The air in the room felt heavier now, charged with something Riley couldn't quite define. Soren's gaze never left her, as if he were weighing her, searching for something she wasn't ready to show. Riley couldn't help but feel the intensity of the scrutiny, like he was seeing straight through her.
Lara moved closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "We didn't come here for riddles, Soren. We need to know where Zayden is. And we need to know now."
Soren leaned back in his chair, a lazy smile curling on his lips. "You don't understand, do you? This isn't just about finding Zayden. This is about survival. The game you're stepping into... it's dangerous. You think it's just a matter of getting the right information, but there's more to it. A lot more. You're not the first person to try to step into this world, and you won't be the last."
Riley clenched her fists, trying to hold herself together. She couldn't afford to show any weakness. "I don't care about the rules. I just want to know where he is."
For the first time, Soren's eyes flickered with something that almost resembled amusement. "You're bold. I'll give you that. But do you even know what you're dealing with? Zayden's not a simple playboy, Riley. He's tangled in something much darker than you can imagine. This world... it's not just about money or power. It's about control. And if you're not careful, you'll lose yourself in it."
Riley's heart skipped a beat at his words. She had a sinking feeling that he wasn't just talking about Zayden. He was warning her about something else. She swallowed hard. "I don't care about the world. I care about Zayden. He needs me."
Soren studied her for a long moment, then sighed, shaking his head. "You're determined, I'll give you that. Fine. I'll tell you where to start. But be warned—you're going to need more than guts to survive this. You'll need allies. And if you're not careful, you might just become a target. And once you're on their radar, there's no going back."
Lara's voice cut through the tension. "We're prepared. Just tell us what we need to do."
Soren glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Alright. You want to know where Zayden is? You'll have to go to him. But understand this—Zayden's family doesn't just operate in the shadows, they live in them. If you want to find him, you need to be ready for whatever comes next. And trust me, what comes next will test everything you have."
Riley nodded, her resolve hardening. She wasn't about to back down. "Where do we start?"
Soren leaned forward, speaking in a low, serious tone. "The old warehouse on the outskirts of town. That's where they keep the real secrets. If you want to find Zayden, that's where you'll begin. But I'll warn you again—nothing good happens in that place."