"Veil of Thorns"

###Episode 13: Shattered Loyalties

The air in the office felt colder after Megan's confession. Lisa stood frozen, staring at the woman who had betrayed her, struggling to process the weight of it all. The words echoed in her mind: *I didn't have a choice.*

But Lisa knew better. There was always a choice.

She had to act now, before Reed tightened his grip any further. Her mind raced through the options, but one thing was clear-Megan couldn't stay. Trust had been shattered, and with Reed's reach this close, any hesitation would only bring disaster.

Lisa walked over to the window, the city lights blinking in the distance. "You need to leave, Megan," she said quietly, her voice colder than she intended. "Pack your things and go. I can't have you here anymore."

Megan looked up, her face streaked with tears, but she didn't argue. There was no excuse that could mend what was broken. Slowly, she nodded, standing and heading toward the door. As she reached the threshold, she turned, her voice barely audible.

"Lisa, I-"

"Don't," Lisa interrupted, her tone cutting through the silence. "Just go."

Megan swallowed hard, wiping her face before walking out, leaving the door softly closing behind her. Lisa stood alone, the weight of betrayal pressing down on her chest like a vice.

But there was no time to dwell on it. Reed was still out there, and now, more than ever, she needed to be ahead of him. She turned back to her desk, her thoughts turning to Adrin. How much had he known about Megan? How deep did this betrayal go?

---

Lisa arrived at Adrin's office later that afternoon, the tension from their last confrontation still hanging in the air. His sharp eyes flickered up when she entered, but his expression was unreadable.

"Megan's out," Lisa said without preamble, her voice clipped. "She was working with Reed."

Adrin didn't look surprised. He leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled in front of him. "I suspected as much. Reed's too smart to leave you without a leak."

Lisa's anger flared. "You knew? And you didn't say anything?"

"I didn't have proof," Adrin said calmly, his gaze steady. "And we couldn't afford to tip our hand too early."

Lisa's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I trusted her."

Adrin's eyes softened for a brief moment, but his voice remained firm. "In this game, trust is a luxury we can't afford."

The words stung, but they were true. Lisa had learned that the hard way. She couldn't rely on anyone but herself-not anymore.

"We need to move faster," Lisa said, pushing past the knot of emotions tightening in her chest. "Reed's tightening his grip. Megan was only the beginning."

Adrin nodded, his demeanor shifting to business. "We're going after him. But we can't be reckless. If we attack too soon, he'll bury us."

Lisa narrowed her eyes. "So what's the plan? Because sitting back hasn't exactly worked in our favor."

Adrin stood, moving to the window where the skyline loomed large. His voice was quieter when he spoke. "We need leverage. Something Reed can't afford to lose."

Lisa crossed her arms. "What are you thinking?"

Adrin's gaze remained on the city below, his expression distant. "Reed's always been careful to keep himself out of the spotlight. But he has a weakness. His network thrives on secrecy-and someone in that network is about to crack."

Lisa raised an eyebrow. "And who's that?"

Adrin turned to face her, his eyes gleaming with a mix of confidence and something darker. "His enforcer-Dominic Voss. He's loyal to Reed, but he's also dangerously ambitious. If we can turn him, we can unravel Reed's web from the inside."

Lisa felt a surge of adrenaline. It was risky, but it could work. "Do we have a way to get to Voss?"

Adrin's lips curled into a small, dangerous smile. "We're already one step ahead. Voss is in town-he'll be at a private event tonight. We'll make our move there."

Lisa's pulse quickened at the thought of confronting someone so close to Reed. It was a delicate game, but if they could pull it off, they might finally have the upper hand.

---

The venue was elegant and exclusive, the kind of place where power was exchanged behind smiles and handshakes. Lisa and Adrin arrived separately, blending in with the crowd of high-profile business figures and influencers. No one knew the true nature of the night's events-the chessboard they were stepping into.

Lisa spotted Dominic Voss easily. Tall and broad-shouldered, he had an air of quiet authority about him, his presence commanding attention without any need for theatrics. He was engaged in conversation, but Lisa could see the sharpness in his eyes, always watching, always calculating.

Adrin's voice came through her earpiece. "Voss is moving to the private lounge soon. I'll signal when we're ready."

Lisa nodded subtly, her eyes never leaving Voss. The plan was simple: isolate him, present him with an offer he couldn't refuse. But she knew how dangerous men like Voss could be-one wrong move, and this could all backfire.

Minutes passed, and Voss finally broke away from the crowd, heading toward the back of the venue. Lisa followed at a distance, keeping her steps light and her expression neutral. When he disappeared into the lounge, she slipped in behind him, the door closing softly.

Voss turned, his sharp eyes locking onto her immediately. He didn't seem surprised to see her-if anything, he looked amused.

"Lisa ," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "I didn't expect you to make an appearance tonight."

Lisa smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I have a habit of showing up when it matters."

Voss chuckled, his posture relaxed but his gaze unwavering. "I'm guessing this isn't a social call."

"No," Lisa said, stepping closer, her voice lowering. "It's business. And I think you're the key to taking down Victor Reed."

Voss raised an eyebrow, though there was no shock in his expression. "Bold of you to assume I'd betray him."

Lisa's smile widened slightly. "You wouldn't be here alone if you didn't already have doubts."

The silence between them stretched as Voss studied her, his mind clearly weighing the risks. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and dangerous.

"And what exactly are you offering?"

Lisa took a step closer, her heart pounding. "Freedom. The chance to walk away before Reed pulls you down with him."

Voss's eyes flickered, the first crack in his calm facade. "And what makes you think Reed's going down?"

Lisa's gaze hardened. "Because Adrin and I aren't stopping until he does."

For a moment, Voss said nothing, his gaze drifting toward the door as if considering his escape. Then, slowly, he nodded, his expression unreadable.

"Let's talk."

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