The soft hum of whispered conversations and the occasional clink of glasses echoed in Morgan's ears as he and Kira slipped toward the far side of the auction hall. The Broker had already exited, flanked by two hulking bodyguards, and now they were left to follow him without drawing attention.
"Stay close," Morgan whispered under his breath. Kira was a step behind him, her eyes scanning the room like a hawk.
They wove through the crowd, keeping their pace steady, careful not to raise suspicion. The further they moved from the opulent center of the auction, the darker and quieter the corridors became. Tension coiled tighter around Morgan's chest with every step, the nagging feeling of walking into a trap gnawing at him.
Ahead, the tall figure of The Broker slipped through a side door, the two guards following close behind. Morgan glanced at Kira—her expression told him everything: this was their chance.
They crept forward, pausing at the door, Morgan's hand gripping the handle. His mind raced. If they stepped through, there would be no turning back. Whatever lay beyond could either lead them to the answers they sought, or to their deaths.
Kira leaned in, her voice a whisper. "We need to be smart about this."
Morgan nodded, tightening his grip on the small handgun concealed beneath his jacket. With one swift motion, he pushed the door open.
The corridor ahead was dimly lit, lined with heavy velvet curtains that muffled the sound of their footsteps. At the far end, they caught sight of The Broker again, stepping into what appeared to be a private elevator. The guards turned just as the doors slid shut, but not before Morgan caught a glimpse of The Broker's profile—calm, in control. Unreadable.
"Damn," Morgan muttered. They were running out of time.
"We could still trace the elevator's route," Kira whispered, pulling out her phone. "I can hack into the building's security system. Find out where they're going."
Morgan scanned the corridor. Too exposed. Too many exits. "Do it quickly."
Kira's fingers flew across the screen, her breath steady despite the high stakes. Moments later, her eyes lit up.
"They're heading underground," she murmured. "The mansion's lower levels. There's a private garage—probably a tunnel system. We need to intercept them before they disappear."
Morgan's jaw clenched. If they lost The Broker now, they might not get another chance. He nodded, and together they made for the stairwell at the far end of the hall. As they descended, the air grew cooler, the sounds of the auction fading into a low hum above them.
When they reached the bottom, they found themselves in a cold, stone basement. The walls were lined with old machinery, remnants of the building's industrial past. Ahead, a large set of double doors stood slightly ajar, and beyond them, the faint rumble of engines echoed through the space.
Morgan motioned for Kira to stay back as he inched forward, peering through the gap. There, under the dim light of overhead lamps, was The Broker's entourage. The two bodyguards stood by the door of a sleek, black SUV, while The Broker spoke quietly with another man, his face hidden in shadow.
Kira slipped up beside him. "What now?"
Morgan was about to answer when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen—a message from Kane.
Abort the mission. Get out now.
Morgan's heart skipped a beat. Kane wasn't one to panic. If he was sending a warning, it meant something was seriously wrong.
"We need to go," Morgan whispered, his voice urgent.
"What?" Kira's eyes widened. "But we're right here! We can take him—"
"No." Morgan's voice was firm. He trusted his instincts, and right now, every fiber of his being was telling him to run. "We're walking into a trap. Kane just sent us a warning."
But it was too late.
The faint click of a gun's safety being flicked off echoed in the room, sending a chill down Morgan's spine. He turned slowly, his pulse pounding in his ears, only to find one of the bodyguards standing behind them, his weapon aimed directly at Kira's head.
"Drop the gun," the man growled.
Morgan's mind raced. His gun was still hidden, but one wrong move and they were dead. He needed a way out—fast.
Before he could react, the second bodyguard appeared from behind the SUV, his own gun trained on Morgan. "You two just couldn't mind your own business, could you?"
The Broker stepped forward from the shadows, his expression as calm and controlled as ever. He moved with the confidence of a man who knew he was untouchable.
"I warned you, Hayes," The Broker said, his voice low and dangerous. "But you didn't listen."
Morgan's blood boiled, but he forced himself to stay calm. There was still a way out. There had to be.
"You're making a mistake," Morgan said, his voice steady. "Killing us won't solve your problems."
The Broker's lips curled into a cold smile. "Oh, I'm not going to kill you. At least, not yet."
He nodded to his guards, who stepped forward, grabbing Morgan and Kira by the arms. They were forced to their knees, guns pressed to the backs of their heads.
Morgan's heart pounded in his chest. This wasn't how it was supposed to end. They were so close—so close to the truth.
But then, in the distance, the faint sound of a phone ringing cut through the tension. The Broker frowned, reaching into his pocket to answer it.
For a moment, the world stood still. Morgan glanced at Kira, her face pale but her eyes sharp with determination. If they were going to make a move, it had to be now.
The Broker's conversation was brief, but whatever was said on the other end of the line made him pause. His gaze flicked back to Morgan, and for the first time, Morgan saw a hint of something else in his eyes—uncertainty.
"You're lucky," The Broker said coldly, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "For now."
He nodded again, and the guards stepped back, releasing Morgan and Kira.
Without another word, The Broker turned and walked toward the SUV, his guards falling into step behind him. Moments later, the engine roared to life, and they were gone, disappearing into the night.
Morgan sat there for a moment, his heart still racing, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. Kira let out a shaky breath beside him.
"That was too close," she whispered.
Morgan nodded, pulling himself to his feet. His hands were shaking, but he forced them steady. "We need to move. Now."
They didn't wait. As they hurried back through the basement and up into the mansion, Morgan's thoughts churned. Something had changed. The Broker had let them live—for now. But why?
Whatever the reason, one thing was clear: this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.