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Cataleya laid prone in her sniper position, the wind brushing against her skin, carrying with it the faint scent of the lake below. Her sleek black attire, unchanged since Kelly had outfitted her, clung to her figure as she remained motionless, her gaze locked through the scope. The steady rhythm of her breath matched the tension in the air.

Down by the lake, Marcus and Mike maneuvered the plane into position. Dorn was stationed in a nearby truck, eyes glued to the screens as he monitored the drones he had deployed over the area.

Mike and Marcus crouched, rifles at the ready, their sights trained on the figures below. Rita, on edge, urged Mike, "Take the shot. He's right there."

James had emerged, his grip firm on Christine as he dragged her out into the open. He barked orders to his men, who fanned out in tactical formation, their weapons and vests marking them as prepared for a fight.

Under the dock, Armando clung to the wooden beams, his movements slow and deliberate. The sound of water splashing nearby caught his attention, and his jaw clenched when he spotted a crocodile lazily gliding toward him. "Shit." He muttered under his breath.

Cataleya adjusted her sniper, her sights darting between James and his men. Her pulse quickened when she noticed the heightened alertness in their movements. "They're onto us." She murmured.

Dorn's voice crackled through the comms. "Armando, they're closing in on you. Watch yourself."

"Copy." Armando responded coolly. His voice, rich and smooth, sent an unbidden shiver through Cataleya's spine. She forced herself to focus, shaking off the distraction.

"Mike, now. Your chance is now." Rita hissed, desperation lacing her tone.

Mike exhaled sharply. "I don't have it. Negative. Negative. Negative." He barked back, frustration etched in his voice.

Cataleya's jaw tightened as she whispered under her breath. "That's bullshit, Mike."

"You gotta take the fucking shot." Armando cut in, his tone unyielding as he grew annoyed.

Cataleya's sharp eyes caught movement near the dock. One of James' men stood directly above Armando, his weapon scanning the water. Her grip tightened on the rifle as her breath hitched.

Suddenly, the sound of gunfire shattered the tense silence. The man above Armando toppled into the lake, thrashing for a brief moment before the alligators surged forward, pulling him under in a violent frenzy.

Armando moved swiftly, the chaos of the broken dock giving him enough cover to climb up and evade detection. The woods surrounding the area splintered and cracked under the gunfire raining down.

"Shit." Cataleya hissed, readjusting her scope to find her next target.

Mike and Marcus had abandoned their cover near the plane, opening fire to keep the enemy distracted. The staccato rhythm of their shots mingled with the explosions of returned gunfire from James' men.

Armando sprinted through the melee, firing strategically as he moved, his agility allowing him to weave through the chaos unscathed. Meanwhile, Dorn monitored the scene from above, guiding the team as best as he could.

"They've spotted the drones," Mike growled. "Dorn, get James back on view."

Cataleya remained steady, her finger hovering over the trigger as her scope locked on James once more.

This was her moment.

Cataleya took a deep breath, steadying herself as chaos erupted around her. The air crackled with the sharp sounds of gunfire, and shouts echoed in the distance. From her vantage point, she scanned the scene through the sniper scope, quickly assessing the positions of James' men.

Her focus shifted to a group of armed guards advancing toward Mike and Marcus near the plane. She adjusted her aim and squeezed the trigger. One man dropped instantly, the force of the bullet sending him sprawling backward.

"One down." She muttered under her breath, quickly repositioning.

Cataleya spotted another guard closing in near the docks. Without hesitation, she fired again, the shot clean and precise. The man toppled into the water, creating a splash that sent nearby crocodiles into a frenzy.

"Nice shot, Cat." Dorn's voice buzzed through her earpiece.

But Cataleya wasn't done. She swung the sniper to her back and descended from her position, moving swiftly and silently through the tall grass. Her knives were in her hands before she'd even reached the first target.

A guard was patrolling near the dock, his back turned to her. Cataleya approached like a shadow, gripping the hilt of her knife tightly. In one fluid motion, she slashed across his throat, catching his body before it hit the ground. She quickly dragged him behind a stack of crates, staying low as she scouted her next move.

