dealt with it immediately. We thought it was over."
"And yet," Dante said, "…here we are."
In the medical corridor, Leah paced.
Izana's arm was in a cast.
His breathing was steady.
But her mind raced.
Dante appeared, pushing the door open without knocking.
Her head snapped up.
"Dante. What—what happened? What did you find?"
He didn't smile.
"It's worse than we thought."
Her chest tightened.
"Tell me."
"You remember Caesar?"
"How could I forget him," Leah whispered. Swallowing hard. "He betrayed Izana once, but he's…dead. He's been dead for months."
Dante nodded.
"Yes. Three months. But the attack…at the hotel. The timing. The route. The precision. Only someone loyal to him could have done this."
Leah's fingers clenched.
"One of the traitors…from the first betrayal?"
"Yes," Dante said.
"Someone we thought neutralized. They slipped through. Survived. Or we missed them. They acted now."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"…Is Izana…in danger again?"
"For now, he's safe," Dante said.
"…But we need to act fast. Whoever this is—they're clever. And they won't stop."
Leah exhaled.
"…Every time I think he's safe, someone reminds me he's not. He never really is."
Dante's voice softened, almost gently.
"…That's why we fix it. We'll find them. We'll make sure no one touches him again."
Her fingers brushed his cheek.
"…You'll make sure?"
Dante gave a faint smirk.
"I will."
She leaned closer to Izana, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead.
"…You're here. That's what matters."
Dante's gaze flicked at her.
"…Keep that focus. Boss needs you steady. Even if he's sleeping."
Leah nodded. "…I won't leave him."
Back in the command room, Dante and Elias reviewed the footage.
Frame by frame.
Communication logs.
Old records from Caesar's operations.
Patterns emerged.
Dante froze on a frame.
"…Look at this. The way they split. The way they coordinated signals. They weren't improvising. Trained for this exact scenario."
Elias leaned closer.
"…The signature?"
Dante's jaw tightened.
"…Caesar. No doubt. Timing, method, anticipation. Only someone loyal to him could have done this. Someone who survived the fallout from the first betrayal."
Elias let the weight of it sink in.
"…We need to flush them out. Protect Izana. Protect Leah."
Dante leaned back.
"…Exactly. And when the time comes, we make them regret ever thinking they could touch him. Or anyone he loves."
Elias nodded.
"…And Leah stays close. But she doesn't need to know everything yet. Not until we have proof. Panic doesn't help anyone."
Dante's eyes flicked to the monitor showing Leah beside Izana.
"…I'll keep her in the loop. Safe. Izana is strong, but he's vulnerable right now. We can't risk him seeing this until he's ready."
Leah sat beside Izana, hand over his, fingers brushing the cast.
Even resting, he filled the room. Strong. Calm. Her anchor.
She whispered softly.
"…We'll keep you safe. Always."
Dante watched from the doorway.
"…And we will. No one will get near him. Not now. Not ever."
Leah's eyes flicked to him.
"…Dante…thank you."
"Don't thank me," he said.
"…Just stay ready. We have work to do."
She nodded, swallowing hard.
"…I am. I'll stay ready."
Back in the command room, Dante and Elias continued their work.
Dante tapped rapidly at the keyboard.
"…Look here. Hotel comms logs. Some signals were erased—but not all. Small traces left behind. Someone slipped up."
Elias leaned over.
"…We'll find them."
Dante smirked faintly.
"…We will. And when we do…they'll regret it. Every last one."
Elias's voice was quieter, measured.
"…Remember, patience. Precision. Method. The traitor is clever, but we are smarter."
Dante's fingers hovered over the keyboard.
"…Clever, yes. But loyal to a dead man. And loyalty only goes so far when the boss is alive, breathing, and stronger than they remember."
Elias's eyes softened.
"…Leah is watching over him too. She'll be a force we can't underestimate."
Dante's lips quirked.
"…She's more than that. She's his heart. And if anyone threatens him…well, they'll have her to answer to first."
Later, Dante walked back into the medical corridor.
Leah looked up from Izana's side.
"…Any progress?"
Dante shook his head.
"…We know who it is now. Or at least who it traces back to. Someone left alive from Caesar's betrayal. That's all I'm saying for now."
Leah's lips pressed together.
"…I see. Dangerous."
Dante nodded.
"…Very. But we've got it contained. For now. Keep your focus on Izana. And keep him calm. He's still recovering. Any stress—physical or mental—could slow that down."
Leah's hand tightened around Izana's.
"…I know. I won't leave him."
Dante's gaze softened.
"…Good. And Leah? You're allowed to take a breath. Even if just a moment. You need it."
She glanced at him.
"…I'll try."
Dante smirked faintly.
"…Try harder."
Outside, in the shadows, someone watched the mansion.
Silent. Calculating.
The ghost of Caesar was not gone.
And now, they knew the mansion was awake.
Ready.
Watching.
Waiting.