Chapter 204: When Trust Breaks
This private club was the kind of spot that didn’t really promote itself.
There wasn’t a sign on the door, no website, and no social media, just an address that only a lucky few knew.
These were people who could shell out the insane membership fees and had secrets they wanted to keep safe.
Maksim Karza was hanging out in the VIP section on the third floor, a place surrounded by one-way glass that let him check out the whole club while staying invisible to everyone below.
The music’s bass thumped softly, a distant pulse that reverberated through the floor.
He looked at his watch. Alpha was running late, but that wasn’t exactly shocking; the man loved making a dramatic entrance.
The door swung open, and Alpha Dark strolled in with Selina beside him.
Selina wore a sleek black dress that hugged her shape, her hair flowing over her shoulders.
Alpha wore his usual tailored suit, his surgically altered face showing zero emotion.
"MK," Alpha said, flopping down into the leather chair across from him. Selina settled into the seat next to him, crossing her legs with effortless elegance.
"You’re late," Maksim mentioned, not really sounding mad about it.
"Traffic," Alpha replied, smirking, though his eyes didn’t match the attitude.
Maksim waved over the server, who had been waiting quietly in the corner. "Drinks?"
"Whiskey," Alpha ordered.
"White wine," Selina added quietly.
"Vodka martini," Maksim said for himself.
Once the server went off to get their drinks, Maksim leaned in, his face getting serious. "We need to chat."
"That’s why we’re here," Alpha replied.
Maksim’s jaw tightened. "We’ve got a mole."
The phrase hung in the air like a blade ready to fall.
Alpha didn’t change his expression, but Selina subtly shifted in her seat.
"A mole?" Alpha repeated slowly. "In our operation?"
"In our team," Maksim corrected. "Someone close. Someone is spilling info to Hazard King."
"How do you know?"
"Because every move we make, he’s always three steps ahead. Every trap we set, he slips through. Every plan we roll out, he’s already ready for it." Maksim’s fingers tapped on the armrest. "Someone is talking."
The server came back with their drinks, quietly setting them down before vanishing again.
Alpha took a sip of his whiskey. "Think it’s someone in this room?"
"Could be anyone," Maksim answered bluntly. "That’s why I’m changing how we do things."
Selina jumped in for the first time, her tone neutral. "What do you mean by that?"
Maksim focused his intense stare on her. "I mean, I’m not sharing anything with anyone anymore. Not until absolutely necessary."
Alpha leaned back, sizing Maksim up with a calculated look. "That’s not how teams work."
"This isn’t a team anymore. It’s a war," Maksim said firmly. "And in a war, you don’t trust anyone."
"Not even us?" Selina asked quietly.
"I trust you both," Maksim replied, though his tone didn’t quite match the words. "But trust doesn’t mean I’m stupid. From now on, everything will be compartmentalized. I’ll give orders only when they need to be followed, not before."
Alpha clenched his jaw. "So what’s the game plan?"
"We hit Hazard King," Maksim said plainly.
"That’s not a plan; that’s a death wish," Alpha shot back. "We’ve tried before. He’s always got backup, always ready."
"Because someone keeps tipping him off!" Maksim slammed his hand on the table, making Selina flinch. "But this time, no one will know. I’ll call you when it’s time. It could be tomorrow or next week. You’ll get a heads-up at most a few hours in advance."
"Hours?" Alpha’s voice rose. "I need time to prep my men, to coordinate—"
"Then keep them ready," Maksim interrupted. "On standby. Twenty-four seven. When I call, we act immediately."
Alpha opened his mouth to argue, but Maksim cut him off.
"And Selina," he said, turning to her, "you’re moving in with me."
Both Alpha and Selina looked at him in shock.
"What?" Selina managed to say.
"To my penthouse. Tonight. You’ll be by my side from now on. We’ll strategize every day and make sure we’re on the same page. I need someone I can trust close by."
Alpha’s expression darkened. "She’s my—"
"She’s her own person," Maksim shot back coldly. "And she’s choosing to help me. Right, darling?"
Selina’s mind raced. This was risky. Being that close to Maksim, always under scrutiny, meant no privacy to talk to Leo or the others...
But she also knew she had no choice. Saying no would raise questions.
"Of course," she said smoothly, putting her hand on Maksim’s. "Whatever you need."
Maksim smiled and kissed her hand. "Good girl."
Alpha finished his whiskey in one go. "Alright. What else?"
"I’ve got my men watching Hazard King’s territory," Maksim said. "Ten of my best are keeping an eye on his usual spots."
"And?" Alpha asked.
"And he’s not there." Frustration broke through Maksim’s calm facade. "The places we thought were his bases? Empty. Or just decoys. I heard he actually lives somewhere else entirely. The spot I sent my men to was a setup, just a cover."
"So his real base is somewhere else," Alpha thought out loud.
"Exactly. And I can’t track it down." Maksim’s grip tightened on his glass. "My men are on it, but so far, nothing. Someone mentioned he operates from his tower downtown, but—"
"The tower’s a maze," Alpha cut in. "We learned that the hard way last time."
"Which is why we need to gear up if we go after him there again," Maksim said. "Your crew has to be ready for tight urban combat and multiple levels. HK knows that building inside and out. We’ll be at a disadvantage."
Alpha sat quietly for a moment, thinking. "I could bring in some specialists—tactical teams trained for building infiltrations."
"Do it," Maksim insisted. "But don’t tell them why. Don’t let them know when. Just have them ready."
"That’s going to cost a lot—"
"I don’t care what it costs!" Maksim’s frustration slipped just a little.