In the distance, she could see Armando weaving through the firefight, his movements smooth and deliberate. He caught her eye for a brief moment, giving a subtle nod before disappearing behind a structure.

Cataleya smirked faintly, but her focus quickly returned to the task at hand. Two guards were approaching her position. She crouched lower, gripping a knife in each hand. As they passed her hiding spot, she lunged forward, plunging one blade into the side of the first man's neck while driving the second into the chest of the other.

Blood spattered onto her black outfit, but Cataleya remained calm, her movements calculated. She pulled her knives free, wiping them on the men's shirts before advancing toward the main building.

Inside, the sounds of gunfire grew louder. She slipped through a side door, staying close to the walls. The hallway was dimly lit, but she moved with ease, her senses sharp.

A guard rounded the corner ahead of her, his weapon raised. Cataleya reacted instantly, flipping her knife into a reverse grip. She hurled it with deadly accuracy, the blade embedding itself in the man's forehead.

As his body crumpled, she stepped over him, retrieving the knife and moving forward.

"Cat, James is heading for the second floor." Dorn's voice crackled in her ear.

"I'm on it." She replied, her voice steady.

Cataleya climbed the stairs quickly, her footsteps silent. Reaching the top, she peered around the corner, spotting James flanked by two guards. He was dragging Christine by the arm, her face pale and terrified.

Cataleya's heart raced, but she pushed the emotion aside. This was it—the moment she'd been waiting for. She tightened her grip on her knives and prepared to strike.

The hunt was almost over.

Suddenly, the plane erupted into a fiery explosion, flames bursting outward as a gas bottle was struck by Mike and Marcus's well-aimed shots. The explosion sent debris flying, forcing everyone nearby to scatter for cover.

James' men hurriedly herded Christine and Callie back into the building, shouting orders as chaos erupted around them. Mike, Marcus, Armando & Cataleya regrouped, weapons in hand, as they pressed toward the building. Determination was etched on each of their faces as they closed in.

Dorn's voice came through the comms. "Six drones incoming, already inside the building. They're clearing a path—watch for crossfire."

The drones zipped past them, their automated guns firing relentless streams of bullets. The hail of gunfire tore through James' men, sending some scrambling for cover while others dropped in the chaos.

The group entered the building, moving swiftly but carefully. They ducked behind walls as they scanned the area. Suddenly, a massive crocodile head was shoved into their line of sight, its jaws snapping dangerously close.

"Oh, shit!" Marcus exclaimed, his eyes wide as he stared at the monstrous creature. "It's like redneck Jurassic Park in here."

Cataleya remained unfazed, her grip tightening on the gun she'd switched to after abandoning her sniper rifle. Without a word, they pushed forward, weapons raised as they entered the heart of the building, where the real fight awaited.

Gunfire erupted as they encountered James' men. Cataleya was quick to respond, her sharp eyes finding targets and taking them out with precision.

"Armando, go for Callie!" Mike barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Armando nodded, breaking away from the group as he fired at approaching enemies, clearing a path toward Callie's location.

Mike turned to Cataleya. "Cat, you go make sure to knock some up. Do your own thing!"

"Finally." Cataleya muttered, a hint of a smirk on her lips as she sprinted toward higher ground.

Finding a vantage point, she steadied herself and aimed her weapon. From above, she rained down fire on the unsuspecting men below, each shot hitting its mark. Her presence was a ghost in the chaos—silent but devastating.

The building was a cacophony of gunfire, screams, and the eerie hissing sound of drones zipping through the air. The flames from the exploded plane outside cast a haunting glow through the broken windows, illuminating the chaos within.

Cataleya moved swiftly, darting up a crumbling staircase to the higher ground. Her footsteps were light and deliberate, her body fluid and efficient. She positioned herself on a rusted balcony overlooking the chaos below.

Peering through the sights of her rifle, she murmured, "Time to clean house."

Her first shot hit its mark—a man holding a semi-automatic rifle dropped to the floor, clutching his chest. The next fell just as quickly. She moved her aim seamlessly, every pull of the trigger followed by the sharp, echoing crack of her gun.

