Rome, Italy – The Safe House
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Mathis and Bree collected their bags from the carousel, the bustle of the airport fading as they stepped into the crisp Roman air. Bree led the way with purposeful strides, her demeanor shifting from earlier chaos to focused determination. She guided Mathis through the labyrinth of the airport, past throngs of travelers, and into the waiting embrace of a sleek black car parked at the curb.
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The driver, a middle-aged man with a sharp, attentive gaze, greeted them with a nod. He was a trusted contact of Bree's, someone she had relied on for years. As they settled into the backseat, the driver's professionalism was evident in his calm, measured movements as he pulled away from the airport.
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The city of Rome unfolded outside the windows like a living tapestry. Ancient architecture and modern buildings intertwined in a patchwork of history and progress. Mathis glanced at Bree, who was scanning the streets with instinctive awareness. Her earlier anxiety had given way to practiced ease as they navigated the bustling city. But Mathis couldn't help but notice an undercurrent of something else in Bree—a tension that ran deeper than the mission. Was she as eager as he was to prove something? Or was there something else that haunted her?
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"So, how do you know this place?" Mathis asked, his eyes taking in the sights, but his mind focused on their mission.
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Bree's lips curved into a slight smile, a rare softness briefly reaching her eyes. "I lived here when I was stationed in Rome. Younger days, back when things felt simpler."
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She moved swiftly, her movements fluid and efficient, as she crossed to the small kitchen area. Opening a drawer beneath the counter, Bree retrieved a secure phone from a hidden compartment. "I need to check in and make some arrangements," she said, her voice back to its usual calm authority. "We'll need to establish our contacts and start gathering information on the gray-clad man."
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Mathis nodded, his eyes tracking her movements, but his mind was already drifting. The images Brillo had sent him flashed through his thoughts—the explosion, the chaos. His stomach twisted at the memory, the weight of it pressing down on his chest. It was too close, too familiar, stirring the ghosts he'd tried so hard to bury.
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His fingers hovered over the keyboard of the small laptop he had brought with him, but for a moment, they refused to move. The silence in the room seemed to amplify the pounding in his chest, and the stillness of the apartment only sharpened the edges of his pain.
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Another explosion. Another loss. His vision blurred for a second as the memory of that day resurfaced—the day he lost them. His wife. His child.
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The early morning light filtered through the window as Mathis and Bree worked in silence. The hum of the city outside provided a soft backdrop to their intense focus on the investigation. Bree was going through local security footage on her laptop, while Mathis tapped away, cross-referencing data.
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Breaking the silence, Mathis glanced over at Bree, his curiosity piqued. "You mentioned you lived here when you were younger. What was that like?"
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Bree paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She looked up, her expression thoughtful. "It was a different time. I was stationed here undercover, posing as a model."
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Mathis raised an eyebrow. "A model? That's quite a departure from what we're doing now."
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Bree chuckled softly. "Not really. It was all about blending in, gathering intel without drawing attention. Fashion shows, high-profile parties, mingling with the right people—it was part of the job."
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"Sounds glamorous," Mathis said, though his tone was more curious than envious.
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"It had its moments," Bree admitted, a nostalgic smile tugging at her lips. "But it was also exhausting. Constantly having to play a role, hiding who I really was. I made a lot of connections, learned a lot about the city. But it's funny—Rome was beautiful, but I always felt like an outsider, even then."
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Mathis leaned back in his chair, his eyes on Bree. "Why do you say that?"
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"I was always working, always on edge," Bree said, her gaze distant. "And behind every smile, every compliment, I was calculating my next move. It wasn't just about fitting in—it was about survival."
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Mathis nodded slowly, understanding the weight of her words. "Sounds like you've been through a lot. Must be hard to leave that world behind."
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"It was," Bree replied, her voice steady. "But I chose this path. The mission comes first. I learned that the hard way."
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Mathis's gaze softened as he looked at Bree, sensing a depth to her he hadn't fully appreciated before. "You know, after Argentina, I... I pushed you away. I thought I could handle things on my own. But I still think about what we had."
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Bree's eyes met his, a flicker of vulnerability showing through her professional exterior. "You were hurting. I get that. But it wasn't just about Argentina. It was about trust—something we both have to build, not just in the field, but with each other."
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Mathis sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's hard for me to open up. I keep things to myself, even when I shouldn't. But I need to know if we're on the same page. This mission, it's... it's more than just a job for me."
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Bree nodded, her expression softening. "I know. And I'm here for you. But if we're going to get through this, we need to trust each other. It's not just about the mission—it's about us. If we're not honest, we're both going to end up lost."
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Mathis's eyes met hers, his voice low and earnest. "I want to be honest. I'm just afraid of what that might mean. If we can't keep our focus, we risk everything."
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Bree reached out, placing a hand on Mathis's arm. "We'll figure it out. One step at a time. But right now, let's focus on what we can control. We have a lead, and that's a start."
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Mathis looked at Bree's hand on his arm, feeling the warmth of her touch. "Alright. Let's track down this lead and see where it takes us."
