Location: ONYX CORE Safehouse – Melbourne Suburbs – Time: 1:03 a.m.
The Bruce family limped into the safehouse like survivors of a food fight apocalypse. Ricotta stains, burnt lasagna marks, and tomato splatter trailed behind them.
Faith was asleep in Emily's arms, still clutching Tony the Tortellini drone like a teddy bear.
Holly looked at her father with red-sauced suspicion. "Dad, do we have to do homework tomorrow?"
Ryan collapsed onto the couch. "If anyone assigns homework after tonight, I'll launch a formal complaint. With breadsticks."
Emily chuckled as she laid Faith on a small bunk. "At least we got the tech. The AI Pasta Preserver—ONYX CORE will be thrilled."
Ryan nodded, but his smile faded. "Yeah. Except Bella's still out there, and we barely made it out."
Holly popped up beside them. "So what's the plan now? Secret lair infiltration? Sauce sabotage? Cheese codes?"
Ryan leaned in. "Sleep first. Then in the morning, we track Bella's pasta trail."
Location: Unknown – Bella's Mobile Lair – Time: 1:57 a.m.
Bella stood in front of a map of Australia made entirely of bread dough.
Enzo approached, clutching a flour-dusted folder. "The Bruce family escaped."
Bella's sunglasses glinted under the low lights. "Let them. They think they've won the entrée… but they haven't even touched the antipasto."
She pointed to a marked circle: Willow Creek Elementary – Tuesday.
Enzo blinked. "Wait. Isn't that the kid's school?"
Bella's smirk turned icy. "It's not just a school. It's where Don Castini's secret recipe vault was hidden thirty years ago… and where our family's revenge begins."
Location: Safehouse Rooftop – Time: 2:19 a.m.
The Melbourne skyline glittered in the distance. Ryan stood alone, watching the stars. Emily joined him, wrapped in a blanket.
"You're thinking too loud," she said.
He smirked. "Just wondering how long we can keep pretending we're normal."
She leaned on his shoulder. "We've never been normal. We're extraordinary. Messy. Dangerous. And maybe slightly garlic-scented."
Ryan turned toward her, his voice quiet. "You saved me back there. Again."
Emily smiled, brushing marinara from his cheek. "You're welcome, Mr. Family Man."
They kissed under the stars—deep, quiet, and full of heat—until the silence was broken by:
BZZZT!
Tony the Tortellini clanked onto the roof, projecting an emergency message in pasta-code.
Emily blinked. "Is that a ravioli-shaped threat?"
Ryan read the screen.
BELLA CASTINI PLANNING SCHOOL INFILTRATION. COORDINATES: WILLOW CREEK. 72 HOURS.
Ryan whispered, "She's going after the kids…"
Emily's eyes hardened. "Then we go full spaghetti strike force."
[TO BE CONTINUED...]