Chapter 18

Mateo

My mind was a mess as I sat in the dimly lit office, the weight of responsibility heavy upon my shoulders. There had to be a way to take down Novak once and for all, to ensure the safety of my growing family. I couldn't rest until he was neutralized.

The police were helping, but it wasn't enough. I had to act.

Javier sat across from me, his dark eyes reflecting the gravity of our situation. He understood the stakes better than anyone. That was one of the reasons why he knew what was going on. Without hesitation, he stood with me no matter what.

I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the polished mahogany desk, fingers interlaced as I contemplated my next move. Three options lay before me — each carrying its own risks and rewards. Bait and switch, the informant, and the hack attack. Each plan could work, but which one would guarantee success? Or maybe even more than one?

The bait and switch seemed like a quick fix. Novak's greed was one of his weak points, and I aimed to use it against him. But could I really risk being face-to-face with him again after everything he had put Kael through? It would be difficult, to say the least. My jaw clenched at the mere thought of the pain and fear etched on Kael's face during his abduction. No, I couldn't let that happen again.

The informant route appealed to my desire for clean, precise action. If I could turn one of Novak's own against him, I'd strike at the heart of his operation. But it was a big if, though.

Javier had connections everywhere; surely he could dig up dirt on someone willing to sell out their boss. The risk came from maintaining control over the narrative. Could we trust this potential informant not to double-cross us? The answer was actually simple. No, we couldn't.

Finally, there was the hack attack, a modern approach to dismantling an enemy. With the right skills, we could infiltrate Novak's computer and expose his most damning secrets. However, technology had always been my weak point. I relied heavily on those around me to navigate the digital landscape. And who knew if Novak wasn't already aware of the threat and prepared accordingly?

I looked up at Javier, his gaze unwavering."We need to move fast,"I stated, my voice low and steady despite the turmoil inside me."Novak won't sit idly by now that we've made our position clear. We have to anticipate his next move."

Javier nodded, leaning back in his chair."Agreed. But the question remains — how should we do it?"His brow furrowed slightly as he considered our options.

I weighed the choices carefully, each scenario playing out in my mind's eye. The bait and switch carried the highest risk, but potentially the greatest reward if executed perfectly. The informant required careful management and trust-building. Plus, it could take more time. The hack attack offered precision, but also dependence on others, and I didn't want to depend on anyone else.

After a moment's contemplation, I made my decision."Let's split our focus between the informant and the hack attack,"I declared."Javier, reach out to your contacts and see who might be willing to turn on Novak. I'll work on finding a skilled hacker we can trust. We'll keep the bait and switch on standby as a last resort."

Javier's lips curled into a slight smile, respect glinting in his eyes."It's a solid plan, boss."Rising from his seat, he headed towards the door."I'll make some calls and get back to you soon."

As Javier departed, I allowed myself a brief respite, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

I reached for my phone, scrolling through contacts until I found the name I sought. There was someone I knew. I was just hoping it was going to be enough.

With a deep breath, I placed the call, praying that luck would be on our side. For once, it had to be.

"Hello?"Came the gruff response on the other end of the line. I recognized the voice right away — Marcus, a tech guru Javier had recommended some time ago. I had needed him for something.

"I need your help,"I began, my tone leaving no room for argument."And it needs to stay off the grid. Are you interested?"

There was a pause, then a chuckle."You've got my attention,"Marcus replied."What's the job?"

Then, without hesitation, I outlined the plan. Together, we laid the groundwork for the hack attack, each detail falling into place like a well-oiled machine. I was almost surprised by how clear it appeared to be to me.

In the coming days, Javier worked tirelessly to cultivate a potential informant within Novak's ranks while Marcus delved deep into Novak's digital defenses. We met regularly to compare notes, each step bringing us closer to our ultimate goal.

As the pieces fell into place, I felt a sense of anticipation building within me. Soon, very soon, we would bring Novak to his knees and he would never be a problem to us again.

As the sun rose this morning, casting a golden glow over the mansion's sprawling grounds, I awoke with a renewed sense of purpose. Today was the day everything was going to change, no doubt about it. I was going to make sure of it.

