The private jet went through the night sky, its engines humming steadily. Gabriel sat back in the plush seat, staring out the window as the lights of the city below blurred into the distance. His phone was off, put away in the compartment beside him. No calls, no distractions. Not even his wife knew where he was. This mission was far too dangerous, and he couldn't risk anyone getting in his way.
His mind went with the weight of what he was carrying. The 500 pound of cocaine, neatly packed and hidden in the cargo hold below, was his ticket to securing Bella's life. The thought of it made him angry. He hated every second of it, hated that he was back in this life, hated the fact that his daughter's safety depended on the very thing that had cost him so much in the past.
But this was the only way.
The only way to stop Vincent Julian from tearing everything apart.
As the plane cruised toward Brazil, Gabriel's thoughts drifted back to his childhood. He'd grown up in this country, surrounded by its forests, its remote hideouts, its deep, winding rivers. The escape routes, the safehouses, the backdoor connections, it was all second nature to him. He knew how to navigate the dangerous underworld of Brazil better than anyone. But he'd left that life behind years ago. Now, it was pulling him back in.
Keep your focus, he reminded himself. Get the deal done. Get Bella back. End this.
The jet touched down in the Brazilian countryside, its wheels touching the runway as Gabriel's heart skipped a beat.
His contact, an old associate from his past life, was waiting for him. Gabriel hadn't seen him in years, but he knew the man's reputation. If anyone could help him get the cocaine delivered without a hitch, it was him.
He stood up and He walked down the stairs of the plane, feeling the humid air of Brazil greet him, and walked towards the cargo hold, where the stacked crate of cocaine were secured. Each one was heavy, 500 pound in total, packed tight and ready for delivery.
A black SUV was waiting on the runway. Gabriel approached the vehicle with quick, determined steps. The driver, a large and muscular man with a scar running down his face, opened the door for him.
"Is everything ready?" Gabriel asked, his voice low.
"Everything's set. We're meeting the buyers in the next town. It's a few hours' drive, but they'll be expecting you."
Gabriel nodded and slid into the backseat, his mind focused on the plan. The buyer the man who would take the cocaine and pay for it, wasn't someone Gabriel trusted. But in this game, trust was a luxury. All he needed was for the deal to go smoothly, for the shipment to reach its destination without any problems.
They drove through the dark, narrow roads of Brazil, the headlights shining through the thick vegetation.
As they moved deeper into the jungle, Gabriel's felt anxious. The heat, the isolation, the smell of the dense forest, it all felt like a reminder of what he had been running from for so long.
The SUV finally pulled up to an old warehouse, tucked away in the middle of nowhere. The area was silent, except for the occasional sounds of leaves in the blowing wind. Gabriel stepped out of the vehicle.
"Wait here," the driver said as he walked toward a group of men standing by the entrance with guns. They were tall, dark, and menacing, their faces hardened by years of crime. One of them stepped forward and extended his hand to Gabriel.
"You brought the goods?" the man asked, his voice thick with a Brazilian accent.
Gabriel nodded. "I brought everything you asked for. Let's make this quick."
The man smiled, showing a set of yellowed teeth. "We'll make it quick, all right. But first, we need to check the shipment."
Gabriel became afraid. This was the part he feared, the part where things could go wrong. He watched as the men opened the back of the SUV and began unloading the crates.
"Open it," the man ordered.
Gabriel took a deep breath, walking over to the crates. Inside, the bricks of cocaine were packed and stacked neatly. He could feel the weight of their presence, the danger they represented.
The man's eyes gleamed as he inspected the contents, cutting through one of the bricks of cocaine and testing it on a glass plate with his finger, then tested it on his tongue and then nodding in approval. "Good. Now we'll take it from here."
Gabriel stepped back, his hand brushing against his hidden gun. He wasn't expecting trouble but in this world, it was always wise to be prepared. The deal was still far from finished, and until he had the money in hand, he wasn't letting his guard down.
"I need the payment," Gabriel said, his voice low but firm.
The man smiled. "You'll get it when the deal is done."
Gabriel's eyes were alert. He knew this game too well. He had to be careful. A small part of him wondered if he was being played. But he didn't have the luxury of second-guessing himself. Not now.
The men began to move the cocaine into the warehouse, just then the Cartel leader Diego " Rei das Sombras" Navarro, step out of the warehouse, a cigar between his lips and a laptop in one hand.
"Gabriel," he said with a smiled. "You've been gone a long time. But you haven't lost your nerve."
He handed the laptop to one of his men. "Transfer five million to the account."
Gabriel watched as the man input the account numbers he'd prepared, offshore, untraceable. Seconds later, a notification pinged on Gabriel's burner phone.
"It's done," Diego said. Then he signaled, and another man walked up with a black briefcase. "And here's the rest, in cash. A little bonus for old times' sake."
Gabriel took the briefcase, opened it, and stared at the neatly stacked bills. It wasn't just money, it was leverage, enough to settle Vincent's debts.
"Deal's done," Diego said. "Now get out of my jungle before someone changes their mind."
"You've done good work," his contact said, clapping him on the shoulder.
Gabriel said nothing in return. The deal was done, but it didn't feel like a victory. Bella's safety depended on it, and until he saw her in his arms, he wouldn't allow himself to feel anything but dread.
As Gabriel climbed back into the SUV, the wheels began to turn once more. His mind was already racing, thinking of the next step. The deal had gone smoothly, but there were no guarantees. Nothing was ever that simple in this world.
Get Bella back, he thought. That's all that matters now.
The car sped off into the night, and Gabriel's eyes flicked to the briefcase in his hand. It was just money. But to him, it was a lifeline, a chance to end the nightmare and get his daughter back.
He had done what Vincent asked. But now, he just had to pray that it was enough.