19
Kellan Graves leaned back in his chair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass as he studied Selene with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You must be desperate," he said finally, setting the drink down with a soft clink.
Selene remained standing, arms crossed, her stance unwavering. "If I were desperate, I wouldn't be here. I'd be burying bodies."
Kellan chuckled, shaking his head. "Still the same Selene." His gaze darkened. "Tell me, what exactly do you think I can give you that you haven't already tried to take?"
She didn't blink. "Information on Vincent Cade."
His expression didn't change, but she caught the slight twitch of his jaw.
"So, that's what this is about," he murmured. He reached for his drink again, taking a slow sip before setting it down. "And here I thought you just missed me."
Selene's lips curled into something that was neither a smile nor a smirk. "You're not that lucky."
Kellan exhaled and sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Cade's a different breed. You think Stanton was bad? Cade doesn't just destroy people—he erases them."
Selene's jaw tightened. "That's why I need to find him first."
Kellan studied her for a long moment before sighing. "You realize if I help you, it puts me in his crosshairs too?"
Selene didn't hesitate. "You were already on his list the moment you started hacking his network."
That got a reaction. Kellan's smirk vanished, replaced by a sharp look of curiosity and unease. "How do you—?"
"I do my homework."
Kellan cursed under his breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Damn it." He stood, pacing for a moment before turning back to her. "I might have something, but you won't like it."
Selene arched an eyebrow. "Try me."
Kellan glanced at the guard near the door. "Leave us."
The man hesitated, then nodded and stepped out, closing the door behind him.
Kellan turned back to Selene. "Cade's moving something big. An asset he's been keeping under wraps. I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, he's paranoid about it."
Selene's mind raced. "Where?"
Kellan exhaled sharply. "There's a warehouse on the south docks. I managed to intercept some chatter. The transfer happens in forty-eight hours."
Selene nodded. "Then I need to be there."
Kellan smirked again, but this time there was something unreadable in his expression. "You know, Selene, if you keep playing with fire, one day you're going to get burned."
She stepped closer, her voice a whisper. "Then let's hope Cade burns first."
Kellan chuckled, shaking his head. "You're insane."
Selene smirked. "And you're going to help me."
He sighed. "Against my better judgment—yes."
She extended a hand. "Then we have a deal."
Kellan hesitated for only a second before shaking it.
Selene's next move was set. Forty-eight hours. A high-risk warehouse raid. And the chance to finally get ahead of Vincent Cade.
The game was far from over.
Chapter Nineteen is ready! Let me know if you want any tweaks or if you're ready for the next one.