Revenge of the Resilient

ort, controlled bursts, the weight of their words deep into her bones. What was she willing to sacrifice? She had lost everything once: family, trust in other

. "We're not going to find them in this pla

ver this new enemy was, they were playing games with her, leading her into a game that was no

us. "This lead wasn't a total loss. We know The Serpent isn't some

wo steps ahead of us this whole time. If we keep chasi

on. She shook her head. "No. We won't cha

-

eir power head-on. She turned aggressive in her business dealings, reclaiming assets once under the control of Luca's associates. She called her media sources and filled

ited the wrath of The Se

ara's phone rang. There was a number she did not recognize. It was as if Elara's hear

s that all-too familiar smooth voice, equal pa

ey said with a purr. "Bu

und the phone like a vice

nd it's coming for you harder and faster than you can see it. If you keep on that pa

hest, but her voice didn't shak

behind the words. "It ends with you on your knees, just l

ou want?" s

what's left of your empire and disappear. You can live in opulence, far from the grasp of

the air, but Elara felt no

sharp as steel. "You don't know who you're dealing with. I've

ugh the line. "So be it. But

ver the city. Her mind was racing. The Serpent had just declared war. And this ti

-

ied. She increased the number of guards in front and rear patrols, upped the surveillance to high alert, and made sure their key allies were

idn't have

rison Wells, was discovered dead-his body in a gruesome display in his own hom

etly, others outright withdrawing. Fear blew through the people like an unchecked blaze, and Elara could see that The Serpent's power la

a did not

-

weight of everything pressing down on her,

ession such as to tell her he had been through hell since Luca's fall. She hadn't expected to

tepping into the roo

g for the gun she had hidden there. "Yo

gesture. "I'm not here to fight. I'm h

e refused to let her surprise sho

d-deep in it. But The Serpent... they were pulling strings behind the scenes long before you or I

Why are you telling me th

pelling. "Because if we don't work together, neit

she shouldn't trust Adrian but if he possessed information that mi

e asked finally, her vo

nt isn't a man. It's an institution- a hidden network, so much bigger than anything you've heard

ge to take down one enemy. The Serpent was something far larger than she had

it," Adrian says softly,

en we find the heart. And

t this time Elara would not just be fightin