Mike, I have to continue this back at my apartment!" Sam called out as she hurried toward his car.
"Wait!" she shouted again, but it was too late. Mike had already gotten into his car, speeding off without looking back.
Sam sighed in frustration, watching him disappear out of the garage. She didn't have time to linger. She had to leave too.
Her footsteps echoed in the empty garage as she sprinted to her car, heart racing. The attack on Mike's system confirmed one thing: the syndicate was onto her. They knew she was getting too close, and they weren't going to let her slip away. Not without a fight.
The city's shadows seemed to stretch further, as if the syndicate had its claws in every corner, watching her every move. She slammed the door shut, started the engine, and peeled out of the garage, her mind racing almost as fast as the car. The weight of the situation pressed down on her. She was in over her head, and the more she uncovered, the more dangerous it became.
Sam's phone buzzed in her pocket, and she quickly swiped to answer. It was Mike. He had left Sam and ran to his house.
"What's the update, Mike?" she asked, her voice a low whisper as she kept her head down.
"Not good," Hacker Mike replied from the other end. "I've been digging deep, but these guys are bigger than we thought."
Sam frowned, her pace quickening. "You said that in our last meeting," How big are we talking about?"
"Politicians. Celebrities. Even law enforcement," Mike continued. "It's all connected. It's not just Blake or Mr. X—it's a network. The broker's the one pulling all the strings."
Sam's heart skipped a beat at the name. "The Broker?"
"Yeah. This guy makes Blake look like an amateur. If you're going after him, you need to be careful."
Sam clenched her jaw. "Careful doesn't get people like Lily back, Mike."
"I'm just saying, they've got their hands on everything. And now…they know you're coming."
Sam stopped in her tracks, looking around. The streets felt even more hostile now. "What do you mean?"
I've been hacked. Right as I was pulling up some major data. They got into my system—deep again. I had to shut everything down before they traced me, but…
"But what?"
A pause on the other line. "They know everything about you, Sam."
Sam cursed under her breath. "Dammit."
"I'm going underground for a while. You should too."
"No. I'm not backing down now," Sam said firmly, her mind racing. "There's a shipment coming in soon, right? Blake's involved?"
"Yeah, but—"
"I need to stop that shipment. It's the key to bringing them down."
Mike hesitated, his voice tense. "Sam, you're walking into dangerous territory. The broker... he's not just any criminal. You can't bring him down with a few pieces of evidence. You're setting yourself up for a trap."
Sam's jaw tightened. "I'm aware of the risks, Mike, but I have to do this."
"You can't go in alone," Mike pressed. "I suggest you gather a team, people you can trust. Don't go there without backup."
Sam's expression softened for a moment. "You know, you're smarter than you look, Mike."
"Thanks," Mike chuckled, though his tone was still serious. "But this isn't a one-person job, Sam. These people… they're more powerful than you think. If you don't play this smart, they'll bury you."
For a moment, Sam fell silent, weighing his words. She knew Mike was right. The risks were astronomical, but giving up had never been part of her plan.
"I'm not backing down, Mike. Not now. Not ever."
"I'll figure it out," she finally said. "You just keep yourself safe."
"I'll try. But listen—watch your back. The Broker's eyes are everywhere."
Before Sam could reply, the line went dead. She stood still for a moment, gripping her phone tightly. Mike was right. The walls were closing in, but it wasn't over. Not yet.
Later that night, Sam sat at the dingy table of a run-down café, her coffee untouched. She needed to plan her next move, but every path seemed blocked. The Broker. The name felt heavy in her mind, a shadow she couldn't shake.
As she scanned her surroundings, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Didn't think I'd find you here."
Sam turned, her hand instinctively reaching for her gun. It was Raymond. He looked more worn down than usual, dark circles under his eyes.
"You look like hell," Sam muttered, lowering her guard slightly.
Raymond slumped into the chair across from her. "You're not exactly glowing yourself."
Sam's eyes narrowed. "Why are you here, Raymond? I thought you told me to back off."
"I did. But we both know you're not gonna listen," he said, rubbing his forehead. "Look, Sam, the situation's worse than you think."
"Worse how?" Sam asked, leaning in.
Raymond sighed. "The Broker. He's untouchable. You go after him, you're digging your own grave."
"I've heard that before," Sam said sharply. "But I can't just sit here and do nothing."
"Then at least trust me when I say this—he knows you're onto him. Every move you've made, he's already seen it coming. You need to stop before it's too late."
Sam shook her head. "You're scared, Raymond. I get that. But I'm not. Not anymore."
"Don't be stupid," Raymond shot back, his voice rising. "Lily's already caught in the crossfire. Don't let the same thing happen to you."
"Do you even care about her anymore?" Sam asked coldly.
Raymond's eyes flashed with anger. "Of course I do! But this isn't about just one person anymore. It's bigger than that."
Sam stood up, tired of the conversation. "I'm going to stop that shipment, Raymond. With or without your help."
Before he could respond, Sam walked away, her resolve stronger than ever. She was done being cautious.
---
Hours later, Sam was back at her apartment, her mind racing with possibilities. She was mapping out her plan to take down the shipment when something slid under her door.
A small, white envelope.
Her breath hitched. She grabbed it carefully, her hands trembling slightly as she tore it open. Inside was a single piece of paper.
**"The Broker knows you're watching."**
Sam stared at the note, her blood running cold. They were closer than she had ever imagined. Now, there was no turning back.
Without wasting another second, she pulled out her phone and dialed Tony's number. He answered on the second ring.
"Tony," Sam said, her voice urgent. "We're in serious trouble."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble? Please, don't keep me in suspense here," Tony replied, clearly worried.
Sam cut him off. "Look, Tony, I need you to get a team together. We're tracking the syndicate. They've got a meeting scheduled for tomorrow, and we need to hit them hard."
"Are you sure about this?" Tony asked, his tone cautious.
"Absolutely. No more time for hesitation. These people are getting out of hand, and I need to show them exactly who they're messing with. I was trained for this. It's time to take them down," Sam said, her voice firm, determination pulsing through every word.
"Alright," Tony agreed, still sounding a bit uncertain. "But how did the last meeting with Carter Blake go? What's the status?"
"Don't worry about that right now. I'll explain everything when I see you," Sam replied, cutting the call short.
She held onto the crumpled note in her hand, the message fueling her resolve. This was it. The syndicate had pushed her too far, and now, she was going to make sure they were brought down—no matter what it took.