Sam's heart was still racing as she crouched behind a large concrete pillar in the damp, dark tunnel. Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out all thoughts but one: *Lily was in charge.*
She had spent weeks believing Lily was a victim, but hearing her cold, commanding voice giving orders shattered that illusion in an instant. What the hell was happening?
The footsteps of the guards echoed closer. Sam pressed her back against the wall, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment. She had to keep moving. *Get answers first, process later, * she told herself, taking a slow, measured breath.
Sam peeked around the corner, watching as Lily's figure disappeared deeper into the tunnel. Two guards remained close by, their eyes scanning the dimly lit passage.
"I thought The Broker was keeping her as a prisoner, that's what Reymond said", Sam whispered to herself. Her breath caught as the pieces of the puzzle started falling into place. *Lily's not a prisoner. She works with them.*
Her phone buzzed quietly in her pocket again, and she glanced down. A message from Mike appeared on the screen:
*"Sam, they've locked onto your location. You need to move. Now."*
Her chest tightened. There wasn't much time.
Sam slipped from her hiding spot, her movements swift and quiet. She kept low, carefully navigating the twists and turns of the tunnel, trying to stay hidden as the sounds of guards faded into the distance.
Her mind spun with questions. Why would Lily be giving orders? And what did this mean about The Broker's connection to her? She couldn't shake the feeling that the situation was much worse than she had anticipated.
She trailed behind the group, careful to keep her distance. The tunnel sloped downward, the air growing colder and more oppressive the deeper they went. At one point, she spotted a side tunnel and hesitated, wondering if she should take it.
But then, she heard it—Lily's voice again, this time sharp and clear.
"Get the others ready. The shipment leaves in two hours. Make sure the route is secure."
Sam's blood ran cold. *The shipment.* They were trafficking people through these tunnels, weren't they?
But then another voice answered—a deep, gruff tone that sent shivers down her spine.
"Consider it done, boss," one of the guards replied.
*Boss?* Sam's eyes widened as the realization hit her. Lily wasn't just working for The Broker—she was running this operation.
Sam's fingers itched to grab her phone and call Mike, to get more backup, but she couldn't risk it. She needed to see more, to confront Lily and get the truth from her own lips.
The tunnel opened up into a larger underground chamber, illuminated by several industrial lights strung across the ceiling. Sam crouched behind a stack of crates, watching from the shadows as Lily stood in the center, talking to a group of men dressed in black, their faces hidden by hoods.
"Everything's under control," Lily said, her voice crisp. "I want no mistakes this time. If anyone steps out of line, deal with them immediately."
Sam's chest tightened. Lily's tone was so confident, so composed. This wasn't the frightened woman Sam had imagined finding.
What was worse—there was no sign of The Broker yet. Was he even here?
Sam couldn't wait any longer. She needed answers now. She straightened up, stepping out from her hiding spot.
"Lily!" she called, her voice strong and unshaken despite the panic coursing through her veins.
Lily froze mid-sentence, slowly turning to face Sam. The look of surprise on her face lasted only a second before it was replaced by something colder.
"
"Well, well," Lily said, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Didn't think you'd actually make it this far?"
"You knew I was looking for you?" Sam asked, her voice sharp but steady.
"Of course I did," Lily replied casually. "I've been expecting you."
Sam approached cautiously, every step deliberate. "You need to tell me what's going on. I came here to save you, but..."
Lily cut her off, her expression hardening. "Save me? From what?"
Sam's jaw tightened. "From all of this! From The Broker! Your father told me you were being held captive."
Lily let out a cold, bitter laugh. "You really don't get it, do you, Sam? You've been running around in circles. You actually thought I was some helpless victim? I *run* this whole operation. And as for my father—" she scoffed, "I don't know who you think you're talking about."
Sam's heart dropped. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You're really going to deny him? Your *own father*?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "There's nothing to deny. And frankly, you're out of your depth."
Sam's heart sank."Wait a minute. You're part of the syndicate?"
Lily stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with something dark. "I'm not just part of it. I'm the one keeping everything in line. The broker may have built this, but it's me who runs the show now."
Sam shook her head, disbelief clouding her mind. "Why? How could you do this to your own father?" how could you put him through all this stress?
Lily's gaze hardened, but before she could answer, a voice boomed from the shadows.
"Because she was meant to. It's in her blood." and besides, am her father
Sam whipped around, her breath catching as a tall figure emerged from the darkness—a man with sharp features, cold eyes, and an air of authority that made her skin crawl.
The Broker.
His presence filled the room, commanding attention. He stepped forward, standing beside Lily, his expression unreadable.
"Sam," he said smoothly, his voice low and dangerous. "I see you've finally caught up with the truth."
Sam's mind raced. "Who are you? Why is Lily working with you?" and she's not your daughter
The Broker's lips curled into a small, menacing smile. "I'm Lily's father."
Sam's stomach dropped, the words hitting her like a punch to the gut. "Her... father?"
The Broker nodded slowly, as if savoring her confusion. "Lily was never a prisoner. She's been with me from the start."
Sam turned back to Lily, her voice trembling. "You knew? You knew all along and didn't say anything?"
Lily's expression remained cold. "Why would I? You were never supposed to get involved. But you just couldn't leave it alone, could you?"
Sam's chest tightened, anger and betrayal flooding her senses. "I risked everything to find you, to help you. And this whole time... you were part of this?"
Lily stepped forward, her voice soft but icy. "This is bigger than you, Sam. You wouldn't understand. It's about power, control, and making sure we come out on top."
Before Sam could respond, The Broker gestured to the guards, who immediately moved in, surrounding her.
"Take her," The Broker ordered, his voice calm. "I'm done playing games."
Sam's heart pounded as she found herself backed into a corner, surrounded by syndicate guards with nowhere to run.
Lily stood by her father's side, a chilling smile on her face. "You should have stayed out of this, Sam."
The betraya
l hung heavy in the air, and Sam realized that the sister she thought she knew was gone.
Sam found herself trapped, surrounded by syndicate guards, as Lily stood beside The Broker, watching her with a cold, satisfied smile.