Chapter 17: The Hacker’s Price

Ava's dark, narrow apartment was an unexpected stark contrast to the polished walls of the corporate offices Gabriel and Lily were used to. The dim light from multiple monitors cast sharp shadows around the room, and the faint hum of machines was the only sound that filled the air. The woman herself, clad in a hoodie and sweatpants, sat hunched over her keyboard, her fingers moving rapidly over the keys with precision and purpose.

Lily stood by the window, watching the flicker of streetlights outside as her mind raced. She didn't like the uneasy feeling gnawing at her. There was something about Ava that didn't sit right with her. The hacker was sharp, no doubt, but Lily couldn't shake the feeling that she was playing her own game behind the scenes. Still, Gabriel trusted her, and in this line of work, trust was a luxury they couldn't afford to lose.

"So, what exactly are you looking for?" Ava's voice broke through Lily's thoughts, sharp and cutting as she turned toward them. She leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers on the armrest. "Details on the syndicate's top players? Their operations? Or are we digging deeper into the shadowy figures in the background?"

Gabriel exchanged a glance with Lily, his face grim. "We need the truth, Ava. Who's in charge, and how do they operate? We're in a race against time, and we don't have room for mistakes."

Ava's eyes narrowed, then she motioned toward a large screen displaying tangled lines of code. "I'll give you what you need, but it won't come cheap. You said you had money, right? Because this kind of work isn't just hacking into some online bank account. This is heavy lifting."

Lily felt a tight knot in her stomach. She could sense the underlying warning in Ava's tone. "How much is this going to cost?" she asked, her voice steady despite the unease bubbling inside her.

Ava's lips curled into a faint smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. "Let's just say it's a long-term commitment. But if you want the big fish, you're going to have to make a deal."

Gabriel's patience was wearing thin, but he knew better than to show it. He was used to playing the game of negotiation, but this time, it felt different—dangerous. "We're not here to make deals, Ava. We're here to get answers. Fast."

The hacker leaned forward, her fingers hovering over the keys. "Don't worry, I'm not your enemy. But I don't do charity work either. If you want the syndicate's secrets, it's going to cost you more than just money."

Gabriel didn't like the sound of that. His instincts were on edge. "What do you mean?"

Ava smirked, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "There's a price for everything. You want to take down the syndicate? You want to expose the people behind it all? Fine. But there are risks involved. If you want my help, you're going to have to offer something in return."

Gabriel crossed his arms, considering the situation. He didn't trust her, but he didn't have a choice. They were running out of options. "What do you want?"

Ava's smirk deepened as she leaned back in her chair. "I want a favor. One that's tied to your past, Gabriel. And I'll collect when the time is right."

Lily felt a chill creep down her spine. What was Ava talking about? Gabriel's past? She had no idea what kind of skeletons he was hiding, but the way Ava spoke of it suggested that there were things Gabriel had been keeping from her.

Gabriel's jaw tightened, but his expression remained stoic. He'd obviously heard this kind of offer before. "You'll get what you want when the time comes. But if you try to double-cross us, I'll make sure you regret it."

Ava laughed softly, her gaze sharp and calculating. "Don't worry. I'm not in the business of double-crossing. I just make sure the terms are clear."

Gabriel nodded, his face hardening. "Then get to work. We don't have much time."

Ava's fingers were already flying over the keyboard, the room suddenly filled with the rhythmic clicking of keys as she began pulling up encrypted files. The atmosphere was tense, and Lily could feel her heart rate quicken. What had Gabriel agreed to? What did Ava want from him?

For the next few hours, Ava worked in near silence, her eyes flicking from screen to screen as she dug deeper into the syndicate's operations. Gabriel paced the room, his anxiety palpable. He'd been part of this world for so long, but now it felt like the walls were closing in. Every decision he made seemed to bring him closer to a truth he wasn't ready to face.

Finally, Ava spoke again, her voice breaking the silence like a blade. "Got something. A lead. But it's messy."

She turned the screen around to show them a map with several marked locations—dots connected by lines and arrows, showing a clear path of the syndicate's operations. But there was more: hidden messages buried in the files, encrypted files detailing transactions, and a name that immediately caught Gabriel's attention.

"Who's Alexander Cross?" Ava asked, her eyes locking onto Gabriel's as she waited for a reaction.

Lily glanced at Gabriel, sensing the tension in his body. He had gone completely still, his face draining of color. "That's a name I never thought I'd hear again," Gabriel muttered under his breath.

Ava leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "I take it you know him?"

Gabriel nodded slowly, his eyes hard. "I used to. He's the one who set this all in motion. Cross is the architect of everything—the mastermind."

Lily's heart skipped a beat. She could sense the weight of this revelation, and the room seemed to get colder as Gabriel spoke the name. "We need to find him," she said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. "Now that we know who's behind this, we can take him down."

But Gabriel shook his head, a bitter smile playing at the corners of his lips. "It's not that simple. Cross isn't just some criminal we can arrest. He's been working from the shadows for years. We've all been pawns in his game."

Ava's fingers paused on the keyboard. "Then what's the plan? You've got the intel, but you're telling me this guy's untouchable?"

Gabriel's eyes darkened as he turned away from the screen, his mind already racing. "We'll find a way. We always do."

But Lily could see the uncertainty in his eyes. This wasn't just another mission. This was personal. Gabriel had been playing this game for too long, and now the stakes were higher than ever.

"Don't worry, Gabriel," Lily said softly, her hand brushing against his arm. "We'll bring him down. Together."

Gabriel's eyes met hers, and for the first time in a long while, she saw a flicker of hope behind the storm. "Together," he repeated, and though the battle ahead would be the toughest they'd faced, they knew one thing for sure: they were in this until the end.

The hunt for Alexander Cross had begun.