Chapter 48: Lucas

 Mia couldn't help but wonder what those tricks were, but she didn't ask. She trusted him. She had to. Her life—both the one she knew and the one she was now running toward—depended on it.

They made their way through narrow alleyways, avoiding the open streets as much as possible. Ethan's pace quickened, his eyes darting around them with caution. Mia followed, her mind racing with a thousand questions. But there was no time for doubt. She was in this now, and whatever happened, they would face it together.

Finally, they arrived at a secluded building on the edge of the city. It was an old warehouse, the kind that used to house merchandise and supplies but now stood abandoned, a forgotten shell. Ethan led the way inside, his movements careful, deliberate. The interior was dark, but Mia could see the flicker of low lights from a room at the far end.

"Is this where it all happens?" she asked quietly, feeling a shiver crawl up her spine.

Ethan nodded. "Lucas's men have been using this place to conduct their operations. It's not the Syndicate's official headquarters, but it's where they've been hiding their most sensitive deals. If we're going to find Lucas, it's here."

They moved through the building's maze-like hallways, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the empty space. As they neared the back, Mia felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Something was off. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

Ethan paused, his body tensing. "Stay close. We're almost there."

Suddenly, the distant sound of a door creaking open reached their ears. Mia's breath caught, and she instinctively pressed herself against the wall, her heart hammering in her chest. A moment later, a group of men appeared, walking toward them, talking amongst themselves. They were armed, their eyes scanning the darkened hall as if searching for something—or someone.

Mia's hand instinctively reached for the black box, now tucked securely inside her jacket. She wasn't sure what Ethan had planned, but she trusted him. They had no choice but to keep moving forward.

Ethan signaled for Mia to stay low as he quickly took action. In a fluid motion, he grabbed a loose pipe from the ground and tossed it down the opposite hallway, creating a loud noise that drew the men's attention.

"Stay quiet," Ethan whispered, his breath close to her ear. "They'll follow the sound. We move when they're distracted."

Mia nodded, her pulse racing. The men moved in the direction of the sound, and just as quickly as they'd appeared, they disappeared into the shadows.

"Now," Ethan murmured.

They slipped past the men, moving swiftly toward the room at the end of the hallway. Mia's mind raced, the adrenaline pumping through her veins as they reached the door. Ethan reached for the handle and pushed it open carefully, revealing a dimly lit room filled with surveillance monitors and maps of the city.

In the center of the room, a man stood, his back to them. He was tall, wearing a dark suit, and his posture was relaxed—but Mia knew instantly who it was.

Lucas.