WHO AM I

THE TRAP IS SET

The tension between them was palpable, yet it was masked by the banter that filled Noah’s apartment. Lila sat on the edge of her seat, her nerves raw, while Noah kept his usual calm demeanor. Cathy was sprawled on the floor, flipping through a magazine, her face blank but her mind clearly racing. Jasper, on the other hand, was pacing the room, every so often throwing out an outlandish suggestion for how to throw Renzo off their scent.

“I’m telling you,” Jasper said, holding up his hands, “we need a decoy! Someone who can lead Renzo in circles while we make our move.”

Lila raised an eyebrow. “And who do you suggest we use as bait?”

Jasper grinned. “I volunteer Cathy.”

Cathy shot him a look so cold it could freeze water. “Not a chance, Jasper.”

“Come on!” Jasper protested. “You’re the most inconspicuous. Plus, you’d totally charm Renzo, and he’d never see it coming!”

“I think he might see it coming when I bash his head in,” Cathy deadpanned, though a slight smile tugged at her lips.

Noah cleared his throat, cutting through the playful tension. “We’re not using anyone as bait. We’re smarter than that.”

Cathy let out a dramatic sigh. “Thank God.”

Lila chuckled. It was moments like these that made the situation feel less suffocating, the weight of their plan lightened by Jasper’s ridiculousness. But they all knew that this wasn’t a joke. Renzo was dangerous, and the more they poked the bear, the higher the stakes climbed.

“Okay, so what’s our next step?” Lila asked, glancing at Noah. His mind was clearly elsewhere, probably two steps ahead of everyone else.

“We need to set a trap,” Noah said quietly. “Something that forces Renzo to show his hand.”

Jasper’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, I love a good trap! Are we talking ‘Mission Impossible’ style? Maybe some lasers, an explosion or two?”

Noah rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at his lips. “No explosions. Something more subtle.”

Cathy sat up, crossing her legs beneath her. “I’m listening.”

“We make him believe that his inner circle is falling apart,” Noah explained. “If Renzo thinks that his own people are turning on him, he’ll make a mistake.”

Lila’s eyes widened. “But how do we convince him of that?”

“That’s where we get creative,” Noah said, a gleam in his eye. “We plant evidence. Fake messages, whispers of betrayal, enough to make him paranoid.”

Jasper clapped his hands together. “I knew this was going to be fun!”

Cathy raised an eyebrow. “Fun? Jasper, we’re literally going up against a sociopath.”

“Details, details,” Jasper waved her off. “All I’m saying is, we finally get to use our brains for something other than sitting around worrying.”

Lila smiled despite herself. Jasper’s enthusiasm was contagious, even if it was wildly misplaced.

“Alright, so we start with his inner circle,” Noah continued, grabbing his laptop. “We create fake conversations between his closest allies, hinting that they’re planning something behind his back.”

Cathy leaned in. “And how do we make it believable?”

Noah smirked. “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”

Jasper let out a low whistle. “I didn’t know we had a mastermind in the room.”

“Always full of surprises,” Noah said with a wink.

They spent the next hour working on the plan, creating fake chat logs and setting up anonymous accounts. Lila was amazed at how quickly they were able to make it all seem real, the fabricated conversations so convincing that even she started to believe them.

As they worked, the lightness of their banter faded, replaced by a silent determination. This wasn’t just a game anymore. They were walking a tightrope, one wrong move away from everything crashing down.

“Alright,” Noah said finally, leaning back in his chair. “It’s done. Now we wait.”

Lila’s stomach twisted as she looked at the clock. The waiting was always the hardest part. What would Renzo do when he saw the messages? Would he take the bait, or would he call their bluff?

“Anyone else feeling a little nauseous?” Jasper asked, clutching his stomach dramatically.

“Only you, Jasper,” Cathy muttered, though her pale face betrayed her own nerves.

The room fell into an uneasy silence as they waited for a response. Minutes felt like hours, the tension growing thicker with every passing second.

Then, Lila’s phone buzzed.

She grabbed it, her heart in her throat. “It’s Renzo.”

Everyone froze.

“Well?” Cathy urged. “What does it say?”

Lila’s fingers trembled as she opened the message. Her eyes scanned the text, her stomach dropping.

“I see what you’re doing. But two can play at that game. Let’s see who breaks first.”

Lila’s voice wavered as she read the message out loud.

Jasper let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s ominous.”

Noah’s jaw clenched. “He knows.”

Lila’s mind raced, her pulse quickening. This was bad—really bad. Renzo wasn’t backing down; if anything, he was doubling down.

“What do we do now?” Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Noah’s eyes were steely as he answered, “We keep going. Renzo just showed his hand. Now it’s our turn.”