Chapter 34: A Fragile Alliance

The new safe house was in a run-down neighborhood on the city's edge—a forgotten corner where shadows seemed to stretch longer and the air was uncertain. It was a small, nondescript building with boarded-up windows and an entrance barely visible from the street—perfect for staying hidden. Inside, the team quickly set up, blocking all possible entrances and checking their communication channels. The tension in the room was palpable. Ava stood near the window, peering through the broken blinds, her mind racing. They had managed to decrypt the files, but Collins would not back down easily. Lucas came over, his expression a mix of concern and determination. "We need to stay vigilant," he said quietly. "Collins knows we're closing in, and he’ll be desperate now. Desperate men make dangerous choices." Ava nodded, glancing over at Jess, who was working on her laptop, uploading the newly decrypted files to multiple platforms. “Jess, how are we doing with the files?” She asked, her voice ste