Chapter 6: The Storm Breaks
The next morning, the city woke up to chaos. The Daily Beacon had published Rachel Hayes’ explosive story, and it was everywhere—front-page headlines, breaking news alerts, and social media feeds. The article detailed Colton Stevens’ involvement in Project Phoenix, complete with photos, documents, and testimonies from anonymous sources. The public was outraged, and the authorities had no choice but to act.
Allison watched it all unfold from the safety of the villa, her laptop open as she monitored the news. She felt a mix of relief and apprehension. This was what she had been working toward, but she knew it was only the beginning. Colton wouldn’t take this lying down.
Her phone buzzed incessantly—messages from Marcus, Rachel, and even a few from old contacts who had seen the story and wanted to know if she was involved. She ignored most of them, focusing instead on the live news coverage.
“In a shocking turn of events,” the anchor said, “Colton Stevens, CEO of Stevens Corporation, has been implicated in a massive corruption and smuggling scandal. Authorities are raiding his offices and properties as we speak, and an arrest warrant has been issued.”
Allison leaned back in her chair, a small smile playing on her lips. It was happening. Colton’s empire was crumbling, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
But Colton wasn’t one to go quietly. As the news spread, he went into damage control mode. His lawyers issued statements denying the allegations, calling the story “baseless and defamatory.” His PR team worked overtime to spin the narrative, but the evidence was too damning. The public wasn’t buying it.
Meanwhile, Allison kept a close eye on the tracking device she had planted at the warehouse. The shipment had been intercepted by authorities, and the crates were being inspected. She knew it was only a matter of time before they found the weapons and technology Colton had been smuggling. When they did, there would be no way for him to talk his way out of it.
Her phone rang, startling her. It was Marcus.
“Allison, we’ve got a problem,” he said, his voice tense. “Colton’s gone off the grid. He’s not at his office or any of his usual spots. He’s desperate, and that makes him dangerous.”
Allison’s stomach tightened. “Do you think he’s coming after me?”
“I don’t know,” Marcus admitted. “But you need to be ready. He’s backed into a corner, and people like him don’t go down without a fight.”
Allison nodded, even though Marcus couldn’t see her. “I’ll be careful. But we can’t stop now. We’re too close.”
As the day wore on, the pressure mounted. Colton’s associates began turning on him, cutting ties and cooperating with authorities in exchange for leniency. The walls were closing in, and Allison could almost feel his panic from afar.
But then, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from an unknown number: “You think you’ve won, Allison. But this isn’t over. Meet me at the old pier. Come alone, or you’ll regret it.”
Allison stared at the screen, her heart pounding. It had to be Colton. He was trying to lure her out, to confront her directly. She knew it was a trap, but she also knew she couldn’t ignore it. This was her chance to end things once and for all.
She grabbed her jacket and headed for the door, her mind racing. She didn’t tell Marcus or anyone else where she was going. This was between her and Colton.
The old pier was deserted when she arrived, the sound of waves crashing against the wooden posts filling the air. The sky was overcast, the wind chilly as Allison stepped out of her car. She scanned the area, her senses on high alert.
“I knew you’d come,” a voice called out.
She turned to see Colton stepping out of the shadows, his face pale and drawn. He looked nothing like the confident, powerful man she had once known. He was desperate, unhinged.
“You’ve ruined everything,” he spat, his voice trembling with anger. “Everything I’ve built, everything I’ve worked for—gone, because of you.”
Allison stood her ground, her eyes locked on his. “You did this to yourself, Colton. I just exposed the truth.”
He laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. “The truth? You think anyone cares about the truth? This is about power, Allison. And you took mine away.”
She took a step closer, her voice steady. “It’s over, Colton. There’s no way out of this. Turn yourself in, and maybe you’ll get a lighter sentence.”
His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, she thought he might lunge at her. But then he smiled—a cold, calculating smile that sent a chill down her spine.
“You’re right,” he said. “It is over. But not for me. For you.”
Before she could react, two men stepped out from behind a stack of crates, blocking her escape. Colton had planned this well. He wasn’t just here to confront her—he was here to silence her.
Allison’s mind raced. She had to think fast. She couldn’t fight them all, but she wasn’t defenseless. She reached into her pocket, her fingers closing around the small canister of pepper spray she always carried.
“You really think this is going to work?” she asked, her voice calm despite the fear coursing through her. “You’re already finished, Colton. Hurting me won’t change that.”
He smirked. “Maybe not. But it’ll make me feel a whole lot better.”
As the men moved closer, Allison braced herself. She had walked into the trap, but she wasn’t going down without a fight. The storm had broken, and she was ready to weather it—no matter what it took.