2025-01-25 07:31:07Kelvin sat at a corner table in Le Mirage, the elegant hum of conversations and the soft clinking of glasses filling the air. The restaurant was bathed in warm, golden light, its high ceilings adorned with intricate chandeliers. He glanced at his watch, his nerves hidden behind a mask of calm. Maria wasn’t late, yet but every passing minute felt heavier than the last.
He took a sip of water, his mind rehearsing the conversation he planned to have. He couldn’t afford to slip. Every word mattered. The soft sound of heels clicking against the marble floor drew his attention. He looked up to see Maria entering the restaurant, her red dress once again catching the light. She scanned the room before spotting him and smiled apologetically as she approached. “Kelvin,” she said, her voice warm but slightly breathless. “I’m so sorry. Traffic was a nightmare.” “No need to apologize,” Kelvin said, standing as she arrived. “I just got here myself.” It was a lie, but one he told smoothly. They sat, the waiter appearing almost immediately to take their orders. Once they were alone, Kelvin leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully. “You look distracted,” Maria said, her head tilting slightly as she met his gaze. “Just thinking,” Kelvin replied. “It’s been... a long few days.” Maria smiled faintly. “I know the feeling. I can’t seem to get a break lately.” Their small talk flowed easily, but Kelvin’s focus never wavered. He watched her closely, gauging her reactions, searching for any hint of duplicity. When the waiter brought their drinks, Kelvin decided it was time to steer the conversation in the direction he needed. “Maria,” he began, his tone cautious, “can I ask you something?” She set her glass down, her eyes meeting his. “Of course.” “What’s your opinion of Victor Alonso?” Maria blinked, the question catching her off guard. “Victor?” she echoed. “Why do you ask?” “I’ve heard things,” Kelvin said carefully. “And I’m curious. Do you trust him?” Maria’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded. “Yes, I do. Victor helped me during a difficult time in my life. He’s always been kind to me. Why? Have you heard something different?” Kelvin hesitated, his fingers brushing against the edge of his glass. “Let’s just say my perspective is... complicated.” Maria’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of suspicion crossing her face. “Kelvin, if there’s something I should know, tell me.” He drew a deep breath. This was it, the moment he’d been dreading and anticipating in equal measure. “Maria, I’m not just some businessman,” he said quietly. “I’m a spy. My mission is to uncover Victor’s drug operations. He’s been shipping narcotics under the radar for years.” The silence between them was heavy. Maria stared at him, her expression unreadable at first, before she laughed softly. “Victor?” she said, shaking her head. “Kelvin, that’s impossible. He’s a childhood friend. I’ve known him for years. He wouldn’t get involved in something like that.” “I thought the same thing about someone once,” Kelvin replied evenly. “And I was wrong. Maria, I need you to consider the possibility that Victor isn’t who you think he is.” Her expression darkened slightly, skepticism creeping into her voice. “And what proof do you have?” Kelvin leaned forward. “I was the one who infiltrated his casino two weeks ago.” Maria’s eyes widened, her hand tightening around the stem of her glass. “That was you?” “Yes,” Kelvin said, his tone unwavering. “I didn’t kill the driver, Maria. That was one of Victor’s guards. And the guard with the tattoo, his death was an accident. I never intended to kill anyone.” Maria’s shock was evident. She looked down at her hands, as if processing what he’d just told her. “You’re saying Victor knew about this? That he... let it happen?” “I don’t know how much he knew,” Kelvin admitted. “But I do know that working for someone like him isn’t safe. Maria, I’m telling you this because I believe you don’t know the full truth. You deserve to.” Maria’s lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze fixed on the table. Before Kelvin could say more, her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen, her expression shifting into something unreadable. “I have to take this,” she said, standing abruptly. Kelvin watched as she answered the call, her voice low and clipped. After a moment, she turned back to him, her face carefully neutral. “I’m sorry, Kelvin, but I have to go. We’ll talk again soon.” “Maria—” “Thank you for telling me,” she said, cutting him off. “I’ll think about what you’ve said.” She left before he could respond, leaving Kelvin sitting alone at the table. Later that evening, Kelvin called April, pacing his study as he spoke. “Did you tell her?” April asked, her voice sharp with concern. “Yes,” Kelvin admitted. “She was shocked. I could see it.” “Kelvin, do you realize what you’ve done?” April said. “Victor isn’t someone you mess with. If he finds out you told Maria—” “I had to,” Kelvin interrupted. “She deserves to know the truth.” “She deserves to know the truth?” April’s voice was incredulous. “Kelvin, this isn’t a game. If Maria runs back to Victor, you’ll be dead by morning.” Before Kelvin could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, Maria. “Hang up, April,” he said quickly. “Kelvin, don’t—” “Just hang up.” The line went dead as Kelvin switched to Maria’s call. “Maria?” Her voice was shaky, barely above a whisper. “You were right.” Kelvin’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?” “Victor isn’t who he says he is,” Maria said, her words trembling. “I have a document, a file that proves everything. I need to give it to you.” “Where are you?” Kelvin asked, his voice urgent. “There’s a parking lot,” Maria said, naming an isolated location on the outskirts of the city. “Meet me there in an hour.” “Maria, are you okay?” “I... I will be. Just come.” The call ended, leaving Kelvin staring at his phone, the weight of her words settling over him like a storm cloud.
