The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife (Carmen and Marco) novel Chapter 51

The forest surrounding Arianna’s compound was dense and silent, broken only by the faint crunch of boots on damp ground. Marco moved ahead of the group, his gun drawn, his eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of movement. Behind him, Carmen followed closely, her own weapon at the ready.

Luca appeared at Marco’s side, his voice low but firm. “The perimeter patrols are down. We’ve got a clear path to the east gate.”

“Good,” Marco replied, his voice sharp and quiet. “We stick to the plan. No deviations.”

Carmen stepped up beside him, her gaze steady. “If we move too fast, we’ll lose the element of surprise. We need to make sure every step counts.”

Marco nodded, his eyes lingering on her for just a moment. “Stay close to me. No heroics.”

Carmen’s lips twitched in a faint smile, though her tone remained serious. “I think I’ve earned the right to make my own choices, don’t you?”

Marco didn’t respond, though the tension in his jaw was clear. He turned back to Luca. “Lead the way.”

***

The compound loomed ahead, a sprawling fortress surrounded by high walls and guard towers. The east gate, as Luca had promised, was lightly guarded. Two mercenaries paced along the edge, their rifles slung lazily over their shoulders.

Marco signaled to his men, who spread out silently, slipping through the shadows toward the gate. Carmen crouched beside Marco, watching as the guards were taken down swiftly and quietly, their bodies dragged into the underbrush.

The gate creaked open, and the group slipped inside, their movements precise and practiced. The compound was eerily quiet, the lights from the main building casting long shadows across the yard.

“Too easy,” Carmen murmured, her eyes darting around the space.

Marco nodded, his grip tightening on his gun. “Stay alert. She knows we’re coming.”

They made it halfway to the main building before the first shot rang out.

A shout echoed from the guard tower, and suddenly the yard erupted into chaos. Emilio’s mercenaries poured out of the barracks, guns blazing as alarms blared through the night.

“Go!” Marco shouted, motioning for his men to split into their designated teams. He grabbed Carmen’s arm, pulling her behind a stack of crates as bullets slammed into the ground around them.

Carmen ducked, firing back at a group of mercenaries moving toward them. “So much for a quiet infiltration!”

Marco smirked despite the chaos, his own gun barking in reply. “It’s not over yet!”

Luca’s voice came through the earpiece. “We’ve got them pinned near the north tower! Push forward while you can!”

Marco nodded, motioning for Carmen to follow as they moved toward the main building. The air was thick with the sound of gunfire and shouts, the once-quiet compound now a battlefield.

They reached the entrance, Marco kicking the door open as Carmen covered him. The inside of the building was dimly lit, the long hallway stretching out like a tunnel into the unknown.

“Stay close,” Marco said, his voice low as they moved inside.

Carmen rolled her eyes but followed, her gun raised and ready. “You’ve said that twice now.”