Echoes of the past

Chapter 38:Echoes of the Past

The dawn was just beginning to break, casting an orange glow over the horizon as Elias stood by the window, looking out at the city. The buildings loomed like silent sentinels, but for the first time in a long while, Elias didn't feel the weight of their watchful gaze. The battle against Vale wasn't over, but in that quiet moment, he could almost convince himself that there was a chance they could win.

Collins' voice broke the silence as he entered the room, now wearing a bandage around his ribs. He still walked with a slight limp, but there was a fire in his eyes that made Elias think Collins wasn't going to let anything keep him down for long.

"You look like you're about to go to war," Collins commented with a smirk. "You've got that look in your eyes."

Elias didn't turn around at first. His mind was still elsewhere. "I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"About Vale. About the plan."

"Yeah, you keep talking about the plan. But you haven't said what it is yet."

Elias let out a breath, finally turning to face his friend. "I don't know yet. We know he's running out of options, but he's still got power. Too much power. He's not going to give up just because we hurt him."

Collins raised an eyebrow. "And you think he'll come after you again?"

Elias nodded, grim determination in his gaze. "Of course he will. He's too dangerous to let go. The moment he feels like we're weak, he'll strike."

There was a long pause before Collins sighed and slumped into the chair by the table. "You're not weak, Elias. But you're going to have to stop second-guessing yourself. You're stronger than you think."

Elias' gaze softened, but it wasn't just Collins he was speaking to. It was the voice in his own head, the one that had been questioning every move he made since they'd first started this fight against Vale. Are you strong enough to win this? That question had haunted him for weeks, gnawing at him like an unrelenting whisper.

But Collins was right. They weren't weak. They couldn't afford to be.

"So what's the plan?" Collins pressed, leaning forward, clearly eager to get to the point.

Elias took a breath. "We have one chance to take him down. And I need you to be ready for whatever comes next."

Collins didn't flinch. He gave a crooked grin. "I'm always ready."

"Good," Elias replied, his voice firm. He walked toward the table and laid out the folder in front of him. "We're going after his financial empire. That's where his power is, where he's been hiding all of his resources. He's been using it to pull strings, making everyone think he's untouchable. But we're going to change that."

Collins raised an eyebrow. "You think we can hit him where it hurts?"

"I know we can," Elias said with conviction, his fingers tapping against the folder. "This is the part of the plan where we break his grip on everything. We take away his money, his influence, and his ability to move freely. Once we do that, he'll be exposed. And that's when we make our move."

Collins grinned. "Finally. I've been waiting for something like this."

Elias pulled the papers from the folder, revealing a map of Vale's offshore holdings, a list of shell companies, and the network of lawyers and accountants that had been protecting him for years.

"There's a small window of opportunity," Elias said, spreading the papers out on the table. "We're going to target the offshore accounts first. If we can make it look like Vale's funds are being siphoned off by someone close to him, it will create doubt among his supporters. He'll think he's been betrayed, and that will force his hand."

Collins leaned forward, his interest piqued. "And what happens when he starts making a move to protect his empire?"

Elias smirked. "That's where you come in."

Collins gave a dry laugh. "I should've known. What do you want me to do? Make him cry uncle?"

"I'm hoping for something more along the lines of breaking into his personal vaults, getting the information we need, and making sure he can't retaliate."

Collins sat back, shaking his head, but a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, I can do that. You know I'm good with a lock."

Elias nodded, his mind already racing through the possible outcomes. This was it. This was the plan they had to execute if they wanted to end this once and for all.

The question was, would it be enough? Or would Vale's grip on the city be too strong to break?

But before Elias could dwell on it any longer, there was a knock on the door.

Collins raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell is that?"

Elias gestured for him to stay silent as he walked to the door, his hand hovering near the concealed weapon on his hip. He didn't take chances anymore. Whoever was knocking had better have a good reason for interrupting them now.

He opened the door cautiously, and standing there was a woman—short, dark hair, sharp eyes. She wore a suit that looked far too expensive for someone who was about to knock on their door in the middle of a mission.

"You must be Elias Mercer," she said, her voice calm but assertive. "I need to speak with you."

Elias regarded her carefully, sizing her up. There was something about her—something off. But he didn't have time for this.

"I don't have time for visitors," he replied, his tone colder than usual.

She didn't flinch. "This isn't about time. It's about survival. I have information you need."

Elias glanced at Collins, who was still sitting at the table with a bored expression, as if he were waiting for a punchline.

"Do I know you?" Elias asked, not letting his guard down.

She nodded. "I'm Natalie Knight. And I'm the reason you're going to survive the next few days."

Elias hesitated. His instinct told him not to trust her, but curiosity gnawed at him. After everything he had been through, he was getting used to the unexpected.

"Come in," he said, stepping aside.

Natalie walked past him, her heels clicking against the floor with a rhythmic confidence. She moved to the table and dropped a folder on it.

"We need to talk about Vale," she said, her gaze meeting Elias' without hesitation.

Elias opened the folder, flipping through the documents. It was everything he needed. All of the missing pieces.

"I guess we're not so alone in this fight after all," he muttered.

"Not if you're smart," she replied.

But Elias wasn't so sure. She had the information he needed, but he wasn't ready to trust her just yet. He still had too many questions. And in his world, trusting the wrong person could get them all killed.

Still, for the moment, the game had changed. And Elias wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away.