On the Plane to Italy
The jet’s hum was steady. The mood?233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo351rwxXN
Not so much.
Ishaan drummed his fingers like a man auditioning for “Fastest Irritation in the West.”233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu8XDEASkY
“Feels like a funeral in here.”
“It’s called focus,” Lev said without looking up.
“It’s called depressing,” Ishaan shot back. “Should’ve brought party hats.”
Raiden glanced over. “Your best friend might be upside down somewhere.”
Ishaan winced. “…Yeah. Veer’s tough. Probably. Hopefully.”
Luce’s voice was calm, which made it worse. “If there’s a scratch on them…” He let the pause hang. “…there will be full revenge.”
Lev’s eyes narrowed. “Avni better be breathing.”
Raiden: “Erik too.”
Sayaka: “Focus.”
Ishaan opened his mouth for another joke—then shut it. Even he knew when not to poke the bear. Or, in this case, five bears with military training.
Somewhere in Italy (Unknown Location)
Twenty people dangled upside down from chains like a badly organized human fruit basket.
“AAAAHHHHH! MY BRAIN IS LEAKING OUT OF MY EYES!” Veer screamed.
Avni blinked. “…Déjà vu.”
Erik squinted. “Wait—wasn’t that Ishaan? Jungle mission? Same noise, same octave.”
“WHO IS THIS PEACOCK?!” a guard shouted.
Veer twisted his head. “PEACOCK?! Try hanging like this, you—”
“Excuse me,” Dev interrupted, stone-faced. “You just insulted our national bird.”
Veer froze. “…Bro. You’re my real friend.”
Even the guards cracked up—until one muttered, “Let’s give them anesthesia.”
The five Ravenfall captives screamed in perfect harmony: “NOOOOOO!”
Avni pointed at Veer. “Mr. Guard Uncle, drug that guy only. He deserves it. Leave us.”
The guard ignored her.
Saira’s eyes went wide. “Third time this Year, you bastards! VEER, when we get out, I will end you.”
Veer instantly slumped. “Already fainted.”
Dev: “I’m getting PTSD from these damn —” poke
Everyone: gone.
Italy, Investigation
By dawn, the rescue team had nothing. No tracks. No scent. No intel.
Luce crossed his arms. “We talk to the highest mafia in Italy.”
Inner Circle lead: “…Tomorrow. Politely.”
Luce smiled at Ishaan, Lev, Raiden, and Sayaka. It wasn’t a friendly smile.233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKXUm3Ty9n
It was the smile that meant rules were about to be murdered in cold blood.
Midnight Mayhem
The Inner Circle awoke to a scream. Not distant. Not muffled. Right outside their quarters.
They rushed out—and froze.233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh5US1cu7K
There was Ishaan… sitting on a chair… interrogating a tied-up man in silk pajamas.
“You kidnapped the highest mafia in Italy?!” the IC lead yelled.
The man glared. “You little bastards! I’m COMA!”
Ishaan leaned forward. “Nice. But you’re also wearing bunny slippers. So let’s not pretend you’re scary right now.”
The Leonardo nostrils flared. “Do you know who I am?”
Ishaan grinned. “Yeah. A man who should be sleeping but instead is drinking my bad coffee. Which is worse than torture.”
Lev stood in the corner, watching, muttering under his breath: “This is already a crime scene.”
Raiden sighed. “We should’ve stopped him.”
Sayaka: “I considered it. Then I didn’t.”
Leonardo growled. “I have men everywhere.”
Ishaan sipped from his cup. “I have your phone. And your contacts. Did you know you’re saved in three people’s phones as ‘Loud Pizza Guy’?”
Leonardo twitched. “Give that back!”
Ishaan slid a photo across the table. “Here’s you… at your nephew’s wedding… drunk… crying during the cake cutting.”
Luce finally stepped in, cold and precise. “Where. Are. Our. People.”
Under “enhanced questioning” (read: Ishaan’s caffeine drip and Luce’s death glare), the mafia boss Leonardo broke. Braganza had been killed by his own men, and Yuriko had promised to cure the his daughter in exchange for betraying the mission team’s location.
“She’s in my area,” the Leonardo admitted.
“Perfect,” Luce said. “3:00 AM. We move.”
The Rescue
The hideout was a mess of unconscious guards and cut ropes.
Veer? Still asleep, upside down, snoring.
Ishaan took a picture. “New lock screen.”
The rescued team groggily gathered. The mafia boss Leonardo walked in just in time to hear the truth:233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup9WkuQW3m
“…Your daughter’s gone. Yuriko can’t save her. Sorry.”
Leonardo froze. “…I want revenge.”
Ishaan patted his shoulder. “Same, Uncle. Same.”
Leonardo’s lip trembled. “Be my godson.”
They hugged like they’d survived a Bollywood melodrama.233Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV5lA2KPf2
Lev whispered, “Oscar-worthy.”
Sayaka: “Whole film festival.”
Raiden: “…I’d pay to watch.”
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and then Add to home screen.