Revenge of the Resilient

e was to face the rising threat, which pressed against her temples like a dull headache. She promised herself she'd never get pulled

k's quiet corner, obscured from busy eyes of this city. Lysandra handed Elara a folder full of photogr

area nervously. They call themselves The Black Thorn Syndicate. They special

expensive suit, his face no warmer than the river at that hour of night, but cold nonetheless. Scrawled below his picture: Luca Moret

re about anything but control. Adrian was a fool to get involved with them. They won't stop unti

looked at Lysandra. "Let th

don't fight by the rules. They will learn your weakness and you will

on't know what fear is

le who knew the shadowy world in which the Black Thorn Syndicate moved. Information was power, and she wanted to know everything-Luca's operations, his weaknesses, and

ry night with the anticipation of what was surely headed his way. He hadn't heard from Elara since their covert tryst; secretly he knew she

ered, his words slurr

ce. The smell of stale alcohol and sweat filled the air, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Tr

s. "I didn't mean for this to happen... I thought I cou

man who shattered her life. Now he stood before her, nothing but a shell-a broken, pathetic shadow of who he on

eed something from you now. Luca doesn't trust too many people, but you've been in his

ith guilt and fear. "You don't know wha

ce, Adrian. You know how that ended. This is y

feated. "Fine. I'll tell

key associates and details of his finances, all part of the syndicate's networks. And Elara's mind went a million miles per ho

t to cross the border into the city was held. Media thronged this story, whispering that Luca's stranglehold over the city was now beginning to loosen. Meanwhile, behind

ew somebody was coming for h

n unknown number. She answered, and

say I underrated you. You made quite a mess

ightly in her hands. "A

d out of it. Now, I am going to show you what happens when so

shiver shot down her spine, but she dug deep. Luca could th

Elara wasn't going to st

ca Moretti-were n