She took the seat facing him, hands resting lightly on her thighs. Already the weight of the task ahead pressed heavily upon her mind, the package she would soon carry, the long and uncertain road stretching before her, and the fragile life she was determined to protect with every single breath she took.
Mateo appeared moments later, carrying a tightly wrapped package. Even before he set it down on the table, its shape was unmistakable: a five-liter jerrican, heavy and dense with dangerous contents.
"That package needs to be delivered to City W," Santiago said quietly, each word measured and precise. "Follow the location on the map, complete the transaction, and bring the money back."
He rose from his chair without waiting for questions or acknowledgment and walked away, leaving the full gravity of the order hanging thick in the air behind him.
