John parked the SUV at Edward's sprawling estate. The massive iron gates opened slowly, revealing the palatial mansion illuminated by golden lights. Bella's wide eyes darted nervously around the opulent grounds as we stepped out.
"You'll be safe here," John said, placing a reassuring hand on Bella's shoulder.
"Edward's men will protect you. We can't risk Cassandra targeting you again."
Bella hesitated, glancing at me. "But what about you two? You're going after her again, aren't you?"
I gave her a small, reassuring smile. "We've come too far to stop now. But don't worry about us. Just focus on staying safe."
Reluctantly, she nodded and followed one of Edward's men inside. John and I exchanged a look, then hauled Callum, bound and bruised, from the SUV. His face was a mask of defiance, though his silence spoke volumes.
Edward awaited us in his grand study, seated behind an ornate mahogany desk. His white hair gleamed under the chandelier's light, and the scar beneath his chin caught the shadows, making him look even more imposing.
"So," he said, exhaling a cloud of cigar smoke. "This is the traitor."
"Yes," I said, shoving Callum forward. "He's been feeding Cassandra information. He's the reason she's been one step ahead of us, but we moved faster than he could report back."
Edward's gaze turned icy as he studied Callum. "I don't tolerate betrayal." He gestured to two of his men. "Take him to the interrogation room."
The guards dragged Callum away, his struggling pointless against their iron grips. I followed Edward down a long, dimly lit corridor, the heavy air pressing down with every step.
The interrogation room was stark and cold, the kind of place designed to strip away a person's defenses. Callum was tied to a metal chair in the center of the room, his wrists and ankles secured. Edward's men stood on either side, their expressions stone-like.
Edward stepped forward, his voice like a growl. "You've jeopardized our plans. Betrayed the people who trusted you. Now, you'll tell me everything you know about Cassandra's operations."
Callum leaned back in his chair, smirking despite the blood on his lip. "You think I'll talk? To you?"
Edward's expression darkened. "You don't have a choice."
What followed was a relentless barrage of intimidation tactics. Edward's voice was low and menacing as he listed every possible repercussion of Callum's betrayal. He spoke of the pain he'd inflict, the consequences for Callum's family—his tone cold and unyielding.
Callum's smirk faded, but he didn't crack. "You think you scare me? Cassandra's worse than you could ever be."
Edward's eyes narrowed. "Is that so?" He turned to one of his men. "Bring the tools."
One of the guards stepped forward with a metal case, opening it to reveal an array of instruments designed to break a person's will. Edward lifted a pair of pliers, his expression unreadable.
"Last chance," he said, his voice a growl. "Talk."
Callum clenched his jaw, his eyes filled with defiance. "Go to hell."
I stepped forward, placing a hand on Edward's shoulder. "This isn't working."
Edward glanced at me, irritation flickering in his eyes. "Then what do you suggest? He's too stubborn to break."
I reached into my coat pocket, feeling the faint shimmer of the system's presence.
"Hathor," I whispered under my breath.
Her voice echoed softly in my mind. "Yes, William?"
"I need something to get him to talk. Is there anything in the shop that can force the truth out of someone?"
Hathor's tone turned playful. "Ah, you're looking for a little leverage. Let me see… Found it. A Truth Serum. Simple, effective, and guaranteed to work."
"What's the price?" I asked, already bracing myself.
"$50,000," she replied. "A hefty sum, but worth it."
I still have a lot of money in the bank so it should still be good to go.
I grimaced but nodded. "Deduct it from my funds. I need it now."
"Done. Check your pocket."
I reached into my pocket and felt the small vial materialize, its liquid faintly glowing. I pulled it out and held it up for Edward to see.
"What is that?" Edward asked, his voice skeptical.
"A solution," I said simply.
Callum's defiance wavered when he saw the vial. "You think I'm just going to drink that?"
I smirked. "You won't have to."
Edward gestured, and his men forced Callum's head back. Before he could protest, I uncorked the vial and poured the liquid down his throat. He gagged, coughing violently, but the serum worked fast.
Callum's body relaxed, his breathing evening out as the serum took hold. His eyes, once defiant, now looked distant and unfocused.
Edward leaned forward, intrigued. "Let's see if it works."
I stepped in front of Callum, my tone calm but firm. "Who is Cassandra working with? Does she have outside support?"
Callum's lips moved involuntarily. "Yes. She has connections with arms dealers and corrupt politicians. They provide her with resources and protection."
Edward raised an eyebrow. "And her operations here? How does she hide them?"
"She bribes the police and uses legitimate businesses as fronts," Callum said in a monotone voice. "Her main base is disguised as a luxury estate in the city center."
