Chapter 80

The sun had barely risen above the skyline when Ron and Amanda left the apartment, their minds already churning with the day's tasks. The weight of what they had to do pressed heavily on them both. There was no room for mistakes, no time for second-guessing. As they walked toward the car, Ron’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he quickly pulled it out.

“It’s Ghost,” he said, glancing at the screen.

Amanda’s heart tightened at the mention of his name. “What does he want?”

Ron frowned as he read the message. “He wants us to meet him at the old warehouse by the docks. Says he has new information on Russell.”

Amanda felt a chill run down her spine. “Do you trust him?” she asked, voicing the question that had been gnawing at her since the beginning.

Ron hesitated, his expression serious. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But we don’t have many options right now. If Ghost really has something on Russell, we need to know.”

Amanda nodded, though the unease in her chest didn’t lessen. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking into something far more dangerous than they realized, but she also knew they didn’t have the luxury of turning back. They were too far in, and Russell was too great a threat to ignore.

They got into the car, and Ron started the engine. As they drove through the quiet morning streets, the city just beginning to wake, neither of them spoke. The silence was heavy with the weight of unspoken fears and the knowledge that this might be their last chance to bring Russell down.

The docks were nearly deserted when they arrived, the early hour keeping most people away. The warehouse Ghost had mentioned loomed ahead, its dark, weathered exterior adding to the sense of foreboding that had been building inside Amanda all morning.

Ron parked the car and turned to her, his expression serious. “Stay close,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Amanda nodded, her heart pounding as they exited the car and made their way toward the warehouse. The closer they got, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Every sound, every shadow seemed to hold a hidden threat.

They reached the entrance, a heavy metal door that looked like it hadn’t been used in years. Ron pushed it open with some effort, the rusty hinges groaning in protest. The interior was dark, the only light coming from a few scattered windows high above, casting long shadows across the dusty floor.

“Ghost?” Ron called out, his voice echoing in the empty space.

For a moment, there was no response, just the eerie silence of the abandoned building. Then, from the darkness, Ghost emerged, his figure barely discernible in the dim light. He moved with his usual quiet confidence, but there was something different about him today—an intensity that made the hair on the back of Amanda’s neck stand on end.

“You’re here,” Ghost said, his voice low and calm.

Ron stepped forward, his posture tense. “What do you have for us?”

Ghost didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Amanda, his gaze lingering on her in a way that made her uncomfortable. There was something calculating in his eyes, something that sent a shiver down her spine.

“I’ve been doing some digging,” Ghost finally said, turning his attention back to Ron. “Russell’s been careful, but he’s made a few mistakes. I found a lead—one that could bring us right to him.”

Ron’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of lead?”

Ghost reached into his coat and pulled out a small flash drive. “Everything you need is on here—locations, contacts, recent activities. If we move quickly, we can catch him before he has a chance to disappear again.”

Ron took the flash drive, his expression hard. “Why are you doing this, Ghost? What’s your angle?”

Ghost smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Let’s just say I have my reasons. But for now, we have a common enemy. I want Russell taken down as much as you do.”

Ron didn’t look convinced, but he pocketed the flash drive anyway. “We’ll see where this leads. But if you’re playing us—”

“I’m not,” Ghost interrupted, his voice suddenly sharp. “I want Russell gone, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Amanda watched the exchange, her unease growing. There was something off about Ghost’s intensity, something that made her wonder just how deep his vendetta against Russell ran—and what it might cost them in the end.

Ron glanced at her, sensing her discomfort, then turned back to Ghost. “We’ll follow up on this lead. But don’t think for a second that we trust you.”

Ghost’s smile returned, cold and knowing. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”

With that, he turned and disappeared back into the shadows, leaving Ron and Amanda standing in the empty warehouse, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.

Ron turned to Amanda, his expression grim. “Let’s get out of here.”

They walked back to the car in silence, the weight of what they had just learned pressing down on them. Amanda couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being drawn deeper into a web of deceit and danger—one that might ensnare them both before they could escape.

As they drove away from the docks, Ron reached over and took Amanda’s hand, his grip tight. “Whatever happens, we stick to the plan. We take this to the police if it looks solid. No unnecessary risks.”

Amanda nodded, squeezing his hand. “Agreed.”

But as they sped through the city, the flash drive burning a hole in Ron’s pocket, Amanda couldn’t shake the feeling that the storm they were caught in was only just beginning—and that before it was over, they would both be forced to confront truths they weren’t ready to face.