No Turning Back

A Dangerous Bargain

The weight of their decision settled over the team like a storm cloud. They had chosen to stand their ground, but what came next was uncertain.

"We need leverage," Aadarsh said, pacing the library floor. "We can't just wait for them to strike first."

"Priya has information," Kiara added. "But so does the man on the rooftop. If we play this right, we can use them both."

Amrita shook her head. "That's a dangerous game. He wants Priya's files. If we give them up, we don't know how he'll use them."

"But if we don't," Naira pointed out, "he might decide we're not worth keeping around."

Silence. The tension in the room was thick.

Finally, Amrita took a deep breath. "We need to find out more about him. If we're going to negotiate, we have to know who we're dealing with."

---

Unmasking the Stranger

Naira got to work, digging through databases and security footage. The rooftop had no cameras, but Amrita had described the man in detail.

Hours later, Naira's fingers froze on her keyboard. "Got him."

She turned the laptop around. A grainy surveillance image showed the man exiting a high-end hotel, talking to a man in a tailored suit. A second image showed him at a government building.

"His name is Vikram Sethi," Naira revealed. "He's not just some enforcer—he's an intelligence operative. He's worked in private security, black ops, and... well, some stuff that's off the record."

Aadarsh leaned in. "Meaning he has connections. He could make us disappear if he wanted to."

"But he hasn't," Amrita noted. "That means he needs us. The question is, why?"

---

The Meeting

Determined to get answers, Amrita arranged another meeting with Vikram. This time, she wasn't going alone. Kiara shadowed her from a distance, ready to intervene if necessary.

Vikram was waiting on a secluded park bench, his presence as unsettling as before.

"You came," he said, smiling faintly. "Good. That means you're smart."

"I want answers," Amrita said firmly. "Who are you really working for?"

Vikram chuckled. "I could ask you the same thing."

She crossed her arms. "We're not playing games."

"Then let me be blunt," he replied. "Your friend Priya? She's made powerful enemies. You're caught in the crossfire. I can pull you out before it's too late. All you have to do is hand over the files."

"And what do you want with them?"

"To contain the damage," Vikram said smoothly. "You think exposing corruption will change anything? It won't. It'll only shift the power from one group to another. I can ensure that power moves in the right direction."

"Your direction," Amrita countered.

He smirked. "Like I said, you're smart."

Amrita hesitated. "And if we refuse?"

His eyes darkened. "Then you'll find out what happens when you cross the wrong people."

---

Priya's Past

Back at the safe house, Amrita relayed everything to the team.

"So Vikram wants control," Aadarsh mused. "He doesn't care about justice—just power."

"Which means we can't trust him," Kiara added.

"But can we trust Priya?" Naira asked. "She's been keeping secrets from us since the start."

Determined to get the truth, Amrita confronted Priya later that night.

"You knew they'd come after us," she accused. "You knew what we were getting into."

Priya sighed, rubbing her temples. "I didn't lie to you, Amrita. I just didn't tell you everything."

"Then tell me now."

After a long pause, Priya nodded. "Fine. Years ago, I was part of an underground network exposing corporate and political corruption. We had allies, but we also made enemies. One of those enemies was Vikram's employer. He's been hunting me ever since."

"Why?"

"Because I have something they want," she admitted. "A file—one they thought they destroyed."

Amrita's breath caught. "The same file Vikram is after?"

Priya nodded. "It contains names. Of people involved in scandals, cover-ups—things that could bring down entire institutions. If it gets out, everything changes."

"And if it falls into the wrong hands?"

Priya's expression hardened. "Then the world gets worse than it already is."

---

A Risky Plan

The team gathered to decide their next move.

"We can't trust Vikram," Aadarsh said. "But if we run, he'll find us."

"And Priya's right," Kiara added. "That file is dangerous. If it's real, it's worth killing for."

Amrita exhaled slowly. "Then we use it as bait."

Everyone turned to her.

"We let Vikram think we'll hand it over," she explained. "But on our terms. We control where, when, and how."

"You're suggesting we outmaneuver a professional operative?" Naira asked, skeptical.

"Yes," Amrita said. "Because it's our only chance."

The team exchanged glances. It was reckless. It was dangerous.

But it was the only way forward.

---

To Be Continued…

Can the team outwit Vikram and protect Priya's secret? Will the file change everything—or destroy them all? Stay tuned!