Down below, Marcus ducked behind a fallen beam as bullets ricocheted around him. "Damn, Cat's a one-woman army up there!" He yelled, reloading his weapon.

"Focus, Marcus!" Mike shouted, spraying a group of men with a calculated burst of bullets. He turned to see Armando disappearing through a side hallway. "Armando, report!"

"I'm on it!" Armando replied through gritted teeth, kicking open a door and entering another wing of the building. He was moving fast, his weapon ready as he made his way to Callie.

Back on the upper floor, Cataleya grabbed a grenade from her belt, pulled the pin by her teeth with a sharp twist, before spitting the lid away & tossed it into a cluster of enemies trying to regroup. "Adiós." She muttered under her breath as the grenade exploded, sending bodies flying and shrapnel scattering.

Mike and Marcus took advantage of the momentary chaos to press forward. They rounded a corner to find themselves face-to-face with a giant crocodile. Its jaws snapped menacingly, saliva dripping from its sharp teeth.

"Mike, tell me you're seeing this." Marcus said, backing up slowly.

"Oh, I'm seeing it." Mike muttered, gripping his gun tighter. "Let's hope it's not hungry."

Before they could take another step, the beast lunged, and the two men scattered in opposite directions. Marcus scrambled up a nearby ladder to higher ground while Mike found cover behind a stack of metal crates.

"Dorn, we've got a damn dinosaur situation in here!" Marcus shouted through his comms.

"Wait—what?!" Dorn's voice crackled back.

"Not now!" Mike yelled, firing a shot at a group of advancing men.

Cataleya, hearing the commotion, glanced down to see the crocodile wreaking havoc. "Of course it's chaos down there." She muttered before lining up another shot.

Meanwhile, Armando pushed deeper into the building, taking out any resistance in his path. He kicked open another door, his heart racing when he saw Callie tied to a chair in the middle of the room.

Cataleya rushed back down & emerged in an area where Armando was on the ground with some men that done had stabbed some wounds onto him & were already in the ground.

Until the next two appeared.

Oh yeah, knife time.

Snatching out her two large-sharp knifes, she grunted out as she stabbed one in the back & spun the other way to slit the man's throat open.

She grabbed her gun & shot the other in the face that was about to come for her by the corner. Looking down, Cataleya spot Callie that was scared as ever.

She breathed before remembering Armando as she rushed over & knelt down. "Armando. Get up." She helped him but he was already stumbling & dizzy.

She wrapped his arm around her shoulders as Callie helped within.

They moved swiftly through the trees, weaving their way toward a clearing by the lake. The tension in the air was heavy, but their steps were measured and deliberate, each movement fueled by sheer determination.

"I got him." Cataleya said to Callie that backed away, her voice steady despite the chaos behind them.

"Put me down. It's okay." Armando muttered weakly, his voice strained from the pain.

Callie carefully let him go, and Cataleya was immediately by his side, helping him lower himself against the trunk of a large tree. His face was pale, and his breathing uneven as he clutched at the bleeding wounds on his torso.

"Hey," Cataleya said firmly, crouching beside him. Her eyes locked onto his, her voice tinged with both frustration and fear. "You better not make this your last time experiencing me like this."

Armando managed a faint, almost amused smile, leaning his head back against the rough bark of the tree as he fought to steady his breathing. Cataleya exhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment to gather herself before glancing toward the building.

"Callie," she said, her tone sharp and commanding, as the sirens were heard from afar. "get to the entrance of the building. Your mom just arrived."

Callie nodded, her face set with determination. Without another word, she turned and sprinted toward the entrance, her movements quick and purposeful.

Cataleya stayed beside Armando, her hand hovering near his wound, her sharp focus on his condition. "You're going to be okay." She muttered, more to herself than to him, her voice firm despite the flicker of worry in her eyes.

Her hand pressed against his wound to slow the bleeding. She refused to look directly at him, but her actions were deliberate & tender, her focus entirely on keeping him conscious. Armando's breathing was ragged, and though he was clearly in pain, a faint smirk still played on his lips.

"You're bossy as hell, you know that?" Armando murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Cataleya's jaw tightened, her eyes flickering to meet his for just a second before darting back to his injury. "You're lucky I'm bossy. Otherwise, you'd be dead right now."

