The Contract

Chapter 164-The Infiltration

TRAVIS'S P.O.V

"Darren Watts is the acting director of  LA Times and also a member of the Society" Adrian explained and I hummed, liting the cigar between my lips.

"What does he want with her?" I asked, letting out the smoke. "They both go way back, she used to work at LA Times"

She has told me that, I remember.

"I'm guessing he's the Intel guy..." He continued, settling in front. "The Society controls the world in every aspect, even the information we get is being manipulated"

"That explains how he rose to the top, overthrowing the former head of LA Times" I replied. "Mr Turner refused to mend to the ways of the Society, so...he got taken care of"

I let out another smoke before flickering the ash on the tray. "Trent is in trouble" I told him and he looked up. "He is always in trouble"

"Yeah but not this one. I could stop it from escalates" I said and he held on a look with me, knowing what was going through my head. "He shot you"

"He is still family"

"Twice"

I took another drag of the cigar, "I can't let them take him"

"They should. Travis, this is a fucking warning. Do not intervene" he gritted and I held on a look with him. I didn't want to intervene but I couldn't stop myself, I couldn't help the guilt gnawing at the back of my mind and the stakes were high.

He hissed, noticing my thoughts were at a distance. "You're not listening"

"I have to fix everything"

"You don't have to fix shits, you didn't cause it" he disagreed. "It doesn't matter who made the mess, Adrian, all that matters is that someone fixes it"

"If you save Trent, he will get back doing the shit he does best. Ruining everything again " he reminded and I nodded. "That's why I gotta give him what he wants"

"Travis "

"There's one way to get around this"

"Then tell me what that way is" he demanded and I just stared. I couldn't tell him, he wouldn't understand. None of them would but I had to do this.

My eyes shot to the red light bleeping on the table. "We've been infiltrated" I said and he glanced back at the door. "Society?"

A small smile made way to my lips, "Society" I confirmed and we both got up, turning the table over.

The air thick with tension, and the dim light of the room cast long shadows on the walls. Beneath the table, my hands moved with practiced precision, brushing past hidden compartments and sliding aside false panels.

Her fingers found the cool metal of the triggers stashed beneath the tabletop, the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders.

There was loud noises and bangs outside but it didn't phase me. It wasn't my first altercation.

Adrian let out a long sigh as he ready his arms. “So, we killing or maiming?” he asked, pulling out a sleek black piece and spinning it in his hand like it was an extension of himself. “Maiming"

The muffled sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. My teeth gritted, my hand tightening around the grip of his steel. “They're here.”

We took our positions behind the door, the cigar still burning between my lips. I took it out and let out a smoke as we waited for the intruders in the shadows.

As the door creaked open, we rose in unison, triggers drawn and ready, shadows shifting like ghosts preparing to strike. Their movements betrayed them first—the shuffle of boots, the faint gleam of a gun barrel, and the stretch of their shadows spilling across the floor. Three of them.