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Chapter Nine
Kelvin groaned as he pushed himself off the ground, his body aching from the crash. Every muscle screamed in protest, and the sharp sting of his injured shoulder made his breath hitch. Blood seeped through his torn shirt, dripping onto the asphalt. The air was thick with the scent of burning metal and gasoline, the remnants of the crash smoldering behind him.He tried to steady himself, planting one foot firmly on the ground, but before he could fully rise, a shadow loomed over him. A powerful fist crashed into his face, snapping his head back and sending him sprawling onto the ground again.“Thought you’d make it out of this alive, huh?” growled the burly man with the beard, his voice dripping with contempt. He cracked his knuckles, towering over Kelvin like a predator savoring its prey.Kelvin rolled onto his side, spitting blood onto the pavement. “Still better than working for Victor,” he muttered, his voice hoarse.The man sneered, his boot slamming into Kelvin’s ribs. The impact
Chapter Eight
Kelvin sprinted out of the abandoned building, his chest heaving. The cool night air hit his face, but he didn’t have time to savor it. Parked a few feet away, gleaming under a faint moonlight, was a sleek black sports car with the name Black Phantom engraved on the side. It looked fast, exactly what he needed.Without hesitation, Kelvin approached the car, pulling a small multi-tool from his pocket. He smashed the driver’s window with a swift blow, unlocked the door, and slid inside. His hands moved quickly, destroying the ignition switch and exposing a cluster of wires. He found the positive leads, twisted them together, and the engine roared to life.“Sorry about the mess,” he muttered to the car’s absent owner before slamming his foot on the accelerator.Kelvin’s phone buzzed as he sped down the dark streets, the map April had sent him glowing on the borrowed device.“Kelvin, are you close?” April’s voice crackled through the line.“Almost,” Kelvin said, weaving through sparse tra
Chapter Seven
Kelvin gripped the steering wheel tightly as his car sped down the dimly lit road. The tires screeched when he braked hard, making a sharp U-turn toward the location Maria had given him. His pulse raced, his mind swarming with doubts and questions. Could Maria really be trusted? Or was this another trap?He tapped the button on his steering wheel to call April. She picked up almost immediately.“Kelvin, what’s going on?” April’s voice was sharp with concern.“It’s Maria,” Kelvin said, glancing at the GPS on his dashboard. “She called me. She’s not part of Victor’s business, she just found out. She says she has a document that contains everything, all of Victor’s dirty deals. She wants me to meet her to pick it up.”There was a pause. Then April spoke, her tone skeptical. “And you believe her? Kelvin, she could be lying to cover for him. Or worse, leading you into a trap.”“I don’t think so,” Kelvin replied firmly. “She sounded shaken, April. She knows something now, and she wants to h
Chapter six
Kelvin sat at a corner table in Le Mirage, the elegant hum of conversations and the soft clinking of glasses filling the air. The restaurant was bathed in warm, golden light, its high ceilings adorned with intricate chandeliers. He glanced at his watch, his nerves hidden behind a mask of calm. Maria wasn’t late, yet but every passing minute felt heavier than the last.He took a sip of water, his mind rehearsing the conversation he planned to have. He couldn’t afford to slip. Every word mattered.The soft sound of heels clicking against the marble floor drew his attention. He looked up to see Maria entering the restaurant, her red dress once again catching the light. She scanned the room before spotting him and smiled apologetically as she approached.“Kelvin,” she said, her voice warm but slightly breathless. “I’m so sorry. Traffic was a nightmare.”“No need to apologize,” Kelvin said, standing as she arrived. “I just got here myself.” It was a lie, but one he told smoothly.They sat,
Chapter Five
The drive home was quiet, but Kelvin’s mind was anything but. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he replayed the evening in his head, particularly the brief exchange with Maria. There was something about her that lingered in his thoughts. Her grace, her poise, the way she effortlessly commanded attention, it all felt so natural, yet unnervingly deliberate.Is she aware of Victor’s dealings? The question gnawed at him as the city lights blurred past his windows.When he reached his townhouse, he parked in the driveway and stepped out into the crisp night air. The faint hum of distant traffic accompanied him as he unlocked the door and stepped inside.Kelvin didn’t bother turning on the living room lights. Instead, he went straight to his study, the faint glow of his desk lamp illuminating the room. Dropping into the leather chair, he leaned back and stared at the ceiling, his mind still tangled in questions.He poured himself a glass of scotch from the decanter on his desk, ta
Chapter four
Kelvin froze as the woman’s voice echoed in his mind. He looked her over, taking in the long, flowing hair that framed her delicate face, the sharp cheekbones, and the curve of her lips as she smiled at him. Her red dress clung to her body in all the right places, the rich crimson fabric shimmering under the chandelier lights. She was beautiful, captivating even, but what stood out most was her confidence. She didn’t look like one of the power-hungry politicians or business elites lurking in the room. She seemed... different.For the first time that evening, Kelvin felt unprepared. His mouth went dry, and when he finally spoke, his words stumbled out. “I—uh—do we know each other?”She laughed softly, her voice like velvet, and took a sip from the glass of wine in her hand. “No, we don’t,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “But you looked like someone who could use some company. I was looking for a dance partner. Would you care to join me?”Kelvin blinked, momentarily thrown off. He
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