Armando chuckled softly, wincing as the movement sent a sharp jolt through his side. "If this is how you show you care, you've got a funny way of doing it."

"Shut up." She muttered, but her tone lacked its usual sharpness.

The silence between them grew heavy, and Cataleya could feel his gaze burning into her. Reluctantly, she finally looked up, her guarded expression faltering as she met his eyes.

"You don't have to act so tough, Cat." Armando said gently. "Not with me."

Her hands paused for a moment, her fingers trembling slightly against his skin. "You think I'm acting?" She said, her voice quiet but laced with emotion.

"I think you're scared." He replied. "And I don't blame you. But I'm still here. And as long as I am, you don't have to carry everything alone."

Cataleya's lips pressed into a thin line as her defenses cracked. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Armando." She said, her voice breaking just slightly.

Armando reached up, his hand brushing against hers where it rested on his chest. "I'm not going anywhere, Cat. Not without you."

Her breath caught, and for a moment, the world around them faded. All the chaos, the danger—it was as if none of it mattered.

Cataleya leaned in closer, her forehead nearly touching his. "You're such an idiot." She whispered, though there was no venom in her words.

"Maybe." He said with a faint smile. "But I'd rather be an idiot with you than smart without you."

She huffed a quiet laugh, tears glinting in her eyes as she shook her head. "You're impossible."

"And you're worth it." He said softly.

For a moment, neither of them moved, the unspoken tension between them growing palpable. Then, as if pulled by an invisible force, Cataleya closed the distance, her lips brushing against his in a fleeting but tender kiss.

She let it last for a few seconds to enjoy a moment they could never bring to end. When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and she immediately focused back on his injury, muttering, "Don't read into it. You still owe me a lot of answers."

Armando smirked despite his pain. "I wouldn't dream of it."

But they both knew the truth—some things didn't need words.

Mike appeared as he rushed to his son that had gotten up through Cataleya's help but still had to use the tree for standing.

"I'm good." Armando protested.

"You good?" Mike tried to make sure but his son nodded.

Mike looked over at Cataleya as he nodded at her. "Let's go. Let's go." They helped Armando walk to the only boat that was ready by the lake. "You two need to have a hiding spot. Run away as fast as you can. Alright? I will clear it out with Judy." Mike said & they both nodded. "Hey. Take this." He gave the map to Armando, putting it inside his vest pocket. "Head south. Don't look back."

Armando gave a slight smirk. "I got it."

"Be good." Mike said.

"Hey, It's not up to you, detective." Armando gave the slightest tease as Mike pulled up his fist to his son that returned it.

"You take care of her. I see how much she means to you, son." Mike gave him a reassuring glance as Armando patted his shoulder before getting on the boat.

Cataleya looked at Mike before she gave him the realest grin to have ever earned. "You know, at first I thought it was gonna be chaotic. But it was both chaotic and fun. Tell Marcus I'll miss that rat ass mouth." Mike chuckled.

They hugged goodbye for a few seconds before pulling away & leaving Cataleya to get in the boat.

"By the way," Mike stopped her as she turned around. "Even though you couldn't make it to ending his life, remember I did just as you wanted." He smirked assuredly.

Cataleya first looked at him for a minute as she nodded politely before getting on the boat, knowing that it was final Justice for her family.

Armando started moving the boat as the two went far by the lake to get south. Mike watched them from the spit they left.

Armando gripped the controls of the small boat, his movements deliberate despite the pain etched across his face. Cataleya sat beside him, her gaze darting between him and their surroundings, her body tense but ready for anything.

The boat's motor roared softly as they moved across the still waters, cutting through the lake under the soft glow of the rising sun. The distant sounds of chaos faded behind them as the shoreline drifted farther away.

From the spot they had just left, Mike stood watching, his expression heavy with a mix of relief and concern. His hands rested on his hips as he tracked the boat's path, his mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead for the two of them.

The lake stretched endlessly before Armando & Cataleya as they continued south, their silence a shared understanding of what they'd just endured—and what was still to come.

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