Free Web NovelChapter 73: "Surrender Temporarily"
Daria leaned forward, an eager smile brightening her face despite the rain streaking across the windows.
"Turn left here, mister," she said, pointing toward a narrow lane disappearing between rows of aging warehouses.
The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, a frown deepening across his face.
"Left? This looks more like an alley for trash trucks than somewhere you’d find a café, miss."
"Yes, right there," Daria insisted, nodding quickly. "Just keep following this road. The café is around the corner, I promise. It’s a hidden gem."
"If you say so," the driver muttered, reluctantly turning the steering wheel.
The Lombardi sedan rolled deeper into the industrial quarter, creeping ever closer to Moretti territory.
From the passenger seat, Aren gazed silently through the rain-speckled window.
This part of Borgata bore no resemblance to the polished luxury of Sartori lands or the timeless elegance of Lombardi territory.
Everything here felt rougher, harsher, as though prosperity had long ago abandoned the district and forgotten to return.
The farther they drove, the emptier the streets became.
The occasional pedestrian vanished.
Houses disappeared entirely.
Soon, only towering concrete warehouses remained, their metal roofs glistening beneath the gray afternoon sky.
As she watched the desolate scenery drift past, an odd heaviness settled over her body.
’Why do I suddenly... feel so sleepy?’
A yawn escaped despite her efforts to suppress it.
’Did I eat too much ice cream?’
’A sugar crash?’
’No... that can’t be it. I had plenty of tea.’
The exhaustion hadn’t appeared just now.
It had begun several minutes earlier, shortly before they had even left the Lombardi estate. Yet the deeper they ventured toward Moretti territory, the stronger it became.
Beside her, the driver was becoming increasingly uneasy himself. His gaze repeatedly flicked toward the tall concrete walls hemming them in on both sides.
"Are you certain this is the way, miss?" he asked, unable to hide the suspicion in his voice. "I haven’t seen a single café."
Daria’s smile never faltered.
"Don’t let the surroundings fool you. Just ahead there’s a residential neighborhood. The café is tucked inside."
The driver said nothing more, though the tightness in his jaw betrayed exactly what he thought of that explanation.
The sedan continued through the narrow corridor of warehouses.
Then...
Suddenly—
Amid the steady drumming of rain, Aren’s ears caught something else.
Heavy engines.
Large vehicles.
Several of them.
Closing rapidly.
Coming from multiple directions at once.
Her drowsy gaze drifted toward the side mirror.
Just as she’d expected.
Through the rain and mist, three identical black SUVs emerged, charging toward them at alarming speed.
Even from this distance, the vehicles looked heavily reinforced, their bulky frames suggesting armor plating. Their windows were tinted so dark that they reflected nothing but the gray sky.
A cold unease settled over Aren.
"Excuse me," she turned toward the driver. "Please accelerate. Take the next left turn, then another immediate left at the following corner."
The driver shot her a puzzled glance.
"Excuse me, my lady? Didn’t the maid say we’re supposed to continue straight?"
"We have pursuers," Aren replied, calm but firm. "Lose them first. Café later."
The driver’s eyes immediately darted toward the rearview mirror. The moment he noticed the three black SUVs bearing down on them, his expression hardened.
Without hesitation, he slammed his foot onto the accelerator.
The sedan lunged forward, its engine roaring through the rain-soaked alleyways. Tires hissed against wet asphalt as the chase erupted between towering warehouse walls, but the passage was far too narrow.
The enemy vehicles were far faster.
The gap was closing with frightening speed.
"Damn it!" the driver cursed through gritted teeth.
Then, almost as though following a carefully rehearsed plan, the pursuing SUVs accelerated simultaneously.
One slipped directly behind the Lombardi sedan, sealing off any possibility of retreat.
The other two surged forward on either side, boxing the sedan into a tightening cage of black steel.
The trap sprang shut from there.
From intersecting roads ahead, two more armored SUVs burst into view.
They skidded sideways across the slick pavement, tires screaming, until they completely blocked the road ahead.
"Fuck these psychos!" the driver shouted as he slammed the brakes.
SKRRRRRCH!
The sedan shuddered violently before stopping only meters from a head-on collision.
Within seconds, they were trapped.
Five armored SUVs surrounded them from every direction.
The driver stared through the windshield, anger tightening every muscle in his face.
Whatever lingering hope he’d held had entirely disappeared.
This was clearly not a territorial misunderstanding. This was an organized ambush, and its target sat in the passenger seat beside him.
"My lady," he said grimly, "we’re in big trouble."
His hand slipped beneath his jacket toward the concealed handgun holstered there, but before he could draw it, every SUV door flew open.
