An Additional Danger(23)

Jenny's POV

The instant I left the house, I knew something was wrong. The air pressed down on me like a warning, thicker than normal. I had not given any thought to how Victor could respond; I had been so preoccupied with compiling proof against him. Now, though, it was obvious—he was not going to stand aside and let Leonard and me destroy what he had created.

"Jenny, are you fine??" Leonard's voice drew me back from contemplation. He was attentively observing me, his brow wrinkled in anxiety.

"I'm good," I said, even though my voice shook. Everything was weighing down—victor's increasing menace, my ongoing conflict with Leonard, and the risk all around everyone we loved. Maintaining all that was becoming more difficult.

Leonard moved forward, his demeanor softening. You are not unique in this. Remember we are in this together?

Though part of me couldn't get rid of the impression that things were spiraling out of control, I wanted to believe him. I muttered, "I know," pushing a smile. Still, it's difficult not to consider what might happen going forward.

He moaned and ran a hand over his hair. "Even though Jenny, we are running risks. Victor's not going to give up, neither will we.

These kinds of events helped me to remember the reason I had fallen for Leonard. Inspired by him, he was becoming someone who stood up for something greater rather than depending simply on his riches or position to address issues. Still, the dread tore at me. Should Victor discover our knowledge level, it would not just endanger us. Too many lives twisted in this web, too many people at risk.

My phone buzzed while we stood silently. You've gone too far flashed on the screen from an unidentified phone. Stop right now; you will regret it.

I let Leonard view the text. As he read it, his jaw tightened and I sensed the fire in his eyes indicating he was more resolved than ever.

"We have to be careful," I whispered, my voice firm despite the terror wriggling in my chest. "This could mean anything."

Leonard responded, "It means he's scared." "Victor feels under strain. He understands we are getting close.

He was correct, but it did not help me to get rid of the anxiety that had engulfed me. We were treading a perilous path, and I had no idea how much more we could keep going until something—or someone—broke.

Looking at Leonard, "We need to find out who sent this," I remarked. We should know whether Victor has someone following us.

Leonard nodded and had reached for his phone to call one of his security team members. I watched the city below the window while he was on the call. The busy streets, the tall buildings—all felt far, like a planet different from the one we were inhabiting.

Leonard hung up and turned to me after what seemed like an eternity. Someone will follow the number for us. Should it relate to Victor, we will know just enough soon enough.

I had a fleeting hope for the first time in a long time. Perhaps after all we were progressing. Perhaps in spite of everything we managed to bring Victor down.

But Leonard's phone buzzed once more, rapidly extinguishing that flutter. This time it was a call from one of his closest allies, someone we both trusted, not a book. He responded, turning it over to the speaker.

"Leonard, I have terrible news," the voice on the other side said. "The inhabitants of Victor are moving. Against certain of our contacts, they have already begun acting. We have running time running short.

My gut turned over. Victor was accelerating events faster than we had projected. I looked at Leonard, who matched my own shaking.

Leonard responded resolutely, "We have to protect them." Get as many people as you can. From my end, I will handle things.

The hush in the room was thick when the call stopped. Leonard moved back and forth, obviously under pressure from the circumstances. "This is bad," he said in a whisper. He is assaulting our pals here. We are losing weight of influence.

Standing up, my legs felt wobbly. "What ought we to do right now? We cannot let him split everything.

Leonard stopped timing and turned to face me, his face stiffening. "We fight back. Still, we must use wisdom about it. There is no money for mistakes.

My gut turned over with a knot of fear. The stakes were higher than ever, and I wondered how much more we could keep pushing without cracking. But as I saw Leonard—his will, his determination—I realized I could not turn back now.

"We have to face Victor head-on," I remarked, shockingly even for me given the audacity of the idea. He will pick us apart piece by piece if we continue to wait.

Leonard fixed me for a time, his eyes darting across my face. Then he nodded gently. "You are right. We should stop running defense now.

His agreement made me both afraid and relieved. Though we were entering hazardous terrain, there was no going back now. Should we be eliminating Victor, we had to be prepared for whatever followed.

Tonight arrived faster than I had anticipated. Hoping to surprise Victor and challenge him with the proof we had gathered, Leonard and I headed to the private meeting we had scheduled. As we neared the poorly lighted chamber, the tension in the air thickened my heart in my chest.

Victor was already there, slumped against a table and sporting an annoying smile when we arrived. He seemed calm, too calm, as though he had every card.

"Well, well," he remarked, his voice full of contempt. "I wasn't sure you two would show up here. aggressive action.

Leonard moved forward with a set jaw. "This ends right now, Victor." We know what you have been doing. We have data to support it.

Victor laughed and widened his smile. Evidence: You assume that is important to me? Leonard, I am half owner of this city. There is nothing your tiny mission will change.

I spoke up, my voice steady even if terror was running through me. " Victor, you are not untouchable. There are people observing. You have nowhere to hide if the truth surfaces.

Victor's eyes strayed to me, and for a second I saw something flutter there—perhaps even terror—but it vanished as fast as it appeared. Jenny was playing a hazardous game, he added softly. Better knowledge is something you should know.

Leonard approached me more closely, his presence a solace as Victor's eye darkened. Leonard remarked, his voice firm: "We're not afraid of you." "This is just the beginning."

Victor's smile darkened, and for the first time I noticed holes in his armor. He understood he was losing control, and that insight inspired me. Perhaps, just perhaps, we were nearer than we had realized.

But Victor's eerie and menacing voice trailed us as we turned to go. "You have made your decision," he said following us. "Don't believe there won't be fallout."

Leonard and I sat silent back in the car, the weight of Victor's threat hovering over us like a thunder cloud. Although we had gone a great distance, the fight was far from finished.

I looked at Leonard, who was lost in contemplation, as the city lights burst past the window. His hand came to mine and squeezed lightly.

Quietly, as if reassuring himself just as much as me, he replied, "We'll get through this."

I nodded, feeling inside me both fear and will building. Though the route ahead remained unknown, one thing was abundantly evident: this struggle was far from finished.