After Nico's wedding, it was time to focus on the job ahead. The plan was to transport a massive shipment of goods to another country using a ship disguised as a regular cargo vessel. It was dangerous, but the payout was huge.
They met in a dimly lit warehouse on the outskirts of Darkden, the place they always used for their secret meetings. John was pacing back and forth, his face tense. Mark, Robert, and Jack were seated around an old wooden table, each looking serious.
"This is the biggest job we've ever done," John said, breaking the silence. "Everything has to be perfect. We can't afford any mistakes."
Mark nodded. "I've checked the route. There's no sign of any trouble."
Robert added, "The ship's ready, and the cargo is hidden well. As long as the crew sticks to the plan, we should be good."
Jack, who rarely spoke, looked at John. "But we're still taking a big risk."
John took a deep breath. "We've been through a lot together. If we trust each other, nothing will go wrong."
They divided their roles. John would oversee the whole operation. Mark would track the ship's route and keep an eye out for any surprises. Robert would stay in contact with the crew. Jack would handle the money and make sure everything was set up at the destination.
The tension was high as they left the warehouse. John went back to his apartment, where his wife, Elena, was waiting.
"You look worried," she said softly.
John forced a smile. "Just a big job, that's all."
"Be careful," she whispered.
"I will," he promised.
Mark was in his study, staring at maps. Sophie, his wife, came in with coffee.
"You've been at this for hours. Take a break."
He shook his head. "Can't afford to. Not this time."
She sighed but didn't argue.
Robert was with Anna. She saw the worry on his face.
"You're not good at hiding things," she teased.
"I just want everything to go smoothly," he said.
"It will," she assured him. "You guys are the best."
Jack, alone in his penthouse, stared at the city lights. He was used to handling things alone.
The next day, they met early. The ship had left Darkden's port and was heading to open sea. For hours, everything seemed fine.
Suddenly, Mark's phone rang. He answered, his face going pale.
"What's wrong?" John asked.
Mark's voice shook. "The Navy... They've stopped the ship. They're searching it."
Everyone went silent. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.
"This can't be happening!" Robert exclaimed, clenching his fists.
"How did they find out?" Jack muttered.
John tried to stay calm. "We need to find out who told them. There's no way they could've known."
Hours passed like years as they waited for more news. When the call finally came, it confirmed their worst fear. The shipment had been seized.
That evening, they gathered at a bar. The mood was dark. Drinks were being poured, and tempers were high.
"This was supposed to be foolproof!" Mark said, his voice tense.
"Maybe if someone had double-checked the crew," Robert shot back.
"Stop it, both of you!" John said, raising his voice. "We're all in this together. Blaming each other won't change what happened."
Silence fell over them again. They were more than just partners; they were friends. But this failure hurt deeply.
Finally, they left the bar, each lost in their own thoughts. The walk home felt like a nightmare. They had tasted failure, and it was bitter.
Back at his place, John sat on the balcony, staring at the night sky. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone among them was not being truthful. Someone had set them up. But who?
Robert, still upset, went back to his apartment. Anna was waiting. She could see he was stressed and frustrated.
"Hey," she said softly, pulling him close. "It's okay. It's just a job."
Robert shook his head. "You don't understand, Anna. We lost everything."
She wrapped her arms around him, trying to calm him down. "You'll get through this. You always do."
He looked at her, his eyes dark with worry and sadness. "I don't know..."
She kissed him gently, trying to take his mind off things. One thing led to another, and soon they were lost in each other, the stress and worry fading away as they focused only on each other.
Meanwhile, John was still on edge. He knew something was wrong. One of them was a traitor, but he didn't know who. As he stared at the city lights, he made a vow. He would find out who betrayed them, no matter what it took.
The empire they'd built in Darkden was strong, but tonight, they all felt it shaking beneath their feet. Failure wasn't something they could afford, not in their world.
And so, they prepared for the days ahead, knowing they had to recover from this, no matter the cost. Because in their world, failure was just the beginning of a much bigger fight.