Not A Small-Town Girl

Danielle paced back and forth on her dormitory balcony, the cool night air brushing against her skin as she tried Elliot’s phone again. Straight to voicemail. He must be on assignment.

Her gaze hardened as she opened her email, scanning the detailed report Emery had sent.

[Scorpion: Second-in-command of the largest drug cartel at the border. Ruthless, cunning, and paranoid. A permanent fixture on the international most-wanted list, yet still untouchable.]

Danielle’s jaw tightened. She’d heard of Scorpion before. Once a mercenary, he’d gone on to co-found a company that posed as an investment firm but was, in truth, a colossal drug empire.

Attempts to infiltrate the cartel had ended in bloody failures. Even the families of undercover agents weren’t spared.

This mission had all the markings of a trap. Scorpion wouldn’t risk his neck without a calculated plan. And with 100 million dollars on Elliot’s head, the danger was palpable.

She grabbed her phone and made a call. Her voice was calm but firm.

"It’s me. Deploy additional forces. Take the helicopter. Head to Westland’s abandoned warehouse immediately. Elliot is likely there on assignment. Ensure his safety at all costs. Capture Scorpion alive if possible," she added before hanging up.

Hearing the call, Taylor jolted awake, startled by the sound of Danielle’s exclusive ringtone.

Usually, Danielle never called at this hour unless something was wrong. Quickly answering, Taylor heard Danielle’s voice giving orders. noveldrama

"Yes. I’ll bring people over right away. You don’t need to worry about it; I’ll handle it," Taylor said.

As she hung up, Danielle’s gaze shifted to the dark expanse of the night sky. "Elliot’s sharp eyes stayed locked on Scorpion, his gun unwavering as he issued a cold command.

"Surrender now. You won’t get another chance."

Scorpion’s lips curled into a sinister smirk. "How about we make this interesting? Let’s bet on whether you can catch me tonight... or if you’ll leave here in a body bag."

Elliot’s gaze hardened, the air around him practically freezing. "Keep talking, Scorpion. When I bring you in, let’s see if you’re still laughing."

Scorpion leaned back slightly, his demeanor eerily composed. "You think you can catch me? There’s a reason I’ve been on the most-wanted list for years, untouchable. You’re in way over your head."

Elliot’s team shifted, tension rippling through their ranks. Scorpion’s arrogance stoked their anger, and it took all their discipline to stay in place.

"Stay sharp," Elliot warned his men. "Eyes on the targets."