Chapter 76: Battle Lines

The successful raid on the safe house gave Lucas, Chloe, and their allies a temporary sense of relief, but they knew it was just a step in a much larger battle. DeLuca was still out there, and the threat he posed loomed larger than ever. The next few days were tense as they regrouped and planned their next move. One morning, as Lucas was finishing his coffee in the kitchen, Jack called. "We've got a lead. One of DeLuca's lieutenants is willing to talk." "How reliable is this source?" Lucas asked, his grip tightening around the phone. "Pretty solid," Jack replied. "We need to move fast. Meet me at the safe house in an hour." Lucas hung up and turned to Chloe, who was preparing breakfast for Ryan. "Jack's got a lead. We need to go." Chloe nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "Be careful, Lucas." "We will," Lucas assured her, kissing her forehead. "I love you." "I love you too," she replied, watching as he left. At the safe house, Jack was already briefing the team. "Our