Chapter 81: The Clock Strikes

The sound of the envelope hitting the table echoed in the room, its sharpness piercing the oppressive silence. Jake’s mind raced, thoughts colliding and shattering under the weight of the cryptic message. Peter leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Adrian stood nearby, biting his lower lip, his nervous energy palpable.
For a long moment, no one spoke. The air was thick with tension, each of them caught in the pull of their own inner turmoil. Finally, Jake broke the silence.
“We need to leave,” he said, his voice steady but low. “If she’s as close as we think, staying here is a mistake.”
Peter raised an eyebrow. “And go where? Vanessa will expect that. She’s always been three steps ahead. Running won’t solve this.”
Jake shot him a glare. “You keep saying she’s ahead. You keep warning us about her. But what are we actually doing about it? Sitting here and waiting for her to make her move isn’t a plan. It’s a death sentence.. . . ”
Peter pushed off the wall and walked toward Jake, his movements slow and deliberate. “You think I don’t know that? You think I haven’t considered every possibility? This isn’t just about reacting to Vanessa, Jake. It’s about understanding her. Anticipating her. If we panic, we play into her hands.”
Adrian interjected, his voice shaking slightly. “But she knows everything about us. She’s watching. Listening. We’re vulnerable no matter what we do.”
Peter smirked, though there was no humor in it. “Exactly. Which is why we need to turn that vulnerability into a weapon. . . .”
Jake narrowed his eyes, stepping closer to Peter until they were nearly nose to nose. “What are you talking about?”
Peter’s smirk widened. “A trap.. . . . We let her think she’s still in control, that we’re scrambling, scared. And when she steps out of the shadows... we strike.”
Adrian crossed his arms, frowning. “How? How do we trap someone who’s already two steps ahead of us?”
Peter turned to him, his expression dark and calculating. “By giving her what she wants.”
Jake felt a chill run down his spine. “And what is that, exactly?”
Peter didn’t answer immediately.. . . . . . Instead, he walked to the window, staring out at the city skyline. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and filled with an unfamiliar edge. “She wants revenge. She wants to see me crumble. And she wants to do it by taking away everything I care about.”
Jake’s stomach twisted at the implication. “You’re saying... . .. she’s coming after us.”
Peter nodded, his gaze still fixed on the window. “She already has. But we use that to our advantage. We make her think she’s succeeding.”
Adrian shook his head, his voice rising with panic. “That’s insane. You’re asking us to be bait? To put ourselves in even more danger?”
Peter turned back to face them, his eyes blazing with intensity. “I’m asking you to trust me. If we want to end this, we have to take risks. We have to be willing to fight.”
Jake opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. As much as he hated to admit it, Peter was right. Vanessa wouldn’t stop until she got what she wanted. Running wouldn’t solve anything. Fighting was their only option.
Before anyone could say more, Jake’s phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn’t a text. It was a video call from an unknown number. He hesitated, his finger hovering over the screen.
“Don’t answer it,” Adrian said quickly, his voice trembling.. . . .
But Jake didn’t listen. He pressed accept, holding the phone out so they could all see the screen. The video feed flickered to life, revealing a dimly lit room. A woman sat in a high-backed chair, her face obscured by shadows.
“Hello, Jake,” she said, her voice smooth and chilling. “It’s so lovely to finally speak with you.”
Jake’s grip on the phone tightened. “Vanessa!!. . . . ”
She chuckled softly.. . . “You’ve heard of me. I’m flattered. Though I suppose Peter has told you all sorts of terrible things about me.”
Peter stepped forward, his face dark with anger. “What do you want, Vanessa?!?.. . . ”
She ignored him, her attention focused solely on Jake. “I want to offer you a choice,” she said, her tone light but dripping with malice. “You can walk away from all of this, Jake. Leave Peter and Adrian to face the consequences of their actions. Or... you can stay and suffer the fallout with them.”
Jake’s jaw clenched. “And if I walk away? What happens to them?”
Vanessa’s smile was razor-sharp. “They’ll pay the price for their betrayal. But you’ll be free. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? Freedom from their lies? From their manipulation?”
Jake glanced at Peter and Adrian. For a brief moment, doubt flickered in his mind. They had lied to him, manipulated him, dragged him into a dangerous game he never asked to play. But despite everything, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon them.
“You’re wasting your time,” he said firmly. “I’m not leaving.”
Vanessa’s smile faded, her expression turning cold. “Then you’ve made your choice. I hope you’re prepared for the consequences.”
The screen went dark, and the call ended. For a moment, no one spoke. The weight of Vanessa’s words hung heavy in the air.
Jake turned to Peter. “We need to move fast. Whatever she’s planning, we can’t let her catch us off guard.”
Peter nodded, his jaw set. “Agreed. It’s time to end this.”
Adrian looked between them, his fear replaced by a steely determination. “What’s the plan?”
Jake took a deep breath, his mind already racing with possibilities. “We fight back. On our terms. . . .”
The clock was ticking, and the final confrontation was drawing near. Jake didn’t know if they would come out of it unscathed, but one thing was certain: he wasn’t going to let Vanessa win.. . .