Sam couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that had been gnawing at her since they left Isabella unconscious in the warehouse. The information Isabella had given them was solid, but there was something too neat about it. It felt like a setup, and Sam wasn't about to take anything at face value when it came to The Broker. He was too crafty, too dangerous.
As she checked the rounds in her gun for the third time, Sam glanced over at Lily, who was leaning against the wall of the hideout. Her eyes were distant, reflecting the weight of everything that had happened. They had just barely escaped with their lives, and now they were walking straight into another potential trap.
**"Are you good?"** Sam asked, breaking the silence.
Lily looked up, snapping out of her thoughts. **"As good as I can be."** She paused for a moment, her brow furrowed. **"You think this is for real? That Isabella's information can be trusted?
Sam sighed, slipping her gun into its holster. **"Honestly? No. But it's all we've got right now.** She crossed her arms, leaning against the table. **"That's why we need to be smart about this. I don't trust Isabella any more than I trust The Broker. If he knows we're coming, we will walk straight into a death trap."**
Lily didn't argue. She knew Sam was right. They had been a step behind The Broker at every turn, and now they were about to face him head-on. The stakes were higher than ever. One wrong move, and it would be over for both of them.
**"So what's the plan?"** Lily asked, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice.
Sam grabbed a map of the city from the table, spreading it out in front of them. **"We hit the location Isabella gave us, but we didn't go in blind. I'll approach from the front, draw their attention. You circle around the back. If something feels off, we bail. No questions, no hesitation."**
Lily nodded, her face hardening with resolve. **"Got it. But what if he's expecting that?"**
Sam smirked, the corner of her mouth lifting in a grim smile. **"He probably is. But that's why we're going to surprise him. We'll have a backup plan."**
Lily raised an eyebrow. **"Backup plan? You're holding out on me again, Sam."**
Sam chuckled softly. **"Wouldn't it be the first time. Trust me, it'll be fine."**
---
The drive to the docks was nerve-wracking. Every intersection, every shadowy figure on the sidewalk felt like a potential threat. Sam's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing through every possible scenario that could go wrong. But she kept her cool, her hands steady on the wheel.
Lily sat in the passenger seat, her eyes glued to the road ahead. She wasn't talking, which wasn't unusual. They had come a long way since the day they met, but trust was still a fragile thing between them. Sam couldn't forget that Lily had been working with her father for years, and even now, it was hard to tell how much of that was still influencing her decisions.
As they approached the docks, the tension in the car thickened. The air felt heavy, and Sam's instincts were screaming at her to turn back. But there was no turning back. They were in this now, and there was no other option but to move forward.
Sam parked a block away from the warehouse, cutting off the engine and surveying the area. The place was eerily quiet, the kind of quiet that set off alarm bells in Sam's mind. No guards, no movement—nothing to suggest that The Broker was anywhere near the location.
**"Something's off,"** Sam muttered, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the surrounding buildings.
Lily followed her gaze, her hand resting on the handle of her gun. **"You think he's onto us?"**
**"I think he's always been onto us,"** Sam replied, her voice low and tense. **"We're walking into a trap. I can feel it."**
Lily swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. **"Then why are we still going in?"**
Sam met her gaze, her expression resolute. **"Because we don't have a choice. But we're not going in blind."**
She pulled out a small device from her jacket, holding it up for Lily to see.
**"What is that?"** Lily asked, eyeing the gadget suspiciously.
**"Insurance,"** Sam said with a wry grin. **"If things go south, we'll have a way out. Just follow my lead."**
Lily nodded, but the tension between them was palpable. They were both walking a tightrope, and one misstep could send them plummeting into the abyss.
---
The warehouse loomed in front of them, its massive doors creaking in the wind. Sam's fingers tightened around the grip of her gun as she pushed the door open, her every sense on high alert. The interior of the building was just as empty as the outside. No sign of life, no indication that anyone had been there in weeks.
**"It's too quiet,"** Lily whispered, her voice barely audible.
Sam scanned the room, her eyes darting from corner to corner. **"Yeah. Too quiet."**
They moved cautiously through the space, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness. Sam's mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. This wasn't just a trap—it was a statement. The Broker wanted them to know he was in control. He wanted them to feel powerless.
As they reached the center of the room, Sam stopped abruptly, holding up her hand to signal Lily to stay still.
**"What is it?"** Lily asked, her voice tense with fear.
Sam didn't answer. Her eyes were locked on a small red dot blinking on the floor in front of them.
**"It's a tracker,"** Sam whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. **"He's been tracking us the whole time."**
Lily's eyes widened in shock. **"What do we do now?"**
Before Sam could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from the far end of the warehouse. They both spun around, their weapons drawn, but the room was still empty.
**"We're not alone,"** Sam said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lily's grip on her gun tightened. **"What do we do?"**
Sam's mind raced as she tried to formulate a plan. They were trapped, and The Broker was closing in.
Suddenly, the lights flickered, plunging the room into darkness. Sam's heart raced as she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching them from all sides.
**"Run!"** Sam shouted, grabbing Lily by the arm and pulling her toward the exit.
They sprinted through the darkened warehouse, their footsteps echoing in the vast space. Sam could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. They were outnumbered, and The Broker's men were closing in fast.
Just as they reached the door, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking their path.
Sam and Lily froze, their hearts racing as they realized they had walked right into The Broker's trap.