Deadly Affairs

Chapter 20

The morning sun streamed through Vivian's window, casting long shadows across her apartment. She hadn't slept. The weight of the previous night's events hung heavy on her, and she knew that each move she made would need to be calculated, precise. Delgado was now openly suspicious, and any misstep would give him an excuse to turn against her.

As she sat alone, lost in thought, her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen, her heart sinking as she saw Delgado's name flash across the screen.

Delgado: Meeting. Now. No excuses.

Vivian's stomach twisted. She knew this wasn't just a routine check-in—he was likely going to confront her about last night. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and reminded herself that she'd handled worse. But a small voice in the back of her mind warned her that Delgado was deadlier than any threat she'd faced before.

The Confrontation

When she arrived at Delgado's office, he was waiting, his expression unreadable but his eyes cold. He motioned for her to sit, watching her every move with a hawk-like intensity.

"Vivian," he began, his tone deceptively calm. "You seem to have developed a habit of showing up in unexpected places. And last night was... particularly curious."

Vivian met his gaze, forcing herself to remain calm. "I told you, Delgado. I was investigating a possible mole. With everything going on lately, I thought it best to take matters into my own hands."

Delgado leaned forward, his expression tightening. "Is that so? Because it looked to me like you were snooping around where you didn't belong. You've always been one of my most trusted associates, Vivian. But lately... you're giving me reasons to doubt that trust."

Vivian felt her heart race, though she kept her voice steady. "I'm doing my job, Delgado. If there's someone within Black Lotus feeding information to the police, we need to find them before they do any damage."

He studied her for a long moment, as if weighing her words. Then he leaned back, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Fine. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt... for now. But remember, Vivian, my patience is limited. One more slip, and there will be consequences."

She nodded, swallowing the knot of fear in her throat. "Understood."

As she left his office, Vivian knew that Delgado's suspicions were far from over. He was watching her closely, waiting for any sign of betrayal. And she was running out of time.

Planning the Next Step

That evening, Vivian met with Dominic at a small café on the outskirts of the city. They chose a table near the back, away from any prying eyes. Dominic's expression was serious as he leaned in, his voice low.

"How did it go with Delgado?" he asked.

"Not great," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's onto me. I convinced him I was investigating a mole, but he's not buying it. We need to move fast, Dominic. The longer we wait, the more dangerous this gets."

Dominic nodded, his jaw tight. "Agreed. I've been looking into their next shipment. It's scheduled to arrive in three days at the docks. If we can intercept it and get concrete evidence, it might be enough to bring them down."

Vivian considered his plan, her mind racing with possibilities. It was risky—if they were caught, Delgado would know she'd betrayed him. But it was also the best chance they had to gather the evidence they needed.

"Three days," she repeated, nodding. "That gives us enough time to prepare. We'll need disguises, a solid escape plan... and a safe place to store whatever evidence we collect."