50. Atlas
50
ATLAS
I sit in the darkness of my underground sanctuary, clutching my phone tighter, knuckles turning white.
“ You really haven’t been able to find him?” I ask, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. I fucking hate talking on the phone.
“ Not a trace,” Evander replies, sounding just as frustrated—but for other reasons. “ Even Xander can’t track him, and he’s my best hacker. It’s as if he vanished into thin air.”
I sigh, rubbing my temples. “ And you came to me because…?”
“ We need someone with your skills, Atlas . Dimitri said you’re a computer genius. If anyone can find Dion , it’s you.”
Fucking Dimo . Of course he’d go around calling me a computer “genius.” I’m becoming fond of the kid, but he’s a pain in my ass.
I glance around my surroundings, feeling the familiar comfort of solitude. Even months after being freed from the chains of my father, from the lies that bound me to him, I can’t bring myself to leave this place. Out there, people know the truth about me. Here , in the dark, I don’t have to face anyone. I don’t have to see their pitying eyes or hear their loud voices. I can just exist, quietly—hidden.
My computer chimes, breaking my reverie. A new message on my dark web IM . I’ve been chatting with someone named—well, their alias keeps changing, so let’s call them Phantom for now. For months, I’ve tried to figure out who they are, but it’s near impossible. It’s shocking, really. I’ve never had this much trouble uncovering anyone before. I even discovered the truth behind the Sisterhood when I was just a kid, and that was no easy feat.
“ I’ll see what I can do,” I grunt, fingers already flying over the keyboard. “ No promises.”
We hang up, and I turn my full attention to Phantom’s latest message. It’s another riddle, another challenge. I type out a quick response, my mind already working through the possibilities.
Day blends into night as I sift through every digital trace of Dion’s last known moves. Even after talking to Evander’s counterparts, Hendrick and Sebastian , in Antium , and having them scour their surveillance network, Dion remains a ghost. Frustration gnaws at me, but I refuse to give up.
Somewhere in this digital maze is the key to finding Dion . And I’m going to find it, no matter how deep I have to go. For Aria .
Then , finally, I get a ping. Dion’s last known location was in the Lower District near some shady club. My eyes scan the footage. Nothing . Whoever took him made sure to wipe the footage clean, but they made a small, crucial mistake.
At first, I missed it—a tiny peep of a motorcycle in the corner of the alleyway next to the club. I zoom in, and there it is: Dion’s bike. The license plate confirms it. I dive into the footage from a ten-mile radius around the same time his bike was abandoned.
Hours pass in a blur until I see it—a black town car heading east. Bingo . This is it. This is my lead.
I grab my phone and call Evander . “ Ton brika .”
“ Poú eínai?”
“ Lower District . He was taken from a bar in a black town car heading east. I’ll send you the details and footage.”
We hang up, and I lean back in my chair, feeling a rare sense of accomplishment.
My computer chimes again—a new message from Phantom . I glance at it, my mind already shifting gears.
But the hunt is on, so Phantom will have to wait.
The next morning, I huddle with Evander’s men, maps spread out before us, as we plan our next move.
I take charge, my thoughts racing through the network of underground passages that crisscross the city. There’s a tunnel entrance a mile away from where the Town Car was last spotted. It’s our best chance of getting in unnoticed.
“ We’ll go in through here,” I say, tracing the route on the map. “ It’s off the grid, away from prying eyes. From there, I’ll go in alone.”
Evander nods. “ You sure you don’t want back-up?”
“ There will probably be soldiers everywhere. We can’t risk drawing attention. I’ll move faster alone, and no one knows who I am.”
With the plan in place, we gear up and head out.
As we approach the entrance, I take a deep breath and pull the black ski mask over my face. With a silent nod to Evander , I slip into the shadows, disappearing into the darkness.
The tunnel is a maze of twisting passages, and I move with determination, my footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
I catch a faint glimmer of light ahead, accompanied by the muffled sound of voices. I slow my pace, pulse quickening with adrenaline. Drawing closer, I strain my ears, trying to decipher the number of men ahead. Three , maybe four voices.
I take a moment to mentally prepare myself, tightening the grip on my rifle. With a steady breath, I step into the room.
Two swift blows from the butt of my rifle send two of the men crashing to the ground, unconscious. But before I can turn around, a third man lunges at me, fists flying. I dodge his punches with ease, countering with strikes of my own. The sound of our grunts and the dull thud of fists against flesh fills the air.
Then , just as I’ve knocked him down, a fourth man comes out of the shadows.
His gun is leveled at me.
Adrenaline courses through me as I meet his gaze.
“ Who are you?” he demands.
I hold his gaze, unflinching, and lower my rifle just slightly. “ A ghost.”
“ Don’t fuck with me, who are you?” The man’s eyes narrow, his finger twitching on the trigger.
A noise sounds from one of the tunnels, distracting him, and I spring into action. In one quick motion, I bring my rifle up, knock the gun from his hand and swipe my foot behind his legs. He falls with a grunt, and I pin him to the ground with a firm hand on his chest.
He struggles beneath me, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he stares up at me with wide eyes. My gaze is unwavering as I lean in close.
“ You picked the wrong fight,” I growl.
With a swift blow to the jaw, I render him unconscious, leaving him sprawled out on the ground.
With the threat neutralized, I waste no time. I follow the faint trail of light. As I draw closer, the sound of a rough, muffled voice grows louder, mingled with the clang of metal.
My grip tightens on my weapon.
Finally , I reach the source of the noise in a dark chamber. I move cautiously, keeping to the side as I scan the room for any sign of Dion .
Then , I see him—a bloody figure in the far corner, bound and gagged.