Men in dark suits poured out — some carried pistols; others shouldered compact submachine guns.
Within seconds, the sedan found itself surrounded by a ring of armed men.
"Do not move!" one of them shouted. "Hands where I can see them! You’re surrounded!"
Another pointed his weapon directly at the vehicle. "Step out of the car! NOW!"
"Oh no, Lady Ariana!" Alice cried, her trembling hands shooting into the air despite still being inside the car. "Who are these men? What do they want?"
"Goddammit," the driver hissed. "I knew coming here was a mistake. This is all your fault, maid."
Daria recoiled in terror, throwing both hands up in the air to match Alice.
"How could I know we’d be attacked?" she cried, turning desperately toward Aren. "My lady, what do we do? They’re all armed!"
Aren, meanwhile, remained remarkably composed — mostly because she was struggling to stay awake. Instead of answering, her eyes drifted slowly across the scene beyond the windows.
’Twelve visible gunmen.’
’Possibly sixteen if the rear SUV is fully occupied.’
’Potential rooftop overwatch. Snipers possible if this operation was planned properly.’
’Could engage. But bad positioning. No room to maneuver.’
She fought another yawn.
’...And I’m too sleepy.’
’Most likely outcome: Daria, Alice, and Mister Driver die within the first three seconds of crossfire.’
’Conclusion: surrender temporarily.’
Slowly, and with deliberate calm, she raised both hands.
"They want us out of the car," she said. "Let’s give them what they want."
Alice looked moments away from breaking into tears. "But... my lady... we can’t! They’re heavily armed! What if they shoot us the moment we step outside?"
"No, please!" Daria shook her head frantically. "Stay inside! Isn’t this sedan bulletproof? At least we’d have some protection! Call someone!"
"Yes! Yes!" Alice nodded wildly. "Mister Driver! Use the encrypted radio! Contact House Lombardi and House Sartori immediately!"
The driver stared at both women in disbelief.
"Are you two insane? Bulletproof means a few bullets, not an entire armed squad! They’ll turn this thing into a coffin if they all open fire!"
Outside, one of the gunmen’s patience finally snapped.
"What are you waiting for?" he shouted. "Another minute and I’ll rain fire on you! Get out! NOW!"
To prove his point, he raised his handgun.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The shots exploded through the rain.
The driver’s entire body jerked in shock.
Behind him, both Alice and Daria screamed, clutching their ears as the deafening gunfire echoed through the cramped cabin.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Their screams died into breathless gasps as they looked up.
Three bullets had slammed into the windshield. Spiderweb fractures spread violently across the reinforced glass, but it held.
"Oh God!" Alice sobbed. "They’re actually shooting at us!"
"Mister Driver!" Daria wailed, clutching the seatback. "Do something! Save us!"
"What am I supposed to do?!" the driver snapped. "Beg them to leave?"
"I don’t know! Just do something!"
"You go and do something!"
Amid the frantic shouting and blaming, Aren remained as calm as a frozen lake.
"Mister Driver’s assessment is correct," she turned to both girls. "If we refuse to leave the vehicle, we’re more likely to die inside it."
She lowered one hand to the door and turned the handle.
The moment the locks clicked, Daria didn’t wait another second.
She yanked her door open and stumbled into the rain, both hands already raised above her head.
"Please don’t shoot!" Daria cried. "We’re coming out! We’re cooperating! Please don’t shoot!"
Alice scrambled after her almost immediately.
"We’re not armed!" she shouted through tears. "We’re only maids!"
The driver exited next.
Rain soaked his suit within seconds as he stepped out into a semicircle of waiting firearms.
He stood perfectly still, saying nothing while half a dozen muzzles settled squarely on his chest.
Aren was the last to emerge.
Droplets dampened her hair within seconds as she stepped into the cold rain, yet the cool air felt oddly pleasant against the growing haze clouding her thoughts.
She took a slow look at the men surrounding her.
"Hi, everyone," she said politely. "May I ask... have you come for me?"
The man who had fired at the windshield strode forward, leveling his handgun directly at her forehead. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"Hands up, Miss Lombardi," he ordered. "You’re coming with us. All of you."
"Alright."
Aren slowly lifted both hands.
"But... may I ask where you’re taking me?"
"You’re the hostage here!" the man barked. "You don’t ask questions! Each of you is getting into a different vehicle. Miss Lombardi, you’re riding with me. MOVE!"
At that exact instant, everything changed.
In a blur of motion, the driver drew the handgun hidden beneath his jacket.
He aimed straight at the shouting man.
BANG!
