The morning after their decision, Jalen and Kora sat side by side in the back corner of an old café on the east side of the city. Rain tapped steadily on the windows, masking their conversation from wandering ears. Kora's notebook lay open on the table, pages marked with coded notes, sketches, and old addresses connected to Damon Trent.
"He used to crash here," she whispered, circling a faded name in the margins. "Before everything fell apart. Before he betrayed you."
Jalen's jaw tightened. He remembered that betrayal like it happened yesterday — the night Damon stole the manuscript drafts and vanished without a word. That was the night Jalen lost both a friend and the chance to publish their co-authored masterpiece.
"He was obsessed with owning the story," Jalen said, his voice low. "Not writing it — owning it. Twisting it into something else."
Kora leaned in. "Then let's take it back."
They agreed to split up and follow separate leads. Kora would track down Damon's former editor — the one who supposedly helped him fake publishing rights. Jalen, meanwhile, would head to a private auction where rare manuscripts were rumored to resurface, sometimes anonymously.
Before they parted ways, Kora placed her hand on Jalen's.
"If he's dangerous now," she said, "we don't run. We expose."
Jalen nodded. "And if he's watching us?"
Kora smiled faintly, the fire returning to her eyes.
"Then let him see what revenge in ink really looks like."