CHAPTER 168

The day broke with an unsettling stillness that seemed to hover over the city. Phillip could feel it in the air, a tangible tension that promised change was coming. The weight of their new mission, to hunt down the elusive figure known only as the Broker, bore heavily on his shoulders. The realization that Andrew Lane was merely a puppet in a much larger game had shaken them all, but Phillip knew there was no time to lose.

He sat in the team’s underground command center, his eyes fixed on a digital board filled with names, connections, and theories. The Broker’s identity was their top priority, but all they had were whispers and fragmented leads. The team had scattered across the city, each following their own trail of breadcrumbs that might lead to the truth.

Jessica entered, her face set in a determined mask, but Phillip could see the worry lines etched at the corners of her eyes. She handed him a cup of coffee and took a seat beside him, her gaze scanning the board.

"Any progress?"