Chapter 13: The Trap
The information Leo had given them was a goldmine—names, locations, and details about the Syndicate’s operations that could bring the entire organization crashing down. But as Alicia and Caden pored over the notes in the dim light of the motel room, a sense of unease settled over her. Something felt off. Too easy. Too convenient.
“This is… a lot,” Alicia said, her voice hesitant as she flipped through the pages. “Are we sure we can trust him?”
Caden leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “Leo’s always been a wild card, but he’s got no reason to lie. Not if he wants to save his own skin.”
Alicia frowned, her gut still telling her something wasn’t right. “What if it’s a trap? What if he’s setting us up?”
Caden’s jaw tightened, and he nodded slowly. “It’s possible. But we don’t have a choice. This is the best lead we’ve got, and we need to act on it before the Syndicate covers their tracks.”
Alicia sighed, running a hand through her hair. “So what’s the plan?”
Caden leaned forward, his eyes sharp. “We hit one of their key locations—a warehouse where they store their cash and records. If we can get our hands on that, we’ll have everything we need to take them down.”
Alicia’s chest tightened. “And how do we do that without walking into a trap?”
Caden’s lips curved into a faint smile. “We don’t walk in. We sneak in. And we’ll have backup.”
“Backup?” Alicia raised an eyebrow. “Who?”
Caden hesitated, then pulled out his phone. “An old friend. Someone I can trust. He’ll meet us there.”
Alicia wanted to ask more, but the look in Caden’s eyes told her not to press. Instead, she nodded, her resolve hardening. “Alright. Let’s do this.”
That night, they drove to the outskirts of the city, where the Syndicate’s warehouse loomed like a shadow against the night sky. The place was heavily guarded, with men patrolling the perimeter and cameras covering every angle. Alicia’s heart raced as they parked a safe distance away, her nerves on edge.
Caden handed her a small earpiece. “Stay close, and follow my lead. If anything goes wrong, get out of there. Understand?”
Alicia nodded, though her stomach was in knots. “I understand.”
They moved through the darkness, sticking to the shadows as they approached the warehouse. Caden’s movements were quick and precise, and Alicia did her best to keep up. As they reached the side of the building, a figure stepped out of the shadows, making Alicia jump.
“Relax,” Caden said, his voice low. “This is my friend, Marcus.”
Alicia recognized the name—it was the same informant they’d met at the diner. Marcus gave her a nod, his expression grim. “Let’s make this quick. I don’t like being out in the open.”
Caden nodded, and the three of them made their way to a side door. Caden picked the lock with ease, and they slipped inside, the darkness enveloping them.
The warehouse was massive, with rows of shelves stacked high with crates and boxes. Alicia’s eyes adjusted to the dim light, and she could just make out the faint hum of machinery in the distance.
“This way,” Caden whispered, leading them deeper into the warehouse.
They moved quickly and quietly, their footsteps barely making a sound. As they reached a set of double doors, Caden paused, his hand on the handle. “This is it. The records should be in here.”
He pushed the door open, and they stepped inside. The room was filled with filing cabinets and computers, and Alicia felt a flicker of hope. This was it. They were so close.
But as Caden began to search the files, a voice echoed through the room, cold and mocking.
“Well, well. Look who decided to drop by.”
Alicia’s heart stopped as the lights flicked on, blinding her for a moment. When her vision cleared, she saw Victor Kane standing in the doorway, a smug smile on his face. Behind him were half a dozen armed men, their guns trained on Alicia, Caden, and Marcus.
Caden’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. “Kane. Should’ve known you’d show up.”
Kane chuckled, stepping into the room. “You really thought you could outsmart me, Ward? How quaint.”
Alicia’s chest tightened as she realized the truth. Leo had set them up. This had been a trap all along.
Caden’s voice was calm, but Alicia could see the tension in his posture. “What do you want, Kane?”
Kane’s smile widened, his eyes glinting with malice. “What do I want? I want you to suffer. You’ve been a thorn in my side for far too long, Ward. And now, you’ve walked right into my hands.”
Alicia’s mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest. They were outnumbered and outgunned. But she refused to give up. Not now. Not ever.
Caden’s voice broke the silence, his tone steady. “You’re not going to get away with this, Kane. The Syndicate’s done. You’re done.”
Kane’s smirk faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. “Brave words. But bravery won’t save you.”
Before he could say more, the sound of sirens echoed through the warehouse, growing louder by the second. Kane’s eyes narrowed, and he turned to the door, his expression darkening.
“What the hell is this?” he demanded, his voice sharp.
Caden’s lips curved into a faint smile. “You didn’t think we’d come here without a backup plan, did you?”
Kane’s jaw tightened, his calm demeanor cracking. “You’re bluffing.”
Caden shrugged, his tone casual. “Maybe. But are you willing to take that chance?”
For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, Kane gestured to his men. “Get them out of here. Now.”
The men moved forward, but before they could reach Caden and Alicia, the door burst open, and a swarm of police officers flooded the room, their guns drawn.
“Freeze! Hands in the air!” one of the officers shouted.
Kane’s expression turned to one of pure rage as he raised his hands, his eyes locked on Caden. “This isn’t over,” he snarled.
Caden’s smile widened. “Yeah. It is.”
As the police moved in to arrest Kane and his men, Alicia felt a wave of relief wash over her. It wasn’t over—not yet—but they’d taken a huge step forward. And for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt like they might actually have a chance.
Caden turned to her, his expression softening. “You okay?”
Alicia nodded, though her legs were still shaky. “Yeah. I think so.”
Caden reached out, gently squeezing her hand. “We did it, Alicia. Together.”
Alicia managed a small smile, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions. They’d faced the enemy head-on, and they’d come out on top. But she knew one thing for sure: the fight wasn’t over. And as long as they were together, they could face whatever came next.
The game had changed. And this time, they were the ones holding the cards.