The safe house was silent except for the faint hum of the city waking up beyond its walls. Sophia sat at the edge of the fold-out couch, her nerves stretched taut as she stared at the satchel containing the damning evidence. Evan was across the room, tinkering with a burner phone, his focus unbroken despite the weight of the situation.
"Anything from Liam yet?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Evan shook his head without looking up. "Nothing. But he'll contact us when it's safe."
Sophia frowned, her fingers twitching against her knee. "What if he doesn't? What if—"
Evan cut her off, his tone sharp. "Liam knows what he's doing. Worrying about him won't help us right now."
Sophia bit back her retort, knowing he was right, but the gnawing anxiety refused to relent. Liam was out there alone, deliberately drawing Jason's men away to give them a chance to escape. It was a calculated risk, but one that left her stomach in knots.
Evan's phone buzzed suddenly, breaking the tension. He glanced at the screen, his brows knitting together.
"What is it?" Sophia asked, leaning forward.
"It's a message from Liam," Evan said, his voice clipped. "Coordinates. Looks like he wants us to meet him."
Sophia felt a rush of relief, but it was tempered by caution. "What's the plan?"
Evan grabbed his gear, slipping his knife back into its sheath. "We move fast and stay out of sight. If Jason's men are still sniffing around, we can't afford to be careless."
Sophia nodded, grabbing the satchel and slinging it over her shoulder. The weight of the evidence felt heavier than ever.
The coordinates led them to a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of the industrial district. The structure loomed like a ghost, its broken windows and rusted exterior giving it an air of abandonment.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Sophia whispered as they approached.
Evan scanned the area, his hand resting on the knife at his belt. "It's the address Liam sent. Stay close."
The two moved cautiously through the overgrown weeds and rubble, their eyes darting to every shadow. The warehouse door creaked ominously as Evan pushed it open, the sound echoing in the cavernous space.
Inside, the air was thick with dust and the faint scent of oil. The dim light filtering through the broken windows illuminated rows of forgotten machinery and stacks of crates.
"Liam?" Evan called out, his voice low but firm.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a figure emerged from the shadows.
Sophia's breath caught as Liam stepped into the light, his face grim but unharmed. He carried a small duffel bag slung over one shoulder, his sharp gaze sweeping over them.
"You made it," he said, his tone neutral.
Sophia's relief was palpable as she stepped toward him. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"I'm fine," Liam replied, his eyes flicking to the satchel she carried. "Did you bring it?"
Sophia nodded, holding up the bag. "It's all here."
Liam's lips pressed into a thin line. "Good. We need to move quickly. Jason's men aren't far behind."
Evan frowned. "How do you know that?"
"Because I led them here," Liam said bluntly.
Sophia's eyes widened. "What? Why would you—"
"They were on my trail," Liam interrupted, his tone firm. "I couldn't shake them completely, so I brought them here to buy us time. We have a chance to set a trap and take some of them out before we make our next move."
Evan cursed under his breath. "A trap? You're playing with fire, Liam."
"Do you have a better idea?" Liam shot back. "They're going to keep coming until we're dead or they have the evidence. We need to hit back."
Sophia hesitated, torn between fear and determination. "What do you need us to do?"
Liam quickly outlined the plan. They would use the warehouse's layout to their advantage, creating chokepoints and bottlenecks to slow down Jason's men. Evan would handle the traps, using the materials scattered throughout the building, while Sophia stayed hidden with the evidence.
"You're not leaving my sight," Liam told her firmly. "If things go south, I'll get you out of here."
Sophia nodded, her heart pounding. The gravity of the situation was suffocating, but there was no turning back.
Evan worked quickly, rigging makeshift tripwires and positioning debris to create obstacles. His hands moved with practiced precision, his usual sarcasm replaced by steely focus.
Liam positioned himself near the entrance, his weapon at the ready. He glanced at Sophia, his expression softening for a moment. "Stay low. No matter what happens, don't move until I say."
"I understand," she said, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her.
The first sign of Jason's men was the sound of vehicles pulling up outside. The low rumble of engines was followed by the sharp clatter of doors opening and closing.
"They're here," Liam muttered, his grip tightening on his pistol.
Evan slipped into the shadows, his knife glinting faintly in the dim light.
Sophia crouched behind a stack of crates, clutching the satchel to her chest. Her breathing was shallow, her ears straining to pick up every sound.
The warehouse door creaked open, and several figures entered, their flashlights cutting through the darkness.
"Spread out," one of them ordered. "Find them."
The men moved cautiously, their weapons drawn as they navigated the labyrinth of machinery and debris.
Liam waited until they were fully inside before opening fire. The sharp crack of his pistol echoed through the space, and one of Jason's men dropped with a grunt.
The others immediately took cover, returning fire in a hail of bullets that ricocheted off metal and concrete.
Evan struck next, his traps springing into action. One man stumbled over a tripwire, crashing into a stack of crates that collapsed onto him. Another was caught off guard by a burst of steam from a sabotaged pipe, his shout of pain echoing through the chaos.
Sophia clung to her hiding spot, her heart pounding as the battle unfolded around her. The air was thick with the acrid scent of gunpowder and the metallic tang of fear.
Liam moved with deadly precision, his every shot purposeful. But the numbers were against them, and Jason's men were relentless.
"Sophia!" Liam called out, his voice cutting through the noise. "Stay ready to move!"
Sophia nodded, even though he couldn't see her. Her fingers tightened around the satchel, her mind racing with thoughts of what would happen if they failed.
The firefight raged on, the warehouse transforming into a warzone. But even as the odds seemed insurmountable, a fierce determination burned within Sophia.
They had come too far to lose now.
And she would do whatever it took to see Jason's empire fall.