Edward exchanged a look with me, his expression dark.
I pressed further. "Why did you betray us, Callum? Was it just fear, or was there something else?"
Callum hesitated, the serum compelling him to answer. "Fear. But also… guilt. She threatened my family. Said she'd kill them if I didn't comply. I didn't want to betray you, but I didn't see another way."
I felt a pang of sympathy, though I quickly pushed it aside. "And the bond we built? The trust? Was any of that real?"
Callum's eyes flickered, and for a moment, his voice softened. "It was real. But I didn't have a choice."
Edward stepped forward, his voice cold.
"You always have a choice. And you chose wrong."
He turned to his men. "Take him to the holding cells. We'll deal with him later."
As Callum was dragged away, I turned to Edward. "We have everything we need. It's time to take the fight to Cassandra."
Edward nodded, a grim determination in his eyes. "Agreed. But be prepared, William. The hardest battles are yet to come."
I stood outside Bella's room in Edward's mansion, my mind still reeling from the revelation about Callum and the truths he had uncovered during the interrogation. I raised my hand to knock, hesitated for a second, and then knocked twice.
"Come in," Bella's voice called softly from the other side.
I entered, finding her sitting on the bed, her knees drawn up to her chest. She looked fragile, the fear from her recent ordeal still lingering in her eyes, but there was also a spark of determination that I hadn't seen before.
"Are you okay?" I asked as he closed the door behind him.
Bella nodded. "Better than I was. It's just… a lot to take in."
"I know," I said, pulling a chair closer to the bed and sitting down. "But I need to ask you something. It's about Selena, the woman who gave you that book. Can you describe her for me? Every detail you can remember."
Bella furrowed her brow, clearly trying to recall the encounter. "She was… beautiful, in a striking kind of way. Long black hair, pale skin, and these piercing green eyes. She wore a dark green dress and had this calm, almost otherworldly presence about her."
my heart skipped a beat. The description matched the Selena that I knew perfectly—except for one crucial detail.
"How old did she look?" I asked, leaning forward.
Bella tilted her head, thinking. "Late twenties, maybe early thirties. Definitely older than me but still young. Why?"
My mind raced. The Selena I knew was in her early twenties—how could the same person appear older? Was it really the same Selena? Or could it be someone else entirely, someone connected to her?
"That matches her appearance," I muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Bella.
"Matches whose appearance?" Bella asked, confused.
I shook my head. "It's… complicated. Don't worry about it for now. But if you remember anything else about her—anything at all—let me know immediately."
Bella nodded, still clearly puzzled. "Of course. But William, do you think she's dangerous?"
"I don't know yet," I admitted. "But if she is, I'll make sure she doesn't hurt you—or anyone else."
Just then, the door swung open, and John stepped in, his expression serious.
"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, glancing between the two.
"No," I said, standing up. "What is it?"
John crossed his arms. "I was wondering if you were already planning our next mission. We've hit Cassandra hard, but she's still standing. Her arms dealing operation is next on the list, right?"
I shook my head. "Not yet. Before we can touch her arms business, we need to cut off her support system. The law enforcement and politicians protecting her—that's what's keeping her untouchable. If we don't take them down first, she'll just rebuild every time we strike."
John's brows furrowed. "So what's the plan?"
I began pacing the room, my mind already racing with possibilities. "First, we identify who they are. Every officer, every politician who's on her payroll. Then we figure out their weaknesses—what we can use to turn them against her. We don't just want to remove them; we want to make them betray her and submit to us."
"And how do you plan to do that?" John asked, his tone skeptical but intrigued.
"We dig into their lives," I replied. "Their secrets, their fears, their ambitions.
Everyone has something they're hiding or something they want more than anything. We'll exploit that."
John smirked. "I like where this is going. But it's not going to be easy. Cassandra didn't get this far by surrounding herself with amateurs."
"I'm counting on that," I said. "The higher they are, the harder they fall. And once we have them on our side, Cassandra won't have anywhere left to run."
John nodded, his smirk growing. "Alright. Let's get to work."
As I left the room to start gathering their resources, John turned back to Bella.
"Stay here," he said firmly. "Edward's men will protect you, and I'll make sure this ends soon."
Bella looked at him, her expression a mixture of gratitude and worry. "Be careful, John. Cassandra's dangerous, and you're walking right into her territory."
John gave her a small smile. "I've come too far to stop now. And besides, William got a few tricks up his sleeve."
Meanwhile as I left the room, my mind returned to Selena. Who was she really? And how could she hold the key to so many unanswered questions? One thing was clear—I would find out, no matter what it took. But first, I had a syndicate to dismantle.