Beside me, Kael stirred, his blue eyes fluttering open to meet my gaze. As usual, he slept with me.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he stretched, his pregnant belly rounding beneath the sheets."Good morning,"he murmured, reaching out to run his fingers through my hair."How did you sleep?"

"Better than I have in weeks,"I admitted, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead.I had a good feeling about today. I felt that, after this was over, our lives would be so much better. "But we have a long day ahead of us. Get some rest while you can."

Kael's brows knitted together in concern, but he nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Together, we rose from the bed, moving through our morning routine with practiced ease. It was as though it was just another day in our lives, even though we both knew it wasn't.

Downstairs, Javier waited for us in the dining room, a stack of files spread out before him. He looked up as we entered, his expression unreadable."Everything is in place,"he informed me, sliding a folder across the table."The informant has agreed to meet us at the designated location at noon. And Marcus believes he can access Novak's servers remotely by 1 pm."

I nodded, flipping through the documents before me. Part of me still couldn't believe this was happening. It was almost too easy. Maps, schedules, code fragments — each piece falling neatly into the grand design we had crafted."Excellent work,"I praised, feeling a swell of pride in my team."Now, let's go over the plan one more time..."

The hours ticked by in a blur of preparation and anticipation. Javier and I pored over every detail, double-checking our strategies and contingencies. Everything was important and nothing could be left out. Meanwhile, Marcus worked tirelessly from a remote location, his fingers flying over the keys as he breached Novak's cyber walls. Marcus was so good at it that Novak would only know what happened when it was too late.

As the clock struck noon, I found myself standing on a street corner, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it — the moment of truth. If all went according to plan, by the end of today, Novak would be little more than a distant memory. I couldn't wait until then. I'd been in this life for far too long.

Javier pulled up beside me, a sleek black car idling at the curb.He almost looked ordinary. "Our buddy approaches,"he said quietly, gesturing to a figure walking towards us with purposeful strides.

The man, average height and build, wore a hoodie pulled up high around his face. As he drew near, I could see the nervous tension in his movements. We both wished to be home and doing something more gratifying.

"You Mateo?"He asked, voice low and guarded. We both didn't know each other. This was the moment of truth, when I'd find out if he was someone I could trust.

I stepped forward, extending a hand."That's right. You must be our 'buddy'."The informant hesitated for a split second before shaking firmly. I would have done the same if I were him.

"I am,"he confirmed, glancing around as though he was expecting something to jump out of the shadows. "But I don't have much time. Here's what you need to know about Novak's upcoming deal..."

He spoke in a hurry, his words tumbling out. Dates, locations, key players — each detail another piece of the puzzle. I listened with perked ears and without as much as blinking, committing it all to memory. Nothing could be missed.

After he finished, he stepped back, wiping a hand across his brow."That's everything,"he said, sounding both relieved and exhausted."Just make sure it stays between us, yeah? I've got a family to protect." Didn't we all?

"We'll take care of it,"I promised."You have my word." And he knew my word was one of the most important things he could get from me.

With a curt nod, our buddy melted back into the crowd, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared. I turned to Javier, a grim determination setting my jaw."Let's move out."

Back at the mansion, we gathered around a large screen as Marcus worked his magic. Lines of code scrolled past almost in a blur, broken only by the occasional grunt of satisfaction or muttered curse. We held our collective breath, watching and waiting. This had to go right, or else we would have to go back to the drawing board.

Then, all of a sudden, Marcus whooped in triumph."Gotcha!"He crowed, spinning in his chair to face us."We finally have enough dirt on Novak to put him away for life. Bank records, communication logs, the works. This is what the police need."

I felt a rush of adrenaline as the pieces finally clicked into place. With the informant's intel and Marcus's hacking prowess, we had everything we needed to bring Novak down. Now all we had to do was make it stick. Despite all that, it still wasn't going to be easy.

Javier and I worked until our legs felt like they might give out, passing the incriminating evidence along to our contacts within law enforcement. We laid the groundwork, ensuring that every angle was covered.

By the time evening fell, the die was cast. Novak would soon find himself surrounded by authorities, his carefully constructed empire crumbling beneath his feet.