The cold air hit Sam's face as she burst out of the auction hall, leading the group of captives to safety. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of adrenaline and relief surging through her veins. Behind her, the echoes of gunfire faded, but she knew the danger was far from over. The Broker had slipped away, and with him, the mastermind of the entire operation.
Sam turned, scanning the area. There was no sign of The Broker or Mr. X, and her gut told her they had escaped. She couldn't let them get away—not after everything they'd done.
Lily appeared at her side, her face pale but determined. Her gun was still clenched in her hand, though she looked just as shaken as the captives they had just freed.
"They're gone," Lily muttered, her voice tight with frustration. "But they didn't leave empty-handed. They took a few hostages."
Sam cursed under her breath. Of course, they would take hostages. It was a classic syndicate strategy—use innocent lives as leverage. She glanced at Lily, unsure of what to say. The woman who had just saved her life was the same one who had been working with The Broker for years. Trusting her didn't come easy, but right now, they needed each other.
"We'll get them back," Sam said firmly, though doubt gnawed at her. She had to stay focused, even if everything felt like it was unraveling.
The freed captives huddled together, their eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. Sam couldn't leave them here, but going after The Broker with this many people in tow would be suicide.
"Take them to the safe house," Sam instructed Angela, one of the older captives who looked like she'd been through more than her fair share of hardship. "From there, everyone can make their way home."
"There's a van parked a few blocks down. Use it to get as far away from here as you can," she added, her voice firm yet compassionate.
The freed captives, still shaken but grateful, turned to Sam. One of them, with a hoarse voice, spoke up. "On behalf of everyone, thank you so much."
Sam waved them off gently. "It's nothing, really. You all just need to get out of here and rest. I know it's been a lot." Her eyes softened as she met Angela's.
Angela nodded, her expression serious but determined. She quickly began guiding the others towards the van. Their steps were quick, fading into the darkness as they vanished into the safety of the night.
Sam's chest tightened. Every second they wasted here gave The Broker more time to slip further out of reach.
"We don't have much time," Lily said, breaking the silence that had settled between them. Her gaze was steady, though Sam could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes. "If we're going to stop him, we need to move now."
Sam turned to face her, the weight of everything pressing down on her. "Why did you help me?" The question had been burning inside her since the moment Lily turned on The Broker. Sam couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story.
Lily hesitated, her grip on the gun tightening. "I'm done running," she said quietly. "I've been working for The Broker because I thought I had no other choice. But seeing what he's done... I can't be a part of it anymore. I want out."
Sam raised an eyebrow, skepticism flickering in her mind. She had heard plenty of stories about people who claimed they wanted to get out, but it was never that simple. "And I'm supposed to just trust you? After everything you've done?"
Lily's jaw clenched, frustration flashing across her face. "I don't expect you to trust me, Sam. But right now, we have the same goal. We both want to bring him down. And I know things—things that can help you."
Sam narrowed her eyes, weighing her options. She didn't like it, but Lily was right. They needed each other, whether she liked it or not.
"Fine," Sam said after a long pause. "But if you betray me, I won't hesitate to take you down."
Lily smirked, though there was no humor in her expression. "Noted."
They started moving, slipping through the dark alleyways that crisscrossed the city. Sam's mind raced as she tried to piece together a plan. The Broker and Mr. X were still out there, and now they had hostages. She couldn't afford to be reckless, but time wasn't on their side.
As they reached a quiet stretch of road, Lily stopped, her eyes darting around as if she was searching for something—or someone.
"What is it?" Sam asked, her senses on high alert.
Lily hesitated, her eyes meeting Sam's with a flicker of something unreadable. "There's something you need to know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sam's stomach dropped. She knew that tone—it was the sound of someone about to drop a bombshell.
"My father..." Lily began, her voice trembling slightly. "He's been working for The Broker this entire time."
The world seemed to tilt for a moment as Sam processed Lily's words. "What?"
Lily's face was pale, her hands shaking slightly as she spoke. "I thought he was just trying to protect me, but... I found out the truth. He's been in on it from the start. And now, The Broker's tasked him with eliminating anyone who stands in their way."
Sam's blood ran cold. Raymond had been pulling the strings all along? It didn't make sense—Raymond had always kept his hands clean, or so she thought. But now, it was clear that he was just as much a part of the syndicate as The Broker.
"Your father just confessed to me a few hours ago," Sam said, her voice tight with disbelief. "He told me he was forced into this, and now he wants out. He begged me to help save you."
Sam shook her head. "I can't believe it. This can't be true."
"I'm dead serious," Lily shot back, her tone sharp.
Lily's face twisted in a mix of anger and fear. "We have to stop him, Sam. If we don't, more people are going to die."
Sam stared at her, her mind racing. Trusting Lily had been hard enough, but now she was supposed to believe that Raymond—Lily's father—was their new enemy?
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" Sam demanded, her frustration bubbling to the surface.
Lily shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I didn't know until tonight. I swear, Sam. I would've told you sooner if I'd known."
Sam's chest tightened. The web of lies and deceit was growing more tangled by the second, and she wasn't sure who she could trust anymore. But one thing was clear: they needed to stop Raymond before it was too late.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, snapping Sam out of her thoughts. They had to keep moving. The Broker and Mr. X wouldn't stop hunting them, and now with Raymond involved, the stakes were even higher.
Sam glanced at Lily, her mind racing with uncertainty. She didn't trust her completely, but for now, they had a common enemy. And that would have to be enough.
"Let's go," Sam said, her voice firm as she started down the alley. "We've got a lot of work to do."
As Sam and Lily move further
into the shadows, they realize just how deep the betrayal goes. With Raymond now in the picture, the lines between ally and enemy are blurrier than ever—and the danger has never been more real.