29. Shark

Chapter 29

Shark

T urquoise water ebbs and flows, reflecting off of Zoey's face as we stroll through the shark tunnel at the aquarium, only the tank lights glowing, every hallway dark, silent.

It's fitting that we gear up here.

Among the predators.

Among the ocean's royal family.

My own crown is fading. And in an hour… It will cease to exist. My title will be stripped, my kingdom pillaged and condemned, and all my people hung on the gallows.

A righteous king would go down with their subjects.

I am not righteous like a king.

But I am conniving like a queen.

My kingdom will burn, and I'll watch it crumble.

With peace in my heart.

Peace .

"Hi." I place a hand over my chest as I make eye contact with Maeve. "I might not see you again." Moving my hand from my heart to the tank, I sigh. "Thank you for listening to me when I needed to talk..."

"Cami?" Zoey clears her throat as she approaches. "We need to get ready," she says, eyeing the great white shark. "Leo says Frankie and the men are almost here."

"Okay," I whisper, nodding toward the hallway. "Let's do this."

"Here." Zoey hands me a tiny, beige earpiece. "Put this on."

I frown, sticking the device in my ear. I wince at the momentary static. "Ow."

"Apologies," Hayden's stoic, professional voice crackles through the speaker. "Is this better?"

"Hay—" I freeze, swallowing as Zoey leads us to an administrative office in the aquarium. We're on the FBI frequency. "Agent Malcolm, I didn't know you'd be joining me today."

"Last minute decision," he says. "Since we can't have eyes inside the warehouse, I figured ears would suffice." He pauses. "Have you put on the vest?"

"Doing it now," I whisper as Leo holds out the custom-made vest. I run my fingers along the thin material, feeling the ridges and bumps. "Did you guys test it?"

Leo raises a brow. “What?”

I tap the earpiece. "Asking Hayden."

"Oh," Leo hums, nodding.

"Many times," Hayden replies. "It will work. Put it on. How does it feel?"

"Give me a second." I turn to face Leo as I take off my jacket and shirt. Goosebumps manifest all over my skin. Leo's expression remains neutral, eyes glued to my face as he helps secure the vest in place. Taking a deep breath, I trail my fingers along the center. "It's very light. Hard to believe it works."

"Light but powerful," Hayden says, his tone on edge. "Camilla… There's a very limited target. You need to be sure?—"

"It'll be fine," I cut him off, slipping my t-shirt and jacket back on. "Have a little faith, Doc."

He doesn't laugh.

"We have agents surrounding the port," he says, clearing his throat. "Alba's shipment arrived earlier today. We have footage of them loading the weapons into two unmarked vans."

"Two?" I say, biting my lip. "You sure?"

"Two," he repeats himself. Shit . "All agents will remain at a distance until the deal is done. We cannot risk any speculation from Almuluk or The Dragons. Do you understand what I'm saying, Miss Bianco?"

"That I'll be on my own until it happens," I say, looking down and seeing Zoey's hand encircle mine. I smile at her. "Well, the three of us will be on our own."

"I'll also be with you, Miss Bianco," Hayden whispers. "Right here, okay?"

"Frankie's outside," Leo notes, checking his phone. "We gotta go, Mils."

"I heard that," Hayden notes in a wavering tone. "Good luck, Camilla."

"Luck doesn't exist, remember?" I suck in a deep breath, the tight vest constricting airflow. "There's only destiny."

"I'll be listening," Hayden says. "Go."

"Relax, Cami," Zoey says, smiling at me. "We got this." She looks at her tense brother. "We got you."

"Do you have the—" Zoey nods before I can even ask. She's prepared. We're all prepared. "Okay, let's go."

With Zoey on my left and Leo on my right, we walk toward the loading bay to meet Frankie and his foot soldiers.

"Act natural," Leo whispers as we approach the four blacked out SUVs.

"Me?" I hiss back. "You're the one who looks like they're about to cry."

