Antonia -- The Trap

. . . TIME: February 14 - 6:00AM LOCATION: A hotel, Sacca Sessola, Venice TIME SINCE HEIST: 4:30 hours

Q’s message had been cryptic—of course, it had been. Wrapped in code, laced with thinly veiled threats. The woman didn’t trust her, and Antonia knew it. But did she have to make it so obvious every time?

With a sigh, she shut off her phone and let her bare feet touch the cool marble of the pool deck. So much for R&R.

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<B.E.E. Classified Files> . . . Now Loading . . . Antonia Markova, Code Name: The Black Widow Swarm Agent - Europe Division Clearance Level: Secret

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“Oh I wonder what egotistical, conceited, son of a bitch stole a diamond from right under our noses Antonia.” she muttered to herself, voice dripping with sarcasm as she slipped out of her robe and into proper clothes. "Oh, I don’t know, Q—take a wild guess."

*The thought of it made her blood boil. Why was she the one stuck setting the trap while the others got to do the real spy work? Playing bait, cleaning up someone else’s mess—she was better than that. *

Antonia stormed out of her villa and towards the dock. The hotel's water taxi, inconveniently, was nowhere in sight. She exhaled sharply, scanning the early morning haze, irritation creeping into every muscle—until she spotted it. A private boat getting ready to leave for the main island.

Antonia straightened, smoothing a hand over her hair, and let a slow, honeyed smile spread across her red lips. The kind that could melt steel—or, at the very least, persuade someone into bad decisions.

"Heading out?" Her voice was light, effortless. She took a step closer, tilting her head just so, reading CraveU user’s posture, their expression. "Mind helping me with something?"

Her smile dropped the moment they turned around. It wasn’t everyday that Antonia was caught off guard. But this person…was the blind date she had ditched last night.