The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a faint glow over the desolate motel room. Rossy sat by the window, her knees pulled to her chest, watching the empty parking lot. The tension was suffocating, every sound outside making her flinch.
Harper sat at the small desk, his laptop open, his focus sharp as he scanned their next move. His fingers drummed against the table, a rhythm that betrayed his own anxiety.
"She hasn't responded since last night," Rossy said quietly, breaking the silence.
Harper's jaw tightened. "She'll be fine. Leah knows how to handle herself."
Rossy turned to him, her voice rising. "Does she? Because Zeath doesn't leave loose ends, and we handed her the most dangerous information he's ever tried to bury."
Before Harper could respond, his phone buzzed. He snatched it up, his eyes narrowing at the screen. A text from Leah: Need to meet. Urgent. Safe location.
Harper stood, grabbing his jacket. "She's okay. She wants to meet."
"Where?" Rossy asked, already on her feet.
"An abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. It's remote, but not far."
"That sounds like a trap," Rossy said, her stomach twisting.
"It's not," Harper assured her, though his tone wasn't entirely convincing. "But we'll be careful."
The Meeting
The factory loomed ahead, its rusted metal walls and broken windows a testament to its long abandonment. Harper parked the car a distance away, pulling his weapon from the glove compartment and tucking it into his waistband.
"Stay close," he told Rossy, his voice firm.
They entered through a side door, the air thick with dust and the faint smell of oil. The faint sound of footsteps echoed through the cavernous space, and Leah emerged from the shadows, a bag slung over her shoulder and a wary look in her eyes.
"Did you bring anyone?" Harper asked immediately, his gaze scanning the room.
Leah shook her head. "No one. But I'm not sure how long we have. Zeath's men are watching every move I make."
She placed the bag on a nearby table, pulling out a small hard drive. "I've already copied everything from the USB. I've started reaching out to trusted sources—journalists, activists. People who can make sure this gets out even if something happens to me."
Rossy's heart sank. "Something happens to you?"
Leah gave her a grim smile. "You know what we're dealing with. Zeath doesn't just silence threats; he erases them. If I disappear, someone else will take up the story. But this has to go public, Rossy. It's the only way."
Harper frowned. "You should have waited until we were certain it was safe."
Leah glared at him. "Safe? There's no such thing as safe when you're dealing with someone like Zeath."
The Ambush
The sound of tires screeching outside shattered the tense conversation. Harper moved instantly, pulling his gun and ushering Rossy and Leah behind a stack of old machinery.
"Stay low," he hissed, his voice sharp.
Shadows moved against the cracked windows, and moments later, the side doors burst open. Zeath's men stormed in, their weapons drawn, their faces cold and determined.
Harper crouched, his gun steady as he whispered to Leah, "Do you have another exit in mind?"
She nodded, her voice a low whisper. "Back door, but it's risky."
"We don't have a choice," Harper muttered.
Rossy's heart pounded as Harper motioned for them to move. They crawled along the floor, keeping to the shadows as Zeath's men spread out, their voices low as they searched the space.
The exit came into view—a rusted metal door partially hidden behind a stack of crates. Harper signaled for Leah to go first, then turned to Rossy.
"Stay close to me," he murmured.
But as they reached the door, a voice rang out behind them.
"Don't move."
Harper spun around, his gun raised. One of Zeath's men stood a few feet away, his weapon trained on them.
"Drop it," the man ordered, his tone icy.
Harper's jaw clenched, but he lowered his gun, his eyes never leaving the man's.
"Rossy, run," Harper whispered.
Her heart screamed at her to obey, but her feet stayed rooted to the spot. She couldn't leave him. Not like this.
The man smirked, stepping closer. "You really thought you could outrun Zeath? That you could—"
A gunshot echoed through the factory, and the man crumpled to the ground.
Leah stood a few feet away, a smoking pistol in her hand, her face pale but determined.
"Move!" she yelled.
The Escape
The three of them bolted through the back door, the cool night air hitting their faces as they ran toward Harper's car. More shouts erupted behind them, and another round of gunfire sent Rossy's heart racing.
Harper fired over his shoulder as they reached the car, his movements quick and precise. Leah dove into the backseat while Harper and Rossy scrambled into the front.
"Go, go, go!" Leah shouted.
Harper slammed the car into gear, the tires screeching as they sped away.
"Are they following us?" Rossy asked, twisting in her seat to look behind them.
Leah shook her head, her breaths coming in short gasps. "Not yet. But they will."
Harper's grip on the wheel tightened. "We need to ditch this car. They'll track it."
Rossy turned to him, her voice shaking. "Where do we go now?"
Harper's eyes flicked to her briefly before returning to the road. "To the only place they won't expect. Straight into the city."
A Dangerous Plan
Hours later, they parked the car in a crowded city garage, swapping vehicles with one Leah had arranged earlier. The tension between them was thick, every movement deliberate as they prepared for the next phase of their plan.
Leah spoke first, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "The files are ready to send. Once I hit publish, Zeath's empire starts to crumble."
"But he'll come after you," Rossy said, her voice trembling. "He'll come after all of us."
Leah nodded. "Which is why we need to stay ahead of him. But this is our best shot."
Harper turned to her, his expression grim. "Do it."
Leah pulled out her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Rossy held her breath as Leah clicked the final button, sending the files to every contact on her list.
"It's done," Leah said softly, her voice filled with both relief and dread.
But the sense of victory was short-lived. Harper's phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen, his face darkening.
"He knows," he said.
Zeath's response was swift, and the chase was far from over.
To Be Continued
With the files now exposed, Zeath's empire begins to unravel. But his retaliation will be brutal, and Harper, Rossy, and Leah must fight to survive the storm that's coming.