9
Elliot paced the length of the penthouse, rubbing a hand over his jaw. His gun was still in his grip, but now it hung loosely by his side. Selene could see the conflict raging behind his eyes. He wanted revenge, but he also wanted to survive.
"We need proof," he muttered, more to himself than to them. "If we take Stanton down, we need something airtight. Otherwise, his people will bury this faster than we can blink."
Damian leaned against the bar, arms crossed. "You're the one who's been working for him. You telling me you don't have anything we can use?"
Elliot shot him a glare. "If I did, I wouldn't still be in this mess, would I?"
Selene exhaled. "Then we get it."
Elliot scoffed. "You make it sound simple."
Damian smirked. "It is."
Elliot folded his arms. "Enlighten me."
Damian pushed off the bar, stepping closer. "Every corrupt bastard has a weak point. Stanton is careful, but no one in his position keeps all their skeletons buried. There's a reason he was so desperate to keep Adrian quiet. Whatever he was afraid of—it's still out there."
Selene nodded. "And we're going to find it."
Elliot exhaled sharply. "And if we don't?"
Damian's smirk widened. "Then we make something up."
Selene shot him a look. "We're not fabricating evidence."
Damian held up his hands. "Relax. I'm just saying, sometimes perception is just as powerful as the truth."
Elliot shook his head. "I can't believe I'm trusting you two."
Damian clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the smartest decision you've made all night."
Selene sighed. "Let's focus. Where does Stanton keep his most sensitive information?"
Elliot hesitated, then said, "His private office. Downtown. The place is like a fortress."
Damian's grin turned sharp. "Good thing I like breaking into fortresses."
The Heist Begins
Breaking into Stanton's office wasn't going to be easy.
Elliot had been right—the place was a fortress. High-rise, private security, biometric access. But Selene and Damian weren't easily deterred.
They parked a few blocks away, blending into the shadows as they scouted the building. Elliot sat in the backseat, still looking like he was reconsidering his life choices.
"I can get us through the lower levels," he admitted. "But his private office? That's another story."
Damian checked his gear. "What's the security like?"
Elliot rubbed his temples. "Biometric scanners on the main door. Armed guards. Cameras. And an alarm system that triggers a lockdown if someone so much as sneezes in the wrong direction."
Selene frowned. "So how do we get past the scanner?"
Elliot exhaled. "We need a print."
Damian raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess—Stanton's not the type to leave his fingerprints lying around."
Elliot gave him a dry look. "Not unless you plan on chopping off his hand."
Damian considered that. "Tempting."
Selene rolled her eyes. "Let's try something less messy."
Elliot sighed. "His assistant—Charlotte Mills. She handles everything for him. If anyone has access, it's her."
Selene exchanged a look with Damian.
"I'll handle her," she said.
Elliot looked skeptical. "You sure?"
Selene smirked. "Just watch me."
A Dangerous Seduction
Charlotte Mills was sharp, loyal, and not easily fooled. Which meant Selene had to be careful.
She found Charlotte at a high-end lounge Stanton's people frequented. The woman was perched at the bar, sipping something expensive and ignoring the men trying to get her attention.
Selene slid into the seat beside her, offering a casual smile. "Rough night?"
Charlotte barely glanced at her. "Aren't they all?"
Selene signaled the bartender. "Another for her. On me."
Charlotte's lips quirked slightly. "You don't even know what I'm drinking."
Selene smirked. "Does it matter?"
Charlotte studied her for a moment, then accepted the drink. "What do you want?"
Selene leaned in slightly. "Just some conversation."
Charlotte arched a brow. "With me?"
Selene shrugged. "You looked like you could use the company."
Charlotte eyed her for another long moment, then sighed. "Fine. But if you bore me, I'm leaving."
Selene grinned. "I'll try to keep things interesting."
The Key to the Kingdom
It didn't take long for Selene to confirm what she already suspected—Charlotte was smart, but she had a soft spot for flattery.
More importantly, she was drinking fast.
Selene kept her own consumption minimal, staying sharp.
"So," she said after an hour of playful conversation, "what's it like working for Stanton?"
Charlotte snorted. "Exhausting. The man is paranoid. Thinks everyone's out to get him."
Selene tilted her head. "Isn't he right?"
Charlotte laughed. "Probably." She sighed, swirling the last of her drink. "But he pays well."
Selene rested her chin on her hand. "And trusts you completely, I bet."
Charlotte smirked. "Of course."
Selene took a careful step forward. "Enough to give you full access to his office?"
Charlotte hesitated.
Selene reached out, lightly brushing her fingers over Charlotte's wrist. "Come on. You must have some kind of power there."
Charlotte's gaze flickered. Then she exhaled. "I handle everything. Which means, yeah—I have access."
Selene smiled. "That's impressive."
Charlotte smirked. "I know."
Selene glanced at Charlotte's drink, then made her move.
She reached for Charlotte's hand, as if about to trace circles against her palm. Instead, she carefully pressed a piece of tape against the rim of Charlotte's glass, lifting her fingerprint.
Charlotte didn't even notice.
Selene leaned in. "Let me buy you another."
The Break-In
An hour later, Selene met Damian and Elliot outside Stanton's office. She held up the carefully preserved print.
"Got it."
Damian grinned. "Damn, remind me never to play poker with you."
Elliot shook his head in disbelief. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
Selene smirked. "Too late for that."
Damian cracked his knuckles. "Let's break in."
Elliot swallowed. "You two are insane."
Damian clapped him on the back. "And yet, here you are."
Elliot groaned. "I hate this."
Selene chuckled. "Then let's make it worth it."
They moved toward the entrance. The security was tight, but they had planned for this.
Elliot swiped his stolen keycard.
Selene pressed the stolen fingerprint to the scanner.
The lock clicked open.
Damian smirked. "Showtime."
They stepped inside, ready to uncover Stanton's darkest secrets.