The captive's kiss

recovered. The file contained coded messages, transaction records, and the outline of an intricate web that linked high-ranking officials, crime lords, and co

ad met with Edgar Blackwell-the man in the picture. Her mom must have been close enough to him, to kn

-Robert Kingsley. He's high up in government. If we b

ut he's also known for playing both sides. If he's on the Order's

t do we do? We can't run forever, and the

"We don't have to take down the whole Order just yet. We

el, "something that will finally put the fear

phrases in the document. "There is another safehouse here in town, belonging to

d, he might just prove either their salvation or their doom. If he kept info

nd merged into the city's nightly hum. The safehouse was situated in a rathe

ay close to us. This isn't going to be easy, but if we d

strung tighter than a bow, bu

d they slipped inside down a darkened hallway lined with abstract paintings and gleaming floors. The house was

nt room, with only a desk in the middle of the room, housing a co

USB drive into the computer. "We just nee

her on edge. Marco sat next to Ethan sifting through encrypted f

ent Order, a few to Kingsley directly, and others to offshore accounts linked

he unmistakable sound of footsteps echoing down the hall.

drive into a bag as they moved to make their exit. But turni

n his face. He regarded them with calm amusement, as if t

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Miss Lee. Y

unded. "You kn

s a useful ally. For a time. But she overestimated her abil

in front of Ava. "Let us go, Kingsl

"Oh, but it does. You've meddled far enough in matters yo

e struck out at the closest guard. The room descended into chaos as they fought-grunting bodies colliding in a brutal clas

hough their struggle was nothing more than a fo

e sneered. "The Order has eyes everywhere, Miss

t her reach: a heavy metal paperweight on the desk. She swung it with all her might, striking Kingsley

ind," Ava spat, her words shaking with rage.

ey ran down the hallways as the echoes of their footsteps became more hushed by each passing second and moved toward fr

ne to life as they hurtled away, leaving Ki

isfaction: they had the files, proof of Kingsley's connection to the Silent Order. This was the leverage th

seat, weariness washing over her. But in Ethan's glance, she

files, we might actually be able to stir things up, set t

capegoat, making him the weak link-someone they can't trust. It will buy us more

her eyes. Her mother had left these clues behind for

haking. "If we're going to expose the Order, we have to do