CHAPTER 520: THE RUN

The hotel room was dimly lit, with only the soft glow from a bedside lamp illuminating the space. The furnishings were simple—a queen-sized bed covered with a rumpled white comforter, a small wooden table with a couple of chairs, and a dresser against one wall. A few empty glasses and a half-empty bottle of whiskey sat on the table. Caleb was slumped in one of the chairs, his tie loosened and his shirt unbuttoned at the collar. His face was flushed from the alcohol, and his eyes, usually sharp and calculating, were now glazed over and unfocused. He had been trying to persuade Lauretta for hours, his words slurring as he spoke. "Lauretta, come on," Caleb said, his voice rough. "You know this is the best opportunity for both of us. We can have everything we want if we just make this deal." Lauretta stood on the other side of the room; her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She wore a black dress that had seen better days, her posture rigid as she tried to maintain her distance from