Tore

flashback: the plan .

Flashback,  about a week prior, before the incident with LeSane and Leigh

Kaine

Leigh stared at me for a moment, her expression a mix of disbelief and concern. "Kaine, this is insane," she said, her voice low but filled with tension.

"We're talking about blowing up an entire operation, people—"

"People who deserve it," I interrupted, my voice cold and firm. "You know what they've done, what they're capable of. This isn't just about us, Leigh. It's about stopping them before they can hurt anyone else."

She crossed her arms, leaning back against the table, clearly torn. "And you really think this will work? That we can get away with it?"

I nodded, though the weight of what I was proposing hung heavy between us. "I've calculated every angle, every potential outcome. This is our best shot. But I can't do it alone."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"I don't like this, Kaine. You're asking me to map out a blueprint for something that could kill a lot of people. I don't want that on my conscience."

"I understand," I said, trying to keep my tone gentle.

"But think about what happens if we don't do this. They'll keep expanding, keep hurting more innocent lives. This... this could stop all of it."

Leigh looked away, her fingers tapping nervously on the table. "And what happens to us if it goes wrong?"

I paused, considering her question. "We've covered our tracks as best as we can. But there are no guarantees, Leigh. You know that."

She bit her lip, clearly wrestling with the decision. Finally, she looked back at me, her eyes hardening with resolve. "Alright, I'll do it. But if this goes south, Kaine, we're both going down. I need to know that Noa will be in the right hands."

I gave her a small, grim smile. "I know. And I appreciate this, more than you know. He will go with Krissy or my mother, if all goes wrong."

She rolled her eyes again, but there was a hint of a smile there too. "Don't get all sentimental on me now. Let's just get this done."

I handed her the tools she'd need, watching as she started to map out the blueprint with a steady hand. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for involving her in something so dangerous. But this was the only way.

As she worked, I kept my focus on the task ahead.

We were on the brink of something irreversible, and there was no turning back now.

We had a plan.

To end this.