Collateral Blood

33

As the evening wore on, Sloan lay in Louis's bed, feigning sleep while he snored softly beside her. The room was dimly lit by a single lamp, casting shadows that danced across the walls. Sloan's mind raced, replaying the snippets of information she'd gathered during her seduction of Louis. The weight of her deception pressed heavily upon her, but she had to focus on the end goal: dismantling the Vipers and returning to Harry.

Her thoughts drifted back to the warehouse, to the chaos of the ambush, and to the distress in Harry's eyes when she left. She had played her part well, but it was far from over. She needed to get back to him, to ensure that their plan would come to fruition.

The Vipers' headquarters was buzzing with activity. Louis's triumphant celebration had not gone unnoticed by the other members of the gang. Sloan's presence and her supposed "return" were being discussed in hushed tones. She could hear snippets of conversations through the thin walls—plans for future operations, the excitement of having her back, and the fear of what her defection might mean.

Sloan's heart pounded in her chest as she carefully slid out of bed, being as quiet as possible. She needed to get to Lucas's office to access any confidential documents or plans that might give her and Harry an edge. Moving stealthily through the corridors, she avoided any guards or curious eyes, her every sense alert.

When she reached Lucas's office, she hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. The room was dark, save for the faint glow of a desk lamp. Sloan crept inside, her eyes scanning the room for anything that might be of use. There were stacks of documents, a safe, and a few personal items scattered around. She approached the desk, searching through the papers with trembling hands.

It wasn't long before she found a folder marked "Operation Raven," which seemed to contain detailed plans and communications between the Vipers and various other criminal entities. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it and began to sift through the documents. There were maps, schedules, and coded messages—everything she needed to understand the Vipers' operations and their plans for the future.

As she was absorbed in her search, Sloan's mind kept drifting back to Harry. She could almost feel his presence, his touch, and the intensity of his gaze. The emotional pull was overwhelming, but she knew she had to stay focused. This was her chance to gather crucial information that could turn the tide in their favor.

Just as she was about to take photos of the most critical documents with her phone, she heard footsteps approaching. Panic surged through her, but she quickly gathered the papers and slipped them into her bag. She ducked behind a large filing cabinet, her breath coming in shallow gasps as the door to the office creaked open.

The figures of Lucas and another Viper member entered the room, their voices low and serious. Sloan held her breath, praying they wouldn't discover her. She could hear them discussing the recent events, the recovery of Sloan, and the plans for future operations.

"Everything's going according to plan," Lucas said, his voice carrying an edge of satisfaction. "We'll tighten our grip on the territory and deal with Harry and his crew once and for all."

The other Viper member, a gruff man with a scarred face, nodded in agreement. "And what about Sloan? Do we trust her completely?"

Lucas chuckled darkly. "She's proving her worth. If she's playing us, we'll deal with her in due time. For now, we use her to our advantage."

Sloan's stomach churned at the thought of being used as a pawn in their game, but she remained hidden, listening intently. She knew that any information she could gather tonight would be vital for the upcoming confrontation.

After a few more minutes of conversation, Lucas and the Viper member left the office, closing the door behind them. Sloan waited until the footsteps faded away before emerging from her hiding spot. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, and quickly gathered the documents.