67. The Enemy Inside

The recorder felt heavier than it should, a small object carrying the weight of betrayal. Back at the safe house, I gathered the team, the tension crackling like electricity in the stale air.

"What's this about?" Rico asked, his arms crossed. His usual calm was tinged with unease, mirroring the doubt gnawing at my own mind.

I placed the recorder on the table, its black casing gleaming under the dim light. "Caleb's alive," I said, watching their reactions closely. "And he says there's a mole in our crew."

The Room Divides

The words hung in the air, heavy and damning. Rico's expression hardened, while Lucia scoffed audibly, leaning back against the wall with her arms crossed.

"Of course he'd say that," Lucia said, her tone dripping with skepticism. "Anything to save his own skin."

"Or maybe he's telling the truth," I countered, my gaze sweeping the room. "You think it's impossible? Look at what's happened—the ambushes, the leaks. Someone's been feeding information to the enemy."

"This is ridiculous," Lucia snapped. "We've all bled for this cause. If you think any of us would betray you, then maybe you don't deserve our loyalty."

"That's enough!" Rico's voice cut through the rising tension. "We're not getting anywhere with accusations. Let's listen to the recording and see what's on it."

A Shocking Revelation

I pressed play, the recorder emitting a faint click before a voice crackled through the speaker.

"Shipment details confirmed. They'll hit the yard tomorrow night. Ensure Adriana is there—she's the priority target."

The voice was low, distorted, but unmistakable. My stomach churned as I recognized the clipped cadence, the faint accent.

Lucia froze, her eyes widening in shock. "No," she whispered, shaking her head. "That's not—"

"It's you," I said, my voice cold and steady despite the storm raging inside me.

She stepped back, her face pale. "I don't know how… That's not me! Someone must've faked it!"

"Enough lies!" Rico barked, stepping between us. His gun was already drawn, the barrel pointed at her chest. "You've been working against us this whole time, haven't you?"

"I haven't!" Lucia's voice cracked, her desperation palpable. "Adriana, you know me! I've fought beside you since the beginning. You can't believe this!"

A Tenuous Decision

I hesitated, the weight of the moment threatening to crush me. Lucia's betrayal, if true, wasn't just a personal blow—it was a fracture in the foundation of everything we'd built. But doubt still lingered.

"I need answers," I said finally, my voice firm. "And you're going to give them to me."

Lucia's eyes filled with anger and something else—hurt. "You really think I'm capable of this? After everything?"

"I don't know what to think," I admitted. "But until I do, you're not leaving this room."

Rico stepped forward, his handcuffs glinting in the dim light. "We'll lock her down until we figure out the truth."

Lucia didn't resist as he restrained her, but her eyes stayed locked on mine. "You're making a mistake, Adriana," she said quietly. "And it's going to cost you everything."

Piecing It Together

After securing Lucia in a back room, Rico and I sat at the table, the recorder between us like a silent accusation.

"You did the right thing," Rico said, though his tone lacked conviction.

"Did I?" I asked, rubbing my temples. "What if she's telling the truth? What if someone's framing her?"

"Then we'll find out," he replied. "But if she's guilty and we let her walk free, she'll bring us all down."

I nodded, though the decision felt far from right. My mind churned with questions, doubts, and the sinking realization that our enemies weren't just outside the walls. They were among us.

A Desperate Plea

Hours later, I visited Lucia. She sat on a metal chair in the dimly lit room, her wrists bound in front of her. Despite her situation, she held her head high, her defiance intact.

"Talk to me," I said, pulling up a chair across from her. "If you're innocent, prove it."

"I don't have anything to prove," she replied coolly. "You're the one who needs to start thinking straight."

I leaned closer, my voice dropping. "You've been with me since the beginning, Lucia. If you're telling the truth, then help me understand. Who else could've leaked that information?"

She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I don't know, Adriana. But whoever's doing this is trying to tear us apart. And right now, they're winning."

Her words struck a chord, but I couldn't let myself be swayed. Not yet.

The Next Move

Back in the main room, Rico and the others were strategizing, their voices low and tense. The recorder still played in my mind, the distorted voice echoing with every doubt and suspicion.

"We'll run a trace on the recording," Rico said when I joined them. "If it's doctored, we'll know. If it's real… we'll deal with that too."

"Do it," I said, though my resolve felt fragile. "And double the security. If there's someone else working against us, I want to know who."

Rico nodded, his expression grim. "We'll figure this out, Adriana. One way or another."

As the night wore on, the safe house felt more like a prison. Every shadow seemed to hide a threat, every silence a betrayal waiting to surface.

And as I stared at the recorder on the table, I realized the battle for the city wasn't just against our enemies. It was against ourselves.