Chapter 73 The Northern Slope Gate

• The road to the northern slope climbed without end, winding between ravines and a pine forest that rose like a dark wall on both sides. Aleksander drove alone with both hands gripping the wheel, the last message from the unknown number still open on the phone he had set on the dashboard. I'm fine. Don't come. It's a trap. He had read it forty times, and each time his chest felt a little tighter.
• His phone rang. Arkan's name appeared on the screen.
• "We're on the water pipeline route," Arkan's voice said, broken up by the weak signal. "Darto says we'll reach the west side of the villa in an hour. Where are you?"