“How’d it go?” he asked, his tone steady, but his eyes sharp with concern.

Jade exhaled, glancing back at the club before meeting his gaze. “She’s interested, but she wants proof. Something concrete to show that Damon’s betraying her.”

Lucas ran a hand through his hair, his expression hardening. “Of course she does. Valeria’s not stupid—she won’t act without insurance. Did she give a deadline?”

“No,” Jade replied, her nerves still buzzing. “But it’s clear she won’t wait forever. We need to move fast.”

Lucas nodded, his mind already working through the next steps. “There’s a way we can get what we need, but it’s risky.”

Jade swallowed, knowing exactly what he was about to suggest. “You mean going after Damon’s private files?”

“It’s the only way,” Lucas said, his voice low but certain. “Damon keeps everything—transactions, blackmail, even secrets about his own people. If we can get into his encrypted database, we’ll find proof of what he’s been hiding from Valeria.”

Jade shivered at the thought of breaking into Damon’s secure system. “That’s not just risky, Lucas—that’s suicide.”

Lucas’s gaze softened as he stepped closer, his hand brushing hers lightly. “We don’t have a choice, Jade. If we don’t give Valeria what she wants, we’re dead either way.”

Jade met his eyes, feeling the weight of their situation sink in. He was right. They were walking a razor-thin line, and one wrong move could mean the end for both of them.

“What’s the plan?” Jade asked, her voice steady despite the knot in her stomach.

Lucas sighed, his eyes narrowing as he laid out the details. “Damon has a safe house not far from here. That’s where he stores his most valuable assets. The security’s tight, but I know a way in. We’ll need to move fast—get in, grab what we need, and get out before anyone notices we were there.”

Jade nodded, adrenaline already coursing through her veins. “When do we go?”

Lucas glanced at his watch. “Tonight. The longer we wait, the more time Damon has to catch on.”

---

The safe house was nestled in the heart of the city, surrounded by towering buildings and guarded by a state-of-the-art security system. Jade and Lucas crouched in the shadows, watching as the guards patrolled the perimeter, their movements precise and professional.

“We’ll have to bypass the exterior alarms first,” Lucas whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the city. “Once we’re inside, we’ll need to hack into Damon’s computer to access the files.”

Jade nodded, her pulse racing as they waited for the right moment. She wasn’t a tech expert, but Lucas had taught her enough to handle the basics. The real challenge would be getting in and out without raising suspicion.

As the last guard rounded the corner, Lucas gave her a nod. “Now.”

They moved quickly, staying low as they approached the back entrance. Lucas pulled out a small device, attaching it to the keypad and watching as the numbers flashed across the screen.

“Come on,” he muttered under his breath, his fingers working quickly to override the system.

Seconds later, the door clicked open, and they slipped inside.

The inside of the safe house was eerily quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of the security cameras. Lucas motioned for Jade to follow him, and they moved through the dimly lit halls, their footsteps silent on the marble floors.

When they reached Damon’s office, Lucas gestured to the large desk at the center of the room. “That’s where the files are stored.”

Jade moved to the desk, her hands shaking slightly as she activated the computer. The screen flickered to life, and she quickly inserted the USB Lucas had given her to bypass the encryption.

“I need a few minutes,” Jade whispered, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she navigated through the layers of security Damon had in place.

Lucas stood by the door, his eyes scanning the hallway for any signs of trouble. “Make it fast.”

As the files began to download, Jade’s heart raced. They were so close, but every second felt like an eternity. Finally, the download bar reached 100%, and Jade pulled out the USB, her breath catching in her throat.

“Got it,” she whispered, holding up the device.

Lucas nodded, relief washing over his features. “Let’s get out of here.”

But just as they turned to leave, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder by the second. Jade’s heart dropped as she looked at Lucas, panic flashing in his eyes.

“They’re coming,” Lucas whispered, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward a nearby storage room.

They barely made it inside when the door to the office swung open, and two guards stepped inside, their eyes scanning the room. Jade held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she pressed against Lucas in the tight space.

The guards lingered for a moment, checking the desk and the windows, before finally turning and leaving.

Jade let out a shaky breath, her body trembling as the tension drained from her. Lucas gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before leading her back out into the hall.

“We need to move,” Lucas whispered urgently. “They’ll be back soon.”

They slipped out of the safe house as quickly as they had entered, the cool night air hitting them like a wave as they ran down the alley, hearts racing and adrenaline pumping.