Chapter 398: The Operation Has Been Compromised

POV: DANTE

The call came at 10:47 AM.

Dante was in his office reviewing the Brooklyn territory consolidation reports when the encrypted line lit up. The Covenant. He picked up immediately, expecting confirmation that the operation had succeeded.

"Status?" Dante said.

The voice on the other end was controlled, but Dante could hear something underneath the control. Not panic. Not fear. But a shift in tone that suggested the situation had changed.

"The operation has been compromised," the voice said flatly.

Dante felt something go cold in his chest, but he kept his voice absolutely steady.

"Explain," Dante said.

"Our man was intercepted at the moment of execution," the voice continued. "Before he could administer the poison. Eve was never poisoned. The assassin was restrained, and Angela was captured."

Dante’s mind was already moving through the implications.

"How?" Dante asked. "How did they know?"

"That’s what we’re determining," the voice said. "But the conclusion is clear: Valentino was monitoring the operation. He knew about the infiltration. He set a counter-trap and it worked."

Dante understood immediately what that meant. Dimitri had known. Dimitri had known about Angela the entire time. Which meant Dimitri had been listening. Which meant Dimitri had allowed Angela to get close to Eve specifically so he could catch The Covenant in the act.

"The man you sent will talk," Dante said. It wasn’t a question.

"The operative is in Valentino’s custody," the voice confirmed. "And yes, he will eventually provide information. We’re aware of that."

"So what’s your move?" Dante asked.

"We’re going to eliminate him," the voice said. "Before he can provide Valentino with names, locations, operational details. We have assets positioned to handle that. You don’t need to concern yourself with that aspect. We’ll take care of the cleanup."

Dante nodded, understanding. The Covenant would handle their own exposure. That made sense.

"And Angela?" Dante asked.

"Angela is also in Valentino’s custody," the voice said. "She presents a similar problem. However, Valentino is unlikely to kill her immediately. He’ll interrogate her first. He’ll try to extract intelligence about our organization, about you, about the operation."

"How much does she know?" Dante asked.

"Enough to be dangerous," the voice said. "But not enough to expose our highest-level operations. She knows about you. She knows about the infiltration plan. She knows about the assassination methodology. She knows enough that Valentino will keep her alive long enough to extract everything."

Dante understood the implication. Angela would be tortured, interrogated, broken down completely. And then, once Dimitri had extracted everything, she would be killed.

"So she’s already dead," Dante said quietly.

"Functionally, yes," the voice agreed. "But she still has value as a source of intelligence. Valentino will keep her breathing long enough to use her. After that, she ceases to exist."

Dante moved to the window of his office, looking out at Rome spread below him.

"So what now?" Dante asked. "Your plan failed. Eve is alive. My asset is captured. What’s the next move?"

"That’s why I’m calling," the voice said. "Dimitri now knows that you and The Covenant were operating together against him. He knows about the infiltration. He knows about the assassination attempt. He will retaliate."

"I’m prepared for retaliation," Dante said.

"Good," the voice said. "Because it’s coming. Valentino doesn’t take threats lightly. He’s going to come at you with everything he has. He’s going to try to reclaim the territories you’ve taken from him. He’s going to try to destabilize your operations. He’s going to try to crush you before you have a chance to move against him again."

Dante understood the tactical situation perfectly.

"So you want me to be ready for war," Dante said.

"We want you to do more than be ready," the voice said. "We want you to win. Which is why I’m telling you something important: you must hold the territories you’ve taken in Brooklyn. You must not lose them. You must consolidate, strengthen, and prepare to defend them against everything Valentino throws at you."

Dante’s mind immediately shifted into tactical mode.

"Why?" Dante asked. "Brooklyn is valuable, but it’s not critical. If I lose Brooklyn but hold the rest of my operations, I’m still in a strong position."

"Brooklyn is critical to us," the voice said. "We have purpose for those territories. Specific purpose. Operational purpose. You don’t need to know what that purpose is. You just need to hold the territory."

Dante understood immediately. The Covenant was using him. They’d used him as a distraction while they tried to kill Eve. Now they were using him as a barrier to protect something in Brooklyn.

But the Covenant’s purpose didn’t matter as much as his own survival.

"If I hold Brooklyn, I’ll have to commit significant resources to defense," Dante said. "Resources I could use to go after Dimitri."

"Then commit the resources," the voice said flatly. "Because if you lose Brooklyn, you’re useless to us. And if you’re useless to us, we’ll find another asset to replace you."

The threat was delivered without drama, which made it more effective.

"I’ll hold Brooklyn," Dante said. "But I want something in return."

"What?" the voice asked.

"I want The Covenant’s intelligence on Dimitri’s retaliation strategy," Dante said. "I want to know what he’s planning. I want to know how he’s going to move. I want to know where he’s going to strike first."

There was a pause on the line.

"We’ll provide what we can," the voice finally said. "But understand that Valentino is sophisticated and ruthless at the same time. He may have already figured out that we’re connected to you. He may already be planning an operation against us as well as against you. We can tell you what we know, but you need to be prepared for surprises."

"I’m always prepared for surprises," Dante said.

"Good," the voice said. "Then hold Brooklyn. Prepare for Valentino’s retaliation. And wait for our next contact. We’ll provide intelligence as we gather it."

The line went dead.