THE DEVIL HERSELF
Chapter 39

## RUSSIA ~~~~ LORD ACE'S CHAMBERS ##

Lord Ace's chambers were as dark and imposing as the man himself. Heavy curtains blocked out any light, casting the room in perpetual shadow. The walls were adorned with weapons of various kinds, each telling a story of a battle fought and won. Sitting at a large, ornate desk was Lord Ace, a figure of menace and power.

Opposite him sat another man, his face obscured by a hood and mask. This man was known as Stone, a long-time operative embedded within Scarlet's clan. Their meeting was shrouded in secrecy, each man careful not to reveal too much about themselves even to each other.

Lord Ace slammed his fist onto the desk, his anger palpable. "How did this happen? How did Scarlet manage to swap the goods? Those were meant for our Russian allies!"

Stone's voice was calm, almost indifferent, as he responded. "Scarlet is cunning. She has eyes and ears everywhere. But it's more than that-she's driven by something deeper, something personal."

Lord Ace's eyes narrowed. "Personal? Explain."

Stone leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Scarlet has a brother. He's in a hospital in Italy, critically injured from a mission. She also killed Natalia, one of her own, recently. There's a lot of turmoil within her ranks." Lord Ace's expression shifted to one of intrigue. "A brother, you say? And what of her mother? Surely, every devil has a weakness."

Stone hesitated, then continued. "Her mother is a sensitive subject. She's well-hidden, even within her own clan. But if we can replace her and the brother, we might have a way to break Scarlet. Targeting her family will hit her where it hurts most." Lord Ace leaned back in his chair, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "If we can eliminate her brother and mother, she'll crumble. Do you know where her mother is?"

Stone shook his head. "Not yet, but I have resources working on it. Her brother, however, is in a hospital in Italy. That could be our starting point."

Lord Ace stood, pacing the room with his hands clasped behind his back. "Then that's where we'll strike first. Take down the brother, and use him as bait to draw Scarlet out. Once she's vulnerable, we can finish her off. Prepare a team. We leave for Italy soon."

Stone nodded. "I'll handle it. But remember, Scarlet is no ordinary foe. She's the Devil's Venomous Viper for a reason. We must be meticulous."

Unbeknownst to them, a small, hidden camera embedded in the wall was capturing every word of their conversation. The device had been planted weeks earlier by one of Scarlet's operatives, ensuring that any plan against her would be known in advance.

## ITALY ~~~~ SCARLET'S OFFICE ##

Scarlet sat in her office, her eyes fixed on the monitor in front of her. The live feed from the hidden camera in Lord Ace's chambers played out, revealing every detail of his sinister plan.

Diego stood beside her, a devilish smile mirroring her own. "So, they think they can take us down by targeting your family?"

Scarlet leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. "They underestimate us. They think I'm weak because I care about my family. But that's where they're wrong. My family gives me strength."

Diego nodded. "What's the plan, then? Do we counter-attack or let them come to us?"

Scarlet's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "We let them come. They'll walk right into our trap. We'll be ready for them."

Diego smirked. "I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they realize they've been outsmarted."

Scarlet turned her attention back to the screen, her mind already strategizing their next move. "We need to secure the hospital first. Make sure Elias is protected. Increase the guards and keep a close watch on anyone entering or leaving." Diego nodded, already pulling out his phone to relay the orders. "Consider it done."

Scarlet's gaze hardened. "And we need to replace out where my mother is. She's the key to keeping the clan united. If Lord Ace gets to her, it could create chaos."

Diego paused. "Do you have any idea where she might be?"

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Scarlet shook her head. "She's been in hiding for years, ever since my father's death. But I have a few leads. I'll need you to follow up on them. Discreetly."

Diego placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll replace her, Scarlet. We'll keep your family safe."

Scarlet sighed, the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her. "Thank you, Diego. Your loyalty means more to me than you know."

Diego squeezed her shoulder gently before leaving the room to carry out her orders. Scarlet remained, staring at the screen, her mind racing with possibilities and contingencies. She knew the battle ahead would be fierce, but she was ready. For her family, for her clan, she would do whatever it took to win.

## THE HOSPITAL ##

Later that day, Scarlet and a team of her most trusted operatives arrived at the hospital where Elias was being treated. Scarlet's presence there was a statement in itself: her family was under her protection, and anyone who dared to threaten them would pay the price.

Dracula and Diego flanked her as they entered Elias's room. The beeping of machines filled the air, a constant reminder of her brother's fragile state. She stood by his bedside, her hand resting gently on his.

"We're going to keep you safe, Elias," she whispered. "No one will hurt you again."

Dracula cleared his throat, drawing her attention. "The guards are in place. No one gets in or out without our knowledge."

Scarlet nodded. "Good. Make sure they're on high alert. Lord Ace won't wait long before making his move."

Diego stepped forward. "What about your mother? Any leads?"

Scarlet sighed. "I've sent out feelers. We should have something concrete soon. Until then, we stay vigilant."

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Dracula's eyes narrowed. "And when Lord Ace shows up?"

Scarlet's gaze hardened. "We'll be ready. He'll regret ever coming after my family."

## ITALY ~~~~ THE CLAN'S COMMON AREA ##

Meanwhile, back at the compound, the rest of the clan was gathering in the common area, their spirits high despite the looming threat. They knew Scarlet had a plan, and they trusted her implicitly. Lucky and Lucas were playfully wrestling, their laughter echoing through the room. Lotus and Vincento were deep in conversation, discussing the finer points of their recent mission. Arizona was sitting with Rachel, trying to fend off more teasing about Bingo. "Come on, guys, give it a rest," she said, smiling despite herself.

"Hey, it's all in good fun," Vincento said, grinning. "Besides, Bingo's a good guy. You could do worse."

Arizona rolled her eyes but couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright. Enough about Bingo. Let's focus on the task at hand."

Piper, Alec, Lars, Janet, and Sandra were gathered around a table, planning their next training session. "We need to stay sharp," Alec said. "No telling when we'll be called into action again." Lars nodded. "Agreed. We should do some combat drills. Keep our skills honed."

Janet looked up from her notes. "And maybe some tactical planning sessions. We need to be prepared for anything."

Sandra added, "Especially with Lord Ace out there. He's not going to give up easily."