Chapter 12: The Next Move
The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains of the motel room, casting a soft glow over the space. Alicia sat on the edge of the bed, sipping a cup of coffee Caden had brought her. The warmth of the drink helped steady her nerves, but her mind was still racing. Victor Kane was in custody, but the Syndicate was still out there. And if what Caden had said was true, they wouldn’t stop coming after her.
Caden was pacing the room, his phone pressed to his ear. He’d been on and off calls all morning, his expression growing darker with each conversation. Finally, he hung up and turned to Alicia, his jaw tight.
“We’ve got a problem,” he said, his voice low.
Alicia’s chest tightened. “What kind of problem?”
“Kane’s lawyers are already working on getting him out,” Caden replied, his tone grim. “And the Syndicate’s pulling strings behind the scenes. It’s only a matter of time before he’s back on the streets.”
Alicia’s stomach churned. “So what do we do now?”
Caden hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he thought. “We need to hit them where it hurts. Take down the Syndicate from the inside. But to do that, we need more information.”
Alicia frowned. “Where are we supposed to get that?”
Caden’s lips curved into a faint smile. “We’ve got one advantage: Kane’s arrest has shaken things up. People are nervous, and nervous people make mistakes. If we can find someone on the inside who’s willing to talk, we might be able to bring the whole thing down.”
Alicia’s mind raced. It sounded risky, but what other choice did they have? “Do you have someone in mind?”
Caden nodded. “There’s a guy—Leo. He’s mid-level in the Syndicate, but he’s always been a bit of a loose cannon. If anyone’s going to crack under pressure, it’s him.”
Alicia’s chest tightened. “And you think he’ll talk to us?”
Caden’s expression was grim. “He might. But it’s not going to be easy. We’ll have to corner him, and that means going into Syndicate territory.”
Alicia swallowed hard. The thought of walking into the lion’s den was terrifying, but she knew they didn’t have a choice. “When do we go?”
Caden studied her for a moment, his gaze softening. “You don’t have to come, Alicia. This is going to be dangerous.”
Alicia shook her head, her voice firm. “I’m not backing out now. This is my fight too.”
Caden nodded, a flicker of respect in his eyes. “Alright. But we need to be smart about this. We’ll go tonight, when they’re less likely to be expecting us.”
The rest of the day passed in a blur of preparation. Caden spent hours going over maps and plans, while Alicia tried to steady her nerves. She didn’t know what to expect, but she knew one thing for sure: she couldn’t let fear stop her. Not now.
As the sun began to set, Caden handed her a small earpiece. “This will let us stay in contact. If anything goes wrong, I need you to get out of there. Understand?”
Alicia nodded, though her stomach was in knots. “I understand.”
They left the motel under the cover of darkness, the city streets quiet and empty. Caden led her through a maze of alleys and side streets, his movements quick and precise. Finally, they reached a rundown warehouse on the edge of the city, its windows dark and its doors locked.
“This is it,” Caden said, his voice low. “Leo’s inside. Stay close, and let me do the talking.”
Alicia nodded, her heart pounding as they approached the warehouse. Caden picked the lock with ease, and they slipped inside, the darkness enveloping them.
The warehouse was dimly lit, with stacks of crates and machinery scattered around. Alicia’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she could just make out the figure of a man sitting at a table in the corner, a bottle of whiskey in front of him.
Caden stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “Leo. We need to talk.”
The man—Leo—looked up, his eyes narrowing as he recognized Caden. “Well, well. If it isn’t the ghost of Christmas past. What the hell are you doing here, Ward?”
Caden didn’t flinch. “I’m here to make you an offer. One that might just save your life.”
Leo chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. “Save my life? That’s rich. You’re the one who’s walking into the lion’s den.”
Caden’s expression hardened. “The Syndicate’s falling apart, Leo. Kane’s in custody, and the rest of you are scrambling. You really think they’re going to protect you when the ship goes down?”
Leo hesitated, his bravado faltering for just a moment. “What do you want?”
“Information,” Caden said, his voice steady. “Names, locations, anything that can help us take the Syndicate down. And in return, we’ll make sure you walk away from this.”
Leo’s eyes flicked to Alicia, then back to Caden. “And why should I trust you?”
Caden stepped closer, his gaze intense. “Because you don’t have a choice. The Syndicate’s done, Leo. And if you don’t help us, you’re going down with it.”
For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, Leo sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Alright. I’ll talk. But you’d better keep your word, Ward.”
Caden nodded, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. “You have my word.”
As Leo began to spill everything he knew, Alicia felt a glimmer of hope. They were one step closer to taking down the Syndicate, and for the first time, she felt like they might actually win.
But as they left the warehouse, Caden’s expression was grim. “This isn’t over,” he said, his voice low. “The Syndicate’s not going to go down without a fight.”
Alicia nodded, her resolve hardening. “Then we’ll be ready.”
The game wasn’t over. But for the first time, Alicia felt like they were holding the cards. And she wasn’t going to back down. Not now. Not ever.