As Victor's soldiers advanced with grim determination, Aidan's gaze remained focused on the treeline. Their escape route was obstructed by the smoking SUV wreckage behind him. Dominic and Claire were standing at his side, their weapons raised, looking for any opening. Aidan knew that if they waited, the operation would end here, and his objective would end here as well. They were enclosed.
"Take cover!" Aidan shouted as bullets ripped through the sky. They dove behind a thick stand of trees, using the trunks as cover. As the forest reverberated with gunfire, each shot felt like a countdown to their moment of death.
Claire's voice was tense yet controlled. "Aidan, we are pinned. It is imperative that we have a plan! "
Aidan's thoughts were racing. The data they had discovered inside his waistcoat were still intact. The knowledge may destroy Victor if used properly, but it wouldn't be worth it if they didn't make it out of here alive. He scanned the area for any route that could lead them to safety.
Dominic fired a few quick shots to ward off the attackers as he peered behind a tree. "Aidan, we don't have time. If we don't move, we're out of a chance.
Aidan nodded, formulating a plan. "We head south. A ravine is at least half a mile away from here. They can be lost in the bushes.
After exchanging glances, Dominic and Claire nodded. They trusted Aidan's intuition, and they usually had.
Gazing straight ahead at the oncoming line on his signal, Aidan spoke. We don't glance back, we move fast, and we stay low.
There was a flurry of action over the next few seconds. After Aidan shot two of Victor's men, they hurried into the dense undergrowth as gunfire erupted all around them. As they spun amongst the trees, the land became a blur of green and gray, and the forest became a maze of motion and shadows.
Aidan led his troops down the slope toward the ravine despite the burning in his lungs. The sound of search was not far behind; Victor's men were persistent and making headway. When they reached the ravine's edge, however, the thicket expanded, giving them a chance to vanish.
"In here!" Aidan cleared the dense undergrowth with a hiss. They sank down the muddy hill, the ground devouring them whole. The gunfire died away as they lowered themselves; darkness enveloped them.
At the bottom, Aidan bent low to catch his breath. Claire and Dominic stared about in a similar manner. For a while, at least, they were safe.
Dominic gave Aidan a somber but relieved look. "We can't stay here permanently; we bought ourselves some time."
Aidan nodded, feeling the weight of the files in his waistcoat. "We don't stay here forever. All we need is enough time to determine our course of action.
A few hours later, they reached a small, abandoned warehouse that Aidan had kept as a backup—a safehouse on the city's outskirts. The home was old and dilapidated, but it was safe, and that was all they needed for now. Aidan took out the laptop and plugged in the USB. As the information loaded, a web of names, transactions, and relationships filled the screen, all of which pointed to Victor's empire.
Aidan whispered, "This is it," in a composed yet resolute tone. "All we need to defeat Victor is this.
Claire leaned over his shoulder and looked at the papers. "Bribbes, illegal arms deals, and money laundering. Everyone is connected to him, including law enforcement and politics.
Dominic seems to have a pessimistic outlook. "He uses his hands in everything. This won't be enough to overthrow Trump.
Aidan continued to stare at the screen. Not if we make the decision to make it public. We leak these documents and reveal everything he has done in a single, massive exposure. We take him down in front of the entire city.
Claire's eyes began to enlarge. Are you interested in going public? That is risky. If we treat things sloppily, Victor will get his revenge before the story even begins.
Aidan's eyes were keenly focused. "Therefore, we prevent him from concealing it. We utilize the biggest platform available at the moment. a live broadcast that forces the media to air it before he has a chance to react.
Dominic rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "A press conference, maybe?" The media will have to cover it live if we make it dramatic enough.
Aidan gave a nod of assent. "Exactly. We collect the evidence for a select group of trustworthy insiders—journalists who remain steadfast in the face of danger. We make it loud and publish it.
Claire's expression darkened. "Aidan, that's a play with huge stakes. Victor's game is over, if it passes. But if it doesn't work, "
Aidan's gaze hardened into steel. We fight until the very end if it doesn't work.
Over the next few days, Aidan's team worked tirelessly, planning their strategy down to the last detail. With all the favors he still had, Aidan called his network. He realized that this was their final battle and that errors were not acceptable.
But he also realized that he couldn't do it alone. His closest and most loyal friends were those who had supported his family before to Victor's betrayal. It was time to assemble the team.
Marcus, an old friend of his father's who had been forced into hiding after Victor's rise to power, was called. Marcus was a strategist and one of the only people Aidan had complete faith in.
He said, "Marcus, it's Aidan," as the call came through.
Marcus responded, "Aidan, it's been a long time," in a cool but cautious tone. "I became aware of what has been happening. I'm not good.
As Aidan put it, "There's no time for that," I need your help. I have the evidence to defeat Victor, but I can't do it alone. We really need you back in the field.
When the other end stopped, Aidan felt the weight of the silence. "If you're calling me, it must be serious," Marcus finally said. "I'm in," said Describe your needs in detail.
A sense of relief washed over Aidan. "I will send you the specifics." We are currently streaming live. In a single action, everything must be revealed.
According to Marcus, "understood." "I'll gather a few of the senior crew members. We'll be prepared.
After the call, Aidan leaned back and rearranged the files on the screen. He recognized the gravity of the situation. He had been waiting for this very time. Everything hinged on what they did next.
Claire stepped forward and touched his shoulder. "We have Marcus right now. Our other contacts are being rallied by Dominic. We're ready to leave.
Aidan nodded, the tension easing a little. "Good." Let's prepare for the performance.
The scheduled operation took place on the evening. They could put up their equipment there without drawing attention right away because it was a tall office building with a view of the city. Dominic had installed cameras throughout the area to keep an eye on Victor's troops, and Marcus had brought in a small crew of trustworthy associates. Everything was in order.
Standing on the edge of the roof, Aidan looked out over the city where he had lived. He could feel the cold night air and the distant hum of cars. This was the final prod. Victor had stolen everything from him, including his allies, his family's wealth, and almost his life. But tonight he would turn everything around.
Dominic stepped forward and handed him a helmet. "We are here live for five minutes. Are you all okay?
With his eyes fixed on the city lights, Aidan nodded. I'm more prepared than I ever will be.
Marcus was at the control panel, viewing the feed. The media outlets are predetermined. There is no going back once we go live.
The structure trembled.