The Falco cut through the Ionian with the speed of a guided missile, the salt spray obscuring the windows of the tactical room. The entire operation was in motion—Domenico’s air assets were positioned high, Viktor’s assault team was ready on the neighboring interceptor, and I was counting the final minutes until the collision.

I sat at the main table, my hands resting on the cold steel, analyzing the three-dimensional map that tracked the San Vittore. My focus should have been on the ...