Chapter 8

Letty glanced around cautiously before responding, "It's been quite a while. I actually need your assistance with something important. Cilghal has returned to the city and I'm currently seeking any information about him that you can provide."

Javier's countenance transformed into a serious one. "Cilghal? That area is perilous, Letty. Do you really want to be embroiled in it?"

"I am compelled to act. He's pursuing an enormous objective - a priceless artifact that has the power to alter everything. By thwarting his plans, we could potentially vanquish him permanently."

After exchanging glances with the group, Javier nodded and said, "We're willing to assist you. However, caution is crucial since Cilghal maintains a pervasive presence. We'll arrange an appointment with specific acquaintances who may possess more information about both auction and bidders."

Letty expressed her gratitude and relief by saying, "I can use all the assistance available. Thank you."

During their discussions, Letty was burdened by the immense pressure of not being able to fail. She knew that too much rested on her success. With Cilghal's reappearance, past traumas resurfaced and she had no choice but to face them head-on with readiness.

Letty left the cafe feeling determined after an hour of intense strategizing. With newfound allies, she was confident they would unite to uncover Cilghal's plans. However, as soon as she stepped out into the busy streets again, a sense of unease returned - someone seemed to be watching her.

Letty's instincts were ignited, causing her to swiftly turn and survey the mass of people for any indication of peril. As soon as she caught sight of someone loitering near a nearby structure with their unwavering attention on her, adrenaline surged through her body.

Letty's breath caught in her throat as the figure slipped into the crowd, disappearing from sight before she could react. The thought crossed her mind: had they been followed?

Pushing the thought aside, she concentrated on her immediate task. She needed to rendezvous with Mia and Giselle, share the intelligence she had acquired and prepare for an impending storm.

As Letty returned to the garage, she sensed that time was slipping away. Cilghal's expertise in manipulation would lead them to lose everything if they were not prompt enough. The countdown had begun and her determination pushed her to emerge victorious, regardless of any consequences.

With the fresh information she had gathered, Letty exited the café and her mind raced with thoughts. As Havana's busy streets were engulfed in long shadows from sunset, she made her way back to the garage while remaining vigilant. The sensation of being under surveillance clung to her like a shadow, forcing her hastened steps as every few moments caused glances over shoulders.

Upon arriving at the garage, she discovered Mia and Giselle patiently waiting with a blend of concern and resolve on their faces. "You're here!" exclaimed Mia, an air of relief evident in her tone. "What did you discover?"

Letty's tone was serious as she joined them and declared, "Cilghal has a big plan for the auction. I reached out to some previous connections who will be arranging a meeting with others that could provide us more information about our competition. It is crucial that we become aware of whom we are competing against."

Upon nodding, Giselle narrowed her eyes and declared: "It's imperative that we uncover the mole. Once exposed, we can dismantle Cilghal's whole operation from within."

"Indeed. However, caution is necessary as Cilghal's men are widespread and actively seeking us," Letty cautioned with unwavering tone.

Carlos rushed into the garage with a flushed face, filled with urgency. "I have important news," he exclaimed anxiously while quickly scanning his surroundings as if anticipating Cilghal's men to show up any second. "I've discovered the identity of the mole!"

Letty felt her heart racing and asked, "Who is it?"

In a low voice, Carlos identified the culprit as Jaime Carter who had been providing Cilghal with information about their activities including their movements and the auction.

A cold surge of anger ran through Letty as she realized that Jaime, who was supposed to be her friend and loyal accomplice, had betrayed her. "I can't fathom it. We must confront him immediately and extract information from him," she exclaimed.

Mia disagreed by shaking her head and said, "Confronting him won't work. He will inform Cilghal in advance. We must handle this situation with caution."

Crossing her arms, Giselle appeared lost in thought. "What if we flipped the script? We set a trap for Jaime and lead him into thinking that we're still clueless about his intentions. Once he shares his plans with us, we can turn it around and use them to our advantage."

As Letty contemplated the idea, anxiety wound tight in her gut. "It's a possibility," she conceded. "But we need to exercise extreme care. If he catches wind of our plan, he might vanish and leave us with no opportunity at all."

"Carlos proposed arranging a meeting and mentioned that he could contact him. He suggested acting normal, so his guard is lowered."

Letty voiced her approval, feeling a glimmer of optimism. "However," she added with caution, "we must anticipate any unforeseen circumstances and take measures to defend ourselves in the worst-case scenario."

After brief discussion, an agreement was reached to rendezvous with Jaime in a remote area the following evening. The sounds of frenzied activity filled the garage as they readied themselves for what awaited them. Letty carried the burden of leadership on her shoulders - their safety hinged on her adept guidance.

As darkness descended, Letty was plagued by a pervasive sense of unease. The shadows encroached upon her like predatory beasts and each sound reverberated ominously in the hush. Having experienced Cilghal's expertise at manipulation before, she knew that if Jaime had indeed allied with him they were venturing into danger unawares.

In the evening, they assembled in the garage to conclude their plans. "Our weapons must be chosen," Mia stated while arranging an assortment of firearms and equipment on a table nearby. "We should anticipate all possibilities."

Checking the magazine, Letty retrieved her Glock and holstered it in her waistband. "In addition to that," she said, "we'll require communication equipment so we can give each other alerts if there are any issues."

Giselle grabbed a pair of walkie-talkies and nodded. "I'll set these up so we can maintain contact throughout the meeting."