"Guys," Zoey says through gritted teeth as Frankie comes into view. "Not now."

"Strange spot you picked here," Frankie notes, eyebrow raised as he scans the deserted loading dock. "Why didn't we meet at the club?"

My gaze hardens. "Because those guys—" I point to the eight men armed with pistols, "—might draw some unwanted attention." I motion around the lot. "This place is closed for renos, courtesy of the director."

"Right," Frankie hums nonchalantly as he opens the trunk of the SUV, various revolvers and guns spread on the velvet fabric. I glance at the four duffle bags stuffed in the right corner. They better frisk us. I'm counting on it. "What will it be, Cami?"

"Let's play a little homage tonight," I say, picking up the Beretta and cocking the pistol before stuffing it into my pants. "My grandfather's favorite according to Dad. "

"Good choice.” Frankie smiles as Leo and Zoey select their weapons. Frankie opens the passenger door for me as Leo and Zoe hop in the back. Once inside, Frankie starts the car, reaching for the walkie-talkie. "Take different streets. We don't need a show getting there."

"And drive the fucking speed limit," I add, picking up the receiver. "If you get clipped, you're out." I release the hold button, glancing at Frankie as he begins to drive to the port. "As we discussed, only Leo and Zoey will come with me inside. You and your men will stand guard with the cars running, got it?"

"You should take a couple more, princess," Frankie notes, tapping the steering wheel. "Just in case."

"It is imperative that you go alone, Camilla," Hayden's voice fills my ears. "Otherwise, it'll be a bloodbath. Alone, understand? Alone."

"If I bring an army, it'll look bad," I say as I recline into the seat. "Just be ready, Frankie. That's your only job."

"Whatever you say," Frankie states, turning on a side street. "You're the boss."

"They trust you," Hayden notes in a low tone. "Everything will be fine, Camilla." He pauses. "You can unclench your fist."

I roll my eyes as I relax my muscles.

Asshole.

We drive in silence for several minutes before the four SUVs convoy into one, each car slowly trailing the other as the gates to the port creep open and we drive through. A man dressed in camouflage flags down Frankie, directing him toward the far end of the docks .

Frankie narrows his eyes, scanning the dark surroundings. "How many men does Alba have with him?"

"Enough," I state, breath quickening as we pull up near a shipping container, dozens of armed men stationed around the entrance. I spot Wei Zhao and Hazel hopping out of his Hummer. "Dragons are here." I watch as Zhao and Hazel are frisked, a couple of guns confiscated from their person’s. Zhao tries to argue but gives up quickly. Game face. "Shit. They're going to pat us."

"Alba's probably worried you'll shoot another one of his men," Leo teases, attempting to lighten the energy in the SUV. Frankie clicks his tongue. "What? I thought that was funny."

"Get out," Frankie grunts, and we all exit the vehicle. He rounds the car, popping open the truck before returning with the duffle bags. He hands them to Leo, glaring at him. "They're heavy."

"It's fifteen million dollars, Franks," Leo grins, playing his part. "Shouldn't be light."

"Let's go," I state, keeping my head up high as I march toward the large shipping containers, stopping in front of Alba's goons. "Evening."

"Arms up," the soldier at the door demands, expression flat. "No guns inside."

"Why?" I ask, cocking my head. "Your boss worried I'll shoot his tiny little dick off?"

"Camilla," Hayden scolds in my ear. "Tone it down. I'm serious."

Tight ass .

The soldier doesn't react, stating again, "Arms up."

I roll my eyes, glancing over my shoulder at Leo and Zoey. "No need. We're very cooperative here." I remove the Beretta from my pocket and hand it to the soldier, casting him a sassy smile. "Unlike you , I only need one gun." Leo and Zoella forfeit their weapons as well before Alba's puppet looks over at Frankie who is still behind us. "He's good. He's staying out here."

"Go," Alba's soldier grunts, taking a step back as he ushers us inside the cold, dim room.

