Chapter 26: A Waypoint in the Dark

 As dawn approached, casting a faint glow over the city skyline, James and Sophia moved quickly through the safe house, gathering only the essentials. Weapons, encrypted devices, emergency supplies—all carefully selected to keep them off the grid. Anna sat silently, cuffed to a chair, her eyes following their every move with a mixture of resentment and curiosity. She knew they wouldn't stay here long; they'd said as much before, but now the reality was sinking in.

Sophia glanced over at James as she zipped her bag. "Are you sure this new place will be secure?"

James nodded, a rare glint of assurance in his eyes. "It's more than secure. I arranged for it years ago, off the Syndicate's radar. No one knows it even exists."

He walked over to Anna, checking her restraints and securing a blindfold over her eyes. She scoffed but didn't resist, knowing they wouldn't risk letting her see their destination. James's preparations weren't lost on her—she could feel the shift in his demeanor, the way he was in complete control.

Sophia loaded their gear into a discreet black SUV, checking the route on an untraceable GPS device as James helped Anna into the back seat, securing her in place. As they pulled away from the safe house, James activated a jammer, ensuring no signals could be traced or intercepted. They drove in silence, weaving through the quieter, industrial side of the city before heading out toward the abandoned outskirts.

After nearly an hour of winding roads, they approached a heavily wooded area on the city's edge, where forgotten buildings blended with thick trees and underbrush. They parked at the end of an overgrown path and moved through a barely visible trail. After several hundred yards, an old, dilapidated warehouse came into view, looking abandoned to anyone who didn't know better.

"This is it," James murmured, entering a code into a small, hidden keypad by the entrance. With a low mechanical hum, a metal door slid open, revealing a stairway descending into an underground space.

Sophia gave him a nod of approval. "I didn't know you had something like this."

"It's one of many," he replied cryptically, motioning for her to lead Anna down the stairs. "Built it to be invisible, even to the Syndicate."

They descended into a vast underground bunker, complete with concrete walls, secured rooms, and a tech setup that looked like it belonged in a government black site. Sophia glanced around, impressed at the level of detail and preparation that went into making this place a perfect hiding spot.

James led them to a secured holding room, where he uncuffed Anna and fastened her to a reinforced chair. He took off her blindfold, allowing her a full view of her surroundings.

Anna looked around, visibly unsettled. "Didn't peg you for the secret bunker type, James. Overkill, don't you think?"

"Given who you're working with," James said with a dark edge to his voice, "I'd say it's necessary."

Anna's defiance cracked ever so slightly, and she looked away, pretending to ignore the thinly veiled threat. Meanwhile, Sophia finished setting up surveillance feeds around the compound, ensuring that every entry and exit was covered.

James joined her, checking each monitor. "This place has served me well over the years. Nobody outside my closest circle even knows it exists."

Sophia glanced at him. "It's impressive, but do you really think we can hide here for long?"

"We won't be hiding," he replied, eyes still fixed on the monitors. "This is just a waypoint—enough to keep Anna secure and to gather intel without interference. And when we're ready, we'll strike back."

Sophia felt the conviction in his words and nodded. "What's next, then?"

James glanced back at Anna, who was glaring at them both with a fierce intensity. "We get everything out of her that we can. I want names, locations, motives—all of it." He turned to Anna, his tone cold and precise. "You thought you could run, but you're going to answer every question I have. I'd suggest cooperating."

Anna smirked, but there was a hint of nervousness beneath her bravado. "You'll have to do a lot better than this to get me talking."

James leaned in, his gaze unyielding. "Oh, I intend to."