Chapter 5: A Dangerous Game

Liam felt the weight of the elevator's metal walls as they rose, the floor numbers ticking off one by one. Each chime felt like a drumbeat, quickening his pulse as he prepared himself for the encounter. His thoughts swirled with the information they'd uncovered—Victor Stryker was not just an influential businessman but a shadow player with ties that reached deep into the underworld. If he was involved in his parents' death, Liam knew there would be no easy way to confront him. The man had power, resources, and influence far beyond anything Liam had ever encountered.

When the elevator doors slid open, the sharp contrast between the gleaming opulence of the hotel and the gritty reality of the world outside was palpable. This was a different kind of power—one that could not be easily undone. Liam squared his shoulders and stepped out, his every move calculated.

Ella had managed to set up a meeting for him with one of Stryker's associates, a man named Lucas Hart. Hart was the bridge to Stryker himself—a middleman who had worked with the businessman for years, handling everything from security to operations. If Liam could get close to Hart, maybe he could find a way to Stryker.

The meeting was to take place in a private room, one that was luxuriously furnished, with rich leather chairs and expensive paintings adorning the walls. Liam's eyes scanned the room, his instincts kicking in. Everything was designed to put people at ease, to make them feel like they were in control. But for Liam, the scene was just another stage in a dangerous game.

He took a seat, waiting for Hart to arrive. As the minutes stretched on, the tension in the room only grew. Liam's mind raced with the possibilities. What if Hart wasn't as cooperative as they had hoped? What if Stryker had set a trap for him?

Just as the doubt began to settle in, the door opened, and a man stepped inside. Lucas Hart was tall, with sharp features and a cold demeanor. He dressed in a tailored suit that exuded wealth but also conveyed an unmistakable sense of authority. He wasn't the kind of man who could be easily intimidated, and that made him dangerous.

Liam rose from his seat, his posture straight, his gaze unwavering. Hart took a moment to study him before extending a hand.

"Liam Locke, I presume," Hart said, his voice smooth but with an edge of calculation. "I've heard quite a bit about you."

Liam shook his hand firmly, offering only a curt nod. "I'm here to speak with Victor Stryker. I believe you can help me with that."

Hart smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But Stryker isn't someone you just walk up to. It's going to take more than a handshake to earn his attention."

Liam didn't flinch. "I didn't come here to waste time. I want to know about my parents. I want to know what happened to them."

Hart's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something—recognition, maybe—before he leaned back in his chair. "Stryker isn't in the habit of revealing his secrets to anyone. You'll need to prove you're more than just a curious boy looking for answers. You'll need to show him that you can handle what's coming."

Liam's eyes narrowed. "I'm ready."

"Ready?" Hart's lips twisted into something like a smirk. "You think you're ready? You have no idea what you're asking for."

Liam leaned in, his voice steady. "I'm not asking. I'm telling you. I'm going to take what's mine, no matter who stands in my way. I'll do whatever it takes."

Hart regarded him for a long moment, the silence thick with the weight of his words. Finally, he let out a breath, as though deciding something in his mind.

"Alright," Hart said, his tone now more serious. "You want to talk to Stryker? You'll get your chance. But understand this—if you're going to survive in this world, you'll have to prove yourself. And that's not something you can do by walking in here with that attitude. There's a lot you don't know about your family, about your inheritance, about Stryker. I'll tell you what you need to know. But be prepared for the truth—it's going to change everything."

Liam didn't flinch. "I'm ready for the truth."

Hart nodded slowly, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "I'll arrange the meeting. But don't expect anything easy. Stryker doesn't play games, and neither do his associates."

The conversation shifted after that, moving to logistics and the next steps. Hart gave Liam a time and place for the meeting, but there was an unmistakable warning in his voice—this wasn't going to be as simple as walking into a room and getting answers. The stakes were high, and the deeper Liam dug, the more dangerous it would become.

As Liam left the room, his mind was buzzing with possibilities. He was finally on the verge of confronting the man who held the answers to everything—the man who had been a part of the web that had destroyed his family. But at the same time, he knew the risks. Victor Stryker wasn't just a businessman. He was the puppet master, pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

And Liam? He was about to enter a world where no one could be trusted.

---

The days leading up to the meeting were filled with tension and anticipation. Liam spent his time training—physically and mentally preparing himself for the storm that was about to hit. The more he learned about Stryker and his organization, the more he realized how far-reaching their influence was. It wasn't just business. It was politics, power, and control. And Liam had no intention of being a pawn in their game.

Ella kept her distance, busy with her own investigations, but she checked in regularly, making sure Liam stayed focused. She knew this wasn't going to be easy, but she also knew that Liam had a strength in him that most people didn't see. He was more than just the boy who had been abandoned and mocked; he was someone who had the potential to take everything back—and more.

The night before the meeting, Liam couldn't sleep. He sat in front of his laptop, staring at the screen, the words from Hart echoing in his mind. "Prove yourself."

He didn't know exactly what he had to prove. He only knew that he wasn't going to stop until he had the answers he was looking for. He had to know the truth. And he had to make sure Stryker paid for what he had done.

Tomorrow would be the beginning of the end.

And Liam Locke was ready for whatever came next.