Deadly Affairs

Chapter 18

Vivian sat alone in her apartment, the weight of Delgado's assignment pressing down on her. The file he'd handed her that morning lay open on her coffee table, the detective's name and photograph staring back at her.

Detective Alex Monroe.

Vivian knew him well; they'd worked together in the past, sharing information and strategies to monitor Black Lotus from the outside. He was a smart, resourceful detective who had gotten too close to the truth more than once. Delgado was right to see him as a threat. But now, she was supposed to neutralize him—permanently.

The thought of turning on an ally felt like a betrayal of everything she'd fought for, yet she knew she couldn't refuse the assignment without raising Delgado's suspicions. The line between right and wrong was blurring, and she felt herself slipping further into the darkness with every choice she made.

The Plan

Vivian knew that if she wanted to protect Alex without tipping off Delgado, she'd have to be smart. Delgado had given her two days to carry out the job, but she knew he'd be watching for any sign of hesitation. If she didn't make it convincing, she risked not only Alex's life but her own as well.

After hours of weighing her options, she finally devised a plan. She would warn Alex, giving him enough time to disappear, to throw Delgado off his trail for good. It was risky, and it would mean putting her own cover on the line, but she couldn't bring herself to harm an innocent man.

Her mind made up, she grabbed her phone and sent Alex a message, careful to keep it vague: "We need to meet. Urgent. Usual place."

She knew he'd understand. They had met up at a quiet diner on the outskirts of town a few times before, a spot far enough from prying eyes. She just hoped he'd show up before Delgado realized she was stalling.

The Warning

Vivian arrived at the diner late in the evening, her eyes scanning the room as she slid into a booth near the back. She kept her posture casual, though her mind was racing with every possible outcome of this meeting.

After a few tense minutes, Alex walked in, looking around before spotting her. He approached the table with a small nod, his expression curious but wary.

"Vivian," he greeted, his tone low. "Didn't expect to hear from you like this. What's going on?"

She leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "Listen carefully, Alex. You're in danger. Black Lotus has you on their radar, and Delgado's given me orders to... eliminate you."

Alex's eyes widened, and he glanced around quickly, trying to gauge if anyone was watching. "So, what's your plan?" he asked, his voice tense.

"I'm giving you a chance to disappear," she replied. "You need to leave town, change your name, do whatever it takes to get off their radar. I'll tell Delgado I took care of it, but you can't come back. If he finds out I didn't go through with it, he'll come after both of us."

Alex studied her, his expression shifting from shock to determination. "And what about you? Delgado's not going to just let this slide if he finds out you lied to him."

"I'll handle Delgado," she replied firmly, though a flicker of doubt passed through her. She knew that keeping Delgado in the dark would be nearly impossible, but she was willing to take the risk. "Just promise me you'll get out and stay out. This is your only chance."

He nodded slowly, his gaze filled with gratitude and understanding. "Thank you, Vivian. I owe you one."

Vivian forced a small smile, though her mind was already on the next step. "Just stay safe. And make sure no one can trace you."

With a final nod, Alex rose from the table, giving her one last look before slipping out the door. She watched him go, feeling a mix of relief and fear. She'd managed to save him—for now. But Delgado would be expecting proof of her success, and she had only a day left to figure out how to cover her tracks.

A Message from Dominic

As she left the diner, Vivian's phone buzzed with a message from Dominic: "I found something big. Need to meet."

Her heart skipped a beat. Dominic had been digging deeper into Black Lotus, and she worried he was getting dangerously close to exposing himself. But she knew she couldn't ignore his message. Whatever he'd found could be the key to bringing down Black Lotus—or it could put them both at greater risk.

They agreed to meet at an abandoned lot near the edge of town, a secluded spot where they wouldn't be overheard. Vivian arrived first, glancing around to ensure they were alone. She couldn't afford any surprises tonight.

A few minutes later, Dominic appeared, his expression serious as he approached her.

"Vivian," he said, his tone filled with urgency. "I've been tracking Black Lotus's recent shipments, and I think I found a pattern. They're moving something big, something they're keeping off the usual records. If we can expose this, it might be enough to bring them down."

Vivian felt a surge of hope, though she kept her voice steady. "What kind of shipments are we talking about?"

"High-end weaponry," Dominic replied, his eyes sharp. "And they're not going through the usual channels. I traced a few shipments to a private dock, but I couldn't get close enough to see everything. If we can get hard evidence of this, we might be able to turn it over to the right people."

She nodded, considering his words. Exposing Black Lotus's weapons trade would be a massive blow to their operations. But it was a dangerous move, one that would put them both in Delgado's crosshairs if they were caught.

"This is risky, Dominic," she warned. "Delgado's already suspicious of me. If he catches wind of what we're doing, it'll be over for both of us."

"I know," Dominic replied, his expression unyielding. "But I'm not giving up. I've come this far, and I won't stop until Black Lotus is finished."

Vivian felt a mix of admiration and fear for him. She knew his determination was a double-edged sword—his courage was what drew her to him, but it was also what could lead him into deadly situations.

"Then we'll need a solid plan," she said finally, her voice steady. "We'll need to gather intel carefully, without leaving any trace. If Delgado suspects anything, we're done."

He nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I trust you, Vivian. We'll get through this."

She managed a small smile, though her mind was racing with the implications of what they were about to do. They were treading on dangerous ground, and she knew that one wrong move could bring everything crashing down around them.

The Cover-Up

The next day, Vivian returned to Black Lotus headquarters, the weight of her recent choices pressing down on her. She knew she needed to convince Delgado that she'd carried out his order on Alex, and she'd prepared her story carefully.

As she entered Delgado's office, he looked up, his gaze sharp and assessing.

"Is it done?" he asked, his tone cold.

Vivian nodded, keeping her expression steady. "He's taken care of. I made sure it was quiet, just like you asked."

Delgado studied her for a moment, as if searching for any hint of deception. Vivian kept her gaze steady, her posture calm, though her heart raced. She knew he could sense weakness like a predator, and any sign of hesitation would be her undoing.

Finally, he nodded, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Good. I knew I could count on you, Vivian. You've proven yourself once again."

Relief washed over her, though she forced herself to remain calm. She'd managed to keep her cover intact, but she knew that Delgado's trust was fragile. One misstep, one mistake, and he would turn on her without hesitation.

As she left his office, Vivian felt a renewed sense of determination. She was in deeper than ever, but she was also closer to the truth. If she and Dominic could gather enough evidence, they might finally have a chance to bring Black Lotus down. But she knew the path ahead would be treacherous, filled with choices that would test her loyalty, her courage, and her heart.