And Then, The World Ended

Chapter 15 Hayes

Heat creeps up my neck, burning my cheeks. I rewind the last few minutes in my head. The kiss. Noah. The feel of his hand in mine. It makes me giddy, and I let out a breathless giggle. I can't believe I actually kissed him. I've been fighting these feelings for months, ever since we met.

We climb out of the milk bath and pad over to the showers, grabbing towels, then make our way to the common area, carrying our provided swimsuits. Jordan and Jake are in a heated conversation by the cold plunge, splashing each other playfully. Sophie's trying to mediate, shaking her head and laughing.

"Alright, Romeo," Jordan calls out, throwing a towel at me as we approach. "Care to explain what was going on over there?"

I shoot Noah a look, unsure what to say.

"Just enjoying the spa," I reply casually, though my voice cracks a little.

"Right?" Sophie chimes in, an eyebrow raised.

"Okay, okay," I concede, throwing my hands up. "We might have kissed. But it's new, alright? Let's not make a big deal out of it."

"No one's making a big deal out of it," Noah says softly, meeting my gaze. "Except maybe you."

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, V walks in, looking serious. "Emiko is ready."

We follow him to a private room. Emiko sits by the window, a tense energy radiating from her.

"I've contacted my father," she says, her voice low. "He's agreed to meet, but it has to be tonight. He doesn't trust anyone associated with Hanami, and honestly, after everything that's happened, can you blame him?"

We all shake our heads.

"He knows some things," Emiko continues, "but he's keeping the most important information close. He wants something in return for his full cooperation."

"What is it?" Sophie asks, leaning forward.

"He wants assurance," Emiko says, "that we can shut down Hanami for good."

V nods. "We can make that happen."

Emiko takes a deep breath. "Good. Because I'm done with this. It's time to end it."

We formulate a plan, hashing out the details of Emiko's meeting with her father and how we're going to use the information to bring Hanami down. The atmosphere crackles with nervous energy, but there's a current of determination running through it too. We're all in this together.

Emiko gives us one last look, a mix of gratitude and steely resolve in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispers, and then she's gone.

V leads us down a hallway, stopping at a door hidden in the back of the spa. He punches in a code, and the door swings open, revealing a dimly lit room filled with screens, maps, and blinking lights.

"Welcome," V says, a wry smile playing on his lips, "to my office."

"Whoa," Jordan breathes, stepping inside. "What is this place?"

"This," V says, gesturing around the room, "is where we fight back." He walks over to a large screen displaying a map of Japan. "This is Hanami's headquarters."

My eyes widen. The location matches one of the X's marked on the map we found.

"They have several smaller posts in other cities, too," V continues, pointing them out on the screen. "But this," he taps the main location, "is where we need to strike."

I look around at the others, excitement and fear battling it out in my chest. We're about to go to war.

I stare at the blinking light on the map, adrenaline coursing through my veins. This is it. The place we've been seeking—the nucleus of the Hanami Hotel's operations. I can almost hear the collective heartbeat of our group, pounding with anticipation and trepidation. We've ventured into the belly of the beast, and now there's no turning back.

V traces a finger along the screen, outlining a plan only he fully comprehends. "We've been gathering intelligence for months," he says, his voice steady. "Tonight, we strike. We end this once and for all."

I glance at Noah. His eyes are wide, a mix of emotions flickering across his face. I squeeze his hand, offering silent reassurance. His lips press together in determination, and he gives me a slight nod.

"Here's what we know," V continues, pulling up files on the screen. "They're running an illegal surveillance operation, keeping tabs on guests they deem 'interesting.' Your group caught their attention, and they decided to monitor your every move, Noah, in particular, was of interest."

"Why me?" Noah asks, his voice strained.

"Your background and connections in the industry, for one," V explains. "They were tracking your career, your friendships, even your love life." He gives a pointed look at me, and I feel a flash of anger. "They knew you were growing closer to Liam, who is their true target, and it seems they wanted to document the entire arc of that relationship, hoping for... death, perhaps."

I clench my jaw, remembering how exposed I felt under their watchful eye, not knowing who or what was behind it all. I'm seething now, an inferno building inside me. These people invaded our privacy, played with our emotions, and put Noah in danger.

"So, what's the play?" Jordan interrupts my whirling thoughts. His playful demeanor has been dialed down to match the gravity of the situation.

V turns to a new screen, outlining our course of action. "We pay them a visit. I have a team on standby. We'll breach their perimeter, hack into their systems, and retrieve anything that could be used against them. We expose their operations to the world."

"And if they resist?" I ask, my voice hardening.

"Then we engage," V replies, his gaze unwavering. "But our goal is to minimize casualties. These people are dangerous, and we need to stop them, but we're not looking to start a war."

"What about the authorities?" Noah speaks up. "Can't we just go to the police?"

V gives him a grim smile. "We tried. This place operates in the shadows. They have connections everywhere. We can't trust anyone but ourselves to bring them down."

I feel a weight settle on my shoulders. This is no longer just about us—it's bigger than our personal dramas and tangled emotions. We're up against a hidden network of power and influence, and it's up to us to sever their tendrils of control.

"Hayes," Sophie says, her voice steadying me, "this is what you do, right? Marketing and PR? How do we make sure the truth gets out?"

I nod, my mind already racing. "We hit them where it hurts. We expose them to the public, tarnish their reputation beyond repair. Once we have the evidence, we blast it everywhere. Social media, news outlets, anywhere it'll stick."

"We don't need to convince everyone," V adds. "Just enough people with influence. The rest will follow."

"Emiko's father could help," Noah suggests. "With his connections, we might be able to spread the word faster, reach people we normally couldn't."

"Indeed," V says. "We'll need all the help we can get. We strike tonight, in coordination with Emiko's meeting. The timing needs to be impeccable."