Chapter 10: The Cost of Survival

The night air was thick with tension as Liam and Tielen sped through the dimly lit streets. The city stretched before them, neon lights reflecting off the rain-slick pavement. The hum of the car's engine was the only sound filling the silence between them.

Tielen exhaled sharply, keeping his eyes on the road. "That was close."

Liam didn't respond immediately. His mind was elsewhere—playing through every move, every mistake. Evelyn had them cornered back there, and if they hadn't reacted quickly, they would be lying dead on that floor.

"We need to regroup," Liam finally said, his voice steady but cold. "She won't stop coming."

Tielen gripped the wheel tighter. "She's not the only one. You saw those men—those weren't just hired thugs. Someone else is backing her."

Liam knew he was right. Evelyn might have played her part, but she wasn't pulling all the strings. There was a larger force at play, something lurking beneath the surface.

"Where to?" Tielen asked.

Liam's gaze drifted outside, scanning the streets. They needed a place to lay low, but also somewhere they could plan their next move.

"I know a place," he said finally. "Head to the East District."

Tielen didn't argue. He swerved the car onto a side street, taking the long way to avoid any tails.

As the cityscape shifted around them, Liam's mind wandered to the past. To the days when he had nothing. When he was just another nameless boy, mocked, cast aside, struggling to survive.

And now? Now, the same people who once ignored him wanted him dead.

He wouldn't let them win.

---

They arrived at an old warehouse in the East District, a place Liam had used in the past when things got dangerous. It wasn't glamorous, but it was safe.

Tielen cut the engine, and they stepped out, scanning the area before entering.

Inside, the space was dimly lit, dust swirling in the air. Crates and broken machinery lined the walls, remnants of a long-abandoned business.

Tielen let out a low whistle. "Really taking me to the five-star spots, huh?"

Liam shot him a look but said nothing. He moved toward a metal cabinet against the far wall, punching in a code on the hidden panel. With a soft click, the door swung open, revealing weapons, cash, and burner phones.

Tielen raised an eyebrow. "Paranoid much?"

Liam grabbed a gun and checked the clip. "Prepared."

Tielen smirked, grabbing one for himself.

They didn't have long before Evelyn made her next move. And this time, they would be ready.

Liam sat on a nearby crate, his mind calculating.

Evelyn wanted to destroy him, but why? What did she gain from this? And more importantly—who else was involved?

His fingers tapped against the wood. "We need to dig deeper."

Tielen crossed his arms. "Meaning?"

"Meaning we stop reacting and start attacking."

For the first time that night, Tielen grinned. "Now you're talking."

Liam's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes burned with determination.

The warehouse was cold, the smell of rust and old machinery filling the air. Liam sat on the crate, his mind racing through possible strategies. He wasn't just up against Evelyn—she was a piece in a much bigger game. The men in those SUVs weren't her usual hired guns. There was something more going on, and he needed to find out what.

Tielen loaded his gun with practiced ease, leaning against a rusted metal pillar. "So, what's the plan? We can't stay here forever."

Liam glanced at him. "We hit back."

Tielen smirked. "Now that's the Liam I know. You thinking direct attack or something more… creative?"

Liam exhaled slowly, staring at the floor. "We don't have enough information to go in blindly. Evelyn is connected to something bigger, and if we don't figure out who's backing her, we'll be fighting a war we don't understand."

Tielen nodded. "Alright, so where do we start?"

Liam grabbed one of the burner phones from the stash and powered it on. "First, we need to shake up the enemy's movements. They expect us to run or hide. We're going to make them think we're a step ahead."

Tielen's grin widened. "Distraction?"

"Exactly," Liam confirmed.

He scrolled through the contacts list, stopping at a name labeled E.M. He had saved this number for emergencies, and tonight, it was time to use it.

He dialed. The line rang twice before a voice answered.

"You finally calling in that favor?" The voice was smooth, controlled. A woman's voice.

Liam didn't waste time. "I need a blackout in the West District. Forty minutes."

A low chuckle came through the speaker. "You never ask for small things, do you?"

Liam's jaw tightened. "Can you do it or not?"

A pause. Then, "It'll cost you."

"I'll owe you," Liam said.

"Done." The line went dead.

Tielen whistled. "You still got interesting friends."

Liam didn't respond. He slid the phone back into his pocket and stood. "Let's go."

---

The city skyline was a blur of neon as they sped toward the West District. Traffic was light, the streets quieter than usual. But Liam knew that wouldn't last.

Tielen glanced over. "So, what's the move?"

Liam's gaze was focused. "When the blackout hits, Evelyn's men will be scrambling. We use that moment to plant false information—make them believe we're planning an ambush somewhere else."

"And where exactly are we leading them?"

Liam smirked. "To an empty warehouse near the docks. By the time they realize it's a trap, we'll be long gone and a step ahead."

Tielen laughed. "Man, I missed this."

Liam just nodded. He wasn't doing this for the thrill—this was survival.

As they approached their destination, the streetlights flickered. Then, in an instant, the entire district went dark.

Liam checked his watch. "Right on time."

The chaos started almost immediately. Horns blared. People shouted. The entire area was thrown into confusion.

Liam and Tielen slipped into an alley, heading toward one of Evelyn's safe houses. They knew she had multiple hideouts, but this one was smaller—less guarded.

They reached the back door. Locked.

Tielen stepped forward. "I got this."

With a swift movement, he pulled out a small device and pressed it against the keypad. Seconds later, the lock clicked open.

Liam nodded in approval. "Let's move."

They entered cautiously, guns ready. The safe house was dimly lit by emergency lights, casting eerie shadows along the walls.

Tielen whispered, "Think she left anything useful?"

Liam moved quickly, searching the desks and cabinets. Documents. Weapons. Cash. But what caught his eye was a laptop, still powered on.

He sat down, fingers flying across the keyboard. "Bingo."

Tielen looked over his shoulder. "What are we looking at?"

Liam's eyes narrowed as he scrolled through encrypted files. Names. Transactions. And then—something that made his blood run cold.

A list of targets.

His name was at the top.

Tielen cursed. "Well, that's not great."

Liam didn't speak. His eyes scanned further, looking for the name backing all of this. And then he saw it—an organization name hidden in the data.

The Black Viper Syndicate.

Liam clenched his fists. He had heard the name before. A secretive, dangerous group that operated in the shadows. They were responsible for more than just business deals. They controlled entire underground empires.

And now, they wanted him dead.

Tielen's voice was quiet but sharp. "What's the move?"

Liam exhaled, his grip tightening on the mouse.

"We don't just run."

Tielen grinned. "Damn right."

Liam's eyes burned with determination.

If The Black Viper Syndicate thought they could control him, they were about to learn just how wrong they were.