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As they returned to their work, the room was filled with a renewed sense of determination. The city of Rome continued its rhythmic pulse outside, a stark contrast to the intensity of their mission. But within that ancient backdrop, Mathis and Bree were slowly finding their way back to a shared purpose—and maybe, just maybe, a deeper connection.
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Mathis closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay grounded in the present. He couldn't afford to let the past cloud his judgment, not now. Focus, he told himself, his hands slowly unclenching. There's work to be done.
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Across the room, Bree was already speaking into the phone in low, measured tones. She worked with a quiet intensity, her mind seemingly unburdened by personal demons, or at least better at hiding them. Mathis couldn't help but admire her focus, though a part of him resented it. How does she make it look so easy? he wondered, a bitter edge to the thought.
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As Bree hung up the phone, she glanced at Mathis, her expression unreadable. "We've got a few leads. I'll fill you in once we've set everything up."
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Mathis nodded, but the distance between them felt palpable. There was so much he wanted to say, but none of it felt right. Instead, he just gave her a tight smile, his mind already pulling itself back into the mission. He had to push everything else aside—for now.
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He began organizing the data he had on the Shadow Front's activities. Despite the relative calm of their surroundings, the weight of their mission loomed large. Mathis tapped quickly on the keyboard, accessing Brillo's secure server to retrieve the latest data. A new folder of encrypted files had arrived. He decrypted it and found photos and video clips Brillo had managed to retrieve from the van that had exploded.
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Among the images, Mathis saw a shot of the van driving into a derelict building near the Appian Way but never coming out, and another of an explosion captured by satellite imagery. He studied the pictures carefully and noticed a black car leaving the construction area soon after. Mathis's gaze sharpened as he saw the driver's face clearly in one of the shots. A slightly crooked smile tugged at his lips. "We've got a clue to follow," he said to himself, but his voice was heavier than he'd expected.
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The face of the driver seemed eerily familiar—too familiar. It was as though a piece of the puzzle was on the edge of falling into place, but something wasn't right. His mind flickered with images of past missions, old foes. Was this just another enemy? Or was this personal, a step closer to avenging Bram?
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As Mathis studied the images, his attention fixed on the black car. He zoomed in on the driver's face, noting distinctive features that could be useful for identification. The car's license plate was partially obscured, but Mathis's trained eye caught a few numbers and letters that might help narrow down its registration.
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"Bree, I think we have a lead," Mathis said, turning his laptop around so she could see the images. "This black car is connected to the van that exploded. I'm going to track it."
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Bree finished her call and joined Mathis at the table, scrutinizing the images. "Let's see if we can identify the car's owner. We should check local records and see if there's a known link to the Shadow Front."
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Mathis nodded and began typing furiously, pulling up local databases and security footage from the area surrounding the construction site. Bree pulled out her secure phone again, dialing a contact who specialized in local intelligence. "We need access to any surveillance footage from nearby cameras," she instructed.
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Minutes turned into hours as they delved deeper into their research. Mathis managed to extract a partial license plate number and cross-referenced it with local records. Bree's contact came through with additional footage from security cameras, providing a clearer view of the black car's movements before and after the explosion.
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"Got something," Mathis said, breaking the silence. He pulled up a video clip showing the black car entering a parking garage near Termini Station. "If we can find out which garage this is, it might lead us to the driver."
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Bree leaned over to examine the footage. "Let's pinpoint the garage's location and check for any connections to the Shadow Front."
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They mapped out the likely locations of the garage and started their plan of action. As the night deepened, their apartment was filled with the quiet hum of technology and the occasional murmur of urgent conversations. Mathis could feel Bree's presence beside him, a steadying force. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that they were both being pulled in too many directions—by the mission, their loyalty, and something unspoken between them that neither dared address.
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Mathis felt a surge of anticipation. With each piece of information, they were getting closer to uncovering the gray-clad man's whereabouts and, potentially, the next move of the Shadow Front. But there was also a growing weight—one that threatened to consume him if he let his emotions get in the way. Rome's ancient streets and modern facades were about to reveal their hidden secrets, and Mathis wasn't sure if he was ready to face them.
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He stirred awake to the persistent beeping from the laptop. Brillo had been scanning the web for any sign of the black car they were tracking. Slowly, he lifted his head from the round table, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. Across the room, Bree was sprawled on the sofa, a folder still clutched in her hand, fast asleep.
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As Mathis blinked away the last remnants of sleep, a notification flashed on the screen. Brillo had found something—images tracing the car's movement, leading to a garage in the heart of Rome.
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"Bingo," Mathis muttered under his breath.
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He rose quietly, crossing the room to gently brush his fingers over Bree's skin. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his, and a soft smile passed between them, warming the stillness. His hand stroked her forehead, threading through her hair. For a moment, silence held them both.
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"Time to get up," Mathis said, breaking the quiet.
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They exchanged tired but determined looks, the weight of their mission hanging between them. Without a word, they dressed in fresh clothes, their movements sharp and practiced. Minutes later, they were in the car, speeding through the early morning streets, with Rome firmly in their sights.
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