Zoey trails so closely behind me that I can almost feel her breath on my neck as we walk through the hall of the reconfigured shipping container. Distant chatter gets louder as we approach an opening behind thick plastic curtains.

"Thirty seconds," I whisper to Hayden, a chill of anxious finality rippling through my bones.

"We're on standby," he says. "Breathe, Miss Bianco. Remember..." His tone softens. "You're a shark."

"Finally," I breathe out as I whip open the curtain and strut toward Alba and Zhao who are huddled around a table in the middle of the makeshift room. Behind Malik stands the troll I shot a couple of months back, and next to him, fidgeting with her fingertips is the glue that's meant to keep this puzzle together—Hazel. "What a beautiful night for some illegal activity, huh?" I say, smiling at the two crime lords. "Evening, boys." I look at Hazel, catching the skittish contemplation in her deep, brown eyes. "Hazel."

She nods, not uttering a word as she sidles closer to Zhao .

"Welcome, Camilla," Alba says, eyeing the duffle bags as Leo drops them on the floor. His pupils grow with dollar signs. "I like what I see. Very big bags." He looks at me, scanning my face with hesitation. "Do we need to count or?"

I scoff, blinking. "You know how to count? Shocking, truly." Alba glowers at me as Zhao lets out a hyena laugh. I roll my eyes. "It's all there, Malik. The Angels don't fuck around."

"Excellent," he states, turning to Zhao. "And you? Are The Dragons as virtuous at our friends from the heavens?"

With a grimy smirk, Zhao slams a silver briefcase on the table, unlocking it. He spins it around, thick bricks of uncut heroin filling the contents. "What does it look like?"

"Looks like a party," Alba laughs hoarsely, nodding to his troll and muttering something Arabic. The troll grins, snatching the case off the table. He gives me a smile as he comes to collect the duffle bags, struggling to lift the straps over his shoulders.

"Need a hand?" I whisper, looking down at him. "Too heavy?"

"Fuc—" He stops as Leo clears his throat. The troll looks up, anger burning in his eyes, but he retreats.

"Now for the fun part," Alba boasts, pulling two sets of keys out of his pockets. He dangles them in the air, wiggling his brows. "Almuluk is known around the entire earth for the most advanced, untraceable, and elite weaponry. It is a great honor for me and my people to finally have our product in these great United States." He faces Zhao, giving him a set of truck keys. "For you. You will find your vehicle in Lot B."

Zhao grabs the keys, grinning like an idiot before snapping his gaze to meet Malik's. "If you fuck with us, Alba, and we're short even one AR, you know what happens, right?"

"I have no death wish," Alba grunts, scowling as he circles the table and walks toward me. He gives me a warm, almost flirtatious smile as he reaches for my hand, gently opening my palm. "And these are for you, my queen." He strokes my fingers. "You are in Lot C." He leans down. "C for Camilla ."

"Too close," Leo grunts, stepping in and pushing Alba away. "Watch yourself."

"Say no more." Alba tosses his hands in the air as he backs away. He glances at another exit, waving at his men. "We take our leave now." He smiles at me. "Until next time, Camilla."

"Don't react," Hayden whispers in my ear as if he can sense my budding worry. "Patience."

I clench the truck keys in my fist, my heart rate accelerating as I watch Alba walk away. Come on... I catch Hazel's eyes, narrowing my own in an attempt to get an explanation, a confirmation that everything is going according to plan.

She bites her lip, tugging on Zhao's sleeve.

"Alba!" Zhao finally shouts, turning around. "I think you forgot something..."

Alba stops walking, frowning as he turns around. He pats down his pockets, feigning confusion .

"Oh," he hums, exchanging a greasy grin with Zhao. "I fear you may be correct."

"I'll get it for you, my friend," Zhao chirps, facing me. His charcoal eyes glisten with betrayal as he looks down at my hand. I take a step back, and he lets out a laugh. "The keys, Camilla. We're gonna need those back."