Chapter 5: Trust No One
The car sped through the city, weaving through traffic with a sense of urgency that made Alicia’s stomach churn. She clutched the edge of her seat, her knuckles white, as Caden sat beside her, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. The tension in the car was palpable, and Alicia couldn’t shake the feeling that danger was closing in.
“Where are we going now?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Somewhere safe,” Caden replied, his tone clipped. “Somewhere they won’t find us.”
Alicia wanted to press him for more details, but the look on his face told her now wasn’t the time. Instead, she stared out the window, her mind racing. Who were “they”? And why were they after her? None of this made sense.
After what felt like an eternity, the car pulled into a secluded warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Caden quickly ushered her inside, his hand firm on her arm as they moved through the dimly lit space. The warehouse was empty except for a few scattered crates and a single desk with a laptop and a stack of papers.
“Sit,” Caden said, gesturing to a chair by the desk. “We need to talk.”
Alicia sat down, her legs feeling like jelly. She watched as Caden paced the room, his expression tense. Finally, he stopped and turned to face her.
“Here’s what I know,” he began. “Someone’s been manipulating both of us. They set us up last night for a reason, and it’s not just about you or me. This is bigger than that. It’s about power, control, and money. And if we don’t figure out who’s behind it, we’re both dead.”
Alicia’s chest tightened. “But why? Why would anyone want to hurt us?”
Caden hesitated, as if weighing his words. “Because of Joshua.”
Alicia’s breath caught. “What does Joshua have to do with this?”
Caden’s gaze hardened. “Joshua’s in deep with some dangerous people. He’s been involved in shady business deals, and now he’s in over his head. Someone’s using him—and by extension, you—to get what they want.”
Alicia shook her head, refusing to believe it. “No. Joshua wouldn’t do that. He’s not perfect, but he’s not a criminal.”
Caden’s expression softened, but his tone remained firm. “I’m not saying he’s a criminal. But he’s made some bad choices, and now he’s caught in a web he can’t escape. And whoever’s pulling the strings is using you to get to him.”
Alicia’s mind raced. She wanted to deny it, to believe that Joshua was innocent, but deep down, she knew something wasn’t right. The texts, the drugged drink, the mysterious man who turned out to be Caden—it all pointed to something bigger than she could understand.
“What do we do now?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Caden sat down across from her, his eyes locking onto hers. “We need to work together. You know Joshua better than anyone. If we can figure out what he’s involved in, we might be able to stop this before it’s too late.”
Alicia hesitated. She didn’t know if she could trust Caden, but she didn’t have many options. “Okay,” she said finally. “What do you need from me?”
Caden leaned forward, his expression serious. “Tell me everything you know about Joshua’s business dealings. Who does he work with? Who does he owe money to? Anything that might give us a clue.”
Alicia thought for a moment, trying to recall any details Joshua might have mentioned. “He’s been working on some big deal recently. He said it was going to change everything for us. But he wouldn’t tell me much about it. Just that it was confidential.”
Caden’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know who he was working with?”
Alicia shook her head. “No. He never mentioned any names. But…” She paused, a memory surfacing. “There was one time, about a month ago. He got a call late at night. He seemed really stressed afterward. When I asked him about it, he said it was just work stuff. But now that I think about it, he was acting strange.”
Caden nodded, his expression thoughtful. “That could be something. We’ll need to dig deeper.”
Before Alicia could respond, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and froze. It was a text from Joshua.
Joshua: Alicia, we need to talk. It’s urgent. Meet me at our usual spot.
Alicia’s heart raced. She showed the text to Caden, who immediately shook his head.
“Don’t respond,” he said firmly. “It could be a trap.”
“But what if he’s in trouble?” Alicia asked, her voice rising in panic. “What if he needs my help?”
Caden’s gaze softened, but his tone remained firm. “Alicia, you can’t trust him right now. Not until we know what’s really going on.”
Alicia’s chest tightened. She didn’t want to believe that Joshua could be involved in something dangerous, but she couldn’t ignore the possibility. “Okay,” she said finally. “What do we do now?”
Caden stood up, his expression determined. “We need to find out who’s behind this. And we need to do it fast.”
As he spoke, the sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse. Caden’s eyes narrowed, and he quickly moved to the door, peering out into the darkness.
“We’re not alone,” he said, his voice low. “Stay here.”
Alicia’s heart pounded as Caden slipped out of the room, leaving her alone in the dimly lit warehouse. She clutched her phone tightly, her mind racing. Who was out there? And what did they want?
Before she could think too much about it, the door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. Alicia’s breath caught as she recognized the face.
It was Joshua.
“Alicia,” he said, his voice filled with relief. “Thank God I found you.”
Alicia stared at him, her mind spinning. “Joshua? What are you doing here?”
Joshua stepped closer, his expression tense. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. We need to talk. It’s about Caden Ward.”
Alicia’s chest tightened. “What about him?”
Joshua’s eyes darkened. “He’s not who you think he is, Alicia. He’s dangerous. And if you’re with him, you’re in serious trouble.”
Alicia’s mind raced. She didn’t know who to believe—Joshua or Caden. But one thing was clear: the game had just gotten a lot more dangerous. And she was right in the middle of it.