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Chapter 11: A New Threat

Lily awoke to a faint sound, a quiet hum that she quickly recognized as the generator powering the isolated safe house Vincent had found. The room was cold, its walls lined with a sterile, metallic gray, far from the warm comfort of home. She pulled a blanket tighter around her, watching as Vincent stood by the small window, his silhouette barely visible in the early morning light.

They had barely slept in days, paranoia and exhaustion etched into their faces. But this safe house was supposed to be secure—at least for now. The law enforcement contacts who had helped them get here had sworn it was the best place to keep them safe while the files were examined and the syndicate’s network was traced. But neither Lily nor Vincent trusted that assurance entirely. And for good reason.

Vincent turned, his gaze finding hers in the dim light. “Get dressed,” he said, his tone sharper than usual. “We need to talk.”

Lily’s pulse quickened. She slipped into her clothes, feeling Vincent’s uncharacteristic tension. As she stepped into the kitchen, Vincent had already made coffee, and she gratefully took a mug, bracing herself for whatever news he was about to share.

“They’re onto us,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.

The words sent a chill through her. “What do you mean? We’re supposed to be protected here.”

Vincent shook his head. “One of our contacts is compromised. Someone’s feeding information back to the syndicate—specifically to The Broker.” He paused, eyes narrowing. “The one person we never wanted to notice us.”

Lily’s mind raced. The Broker. She had heard Vincent mention the name before in hushed tones, always with a look of dread that she’d never seen in him otherwise. The Broker was a powerful figure within the syndicate, known for their ruthlessness and the absolute control they exerted over the network. If The Broker knew where they were, it meant they were running out of time.

“Why would The Broker care about us?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Vincent gave her a long look. “Because of what we’ve got on that drive. The Broker’s name is all over it. We’re holding the one thing that could destroy them.”

The weight of his words settled on her, leaving her numb. She had known they were in danger, but now it felt closer, sharper, like the walls were closing in on them. “So, what do we do? Stay here and hope they don’t find us?”

Vincent’s expression softened slightly. “We won’t be sitting around waiting to be found.” He pulled a folded map from his jacket, spreading it across the small kitchen table. “I’ve mapped out some options for our next move. We’ll head south, stick to back roads, and make our way to a place where even The Broker’s reach can’t find us—not easily, anyway.”

“But won’t they just keep following us?” Lily asked, frustration creeping into her voice. She was exhausted, and the idea of living on the run indefinitely weighed heavily on her.

“Yes, they’ll follow us,” Vincent admitted. “But if we stay one step ahead, we can buy enough time for our contacts to act on the information. Once they have what they need and the right people are mobilized, we’ll have a shot at bringing The Broker down.”

A heavy silence fell between them as Lily absorbed the enormity of what he was saying. It wasn’t just about surviving anymore. It was about finally putting an end to the nightmare that had brought them together. But the risk was greater than ever, and one wrong move could mean the end for both of them.

Lily’s gaze drifted to the window, where the first rays of dawn were breaking through the trees. “How long do we have?”

“Not long,” Vincent replied. “We leave in an hour. Pack only what you need.”

Lily nodded, feeling the adrenaline surge through her. She grabbed her bag, packing essentials: a few clothes, the locket Vincent had given her—a strange source of comfort amid the chaos—and a small notebook where she had started writing down details of their journey, partly to keep her mind focused, partly as a record in case anything happened to her.

An hour later, they slipped out of the safe house, the silence of the early morning heavy around them. Vincent had managed to secure a beat-up old car from a contact who swore it couldn’t be traced. They kept to the side roads, driving in silence as the landscape blurred past them. Lily kept her eyes on the rearview mirror, half-expecting a convoy of black cars to appear at any moment.

After a few hours on the road, Vincent pulled over at a deserted gas station to refuel. While he filled the tank, Lily stretched her legs, glancing around at the empty lot. The eerie quiet felt oppressive, as if they were the only people left in the world.

But the silence was broken when Vincent’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He answered it, his expression shifting as he listened, his face darkening. After a brief, tense conversation, he hung up and turned to Lily.

“We have a bigger problem than I thought,” he said grimly. “Our contact’s information was right. They know our every move, and they’re already closer than we expected.”

Lily’s stomach twisted. “What does that mean for us?”

Vincent’s jaw clenched. “It means we’ll have to change the plan—again. And we’ll have to do it fast.”

Back in the car, Vincent veered off their intended route, taking a winding road through the forest, pushing the car’s limits as they sped toward what he hoped would be another layer of safety. But Lily could see the worry etched into his features. This was uncharted territory, even for him.

As night fell and they finally stopped at a new location, a remote cabin hidden deep within the woods, Lily felt the weight of her exhaustion settling over her. But she couldn’t let herself rest. They were being hunted, and The Broker was closer than ever, a dark presence looming over every move they made.

Before heading inside, Lily paused, turning to Vincent. “Do you think we’ll ever get away from them?”

He looked at her, his gaze softer than usual. “I don’t know. But as long as we’re still moving, we still have a chance.”

For a moment, they stood there, a quiet understanding passing between them. They didn’t know what the future held or how close The Broker’s reach extended, but they had each other, and somehow, that felt like enough to keep going.

As they entered the cabin, Lily felt a new determination settle within her. She might be outmatched and outgunned, but she wasn’t about to let The Broker or anyone else take her life from her. Together, she and Vincent would face whatever came next—and they would face it together.

Okay byeeeeeeeeeeee

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⏰ Last updated: Nov 05 ⏰

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