THE HEIR'S AGONY TRIAL BY FIRE

WEBS OF DECEIT

The Cross estate seemed quieter than usual, but Aidan knew better. It wasn’t peace—it was the calm before a storm. The System had left him physically drained after its latest activation, but he couldn’t afford to stop now. Every move mattered. Every second could mean the difference between victory and destruction.

He stood in the study, staring at William Cross’s journals spread across the desk. His father’s legacy was a twisted maze of power, manipulation, and secrets. The more he uncovered, the more he realized just how many enemies lurked in the shadows of the empire he’d inherited.

“Dante,” Aidan called, his voice hoarse.

Dante appeared in the doorway, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a palpable tension. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything,” Aidan said flatly, tossing one of the journals onto the desk. “These entries don’t just hint at corruption; they scream it. My father was neck-deep in deals with people who’d kill to keep their secrets buried.”

“And you’re the loose end,” Dante said grimly.

Aidan nodded. “Victor’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s more—something bigger.”

Before Dante could respond, the door creaked open, and Maddie entered, a laptop tucked under her arm. “Elliot’s on the line. He says it’s urgent.”

“Put him on,” Aidan said, gesturing toward the laptop.

Maddie placed the device on the desk and opened the screen. Elliot’s face appeared, pale and tense.

“I’ve cracked part of the encryption,” Elliot began without preamble. “Victor’s been siphoning funds, but it’s not just about money. He’s working with an external group—mercenaries, maybe. There are references to something called ‘Project Phoenix.’”

“Phoenix?” Aidan repeated, frowning. “What is it?”

Elliot shook his head. “I don’t know yet, but whatever it is, it’s big. The files are heavily encrypted, and there are layers of fake trails. Whoever set this up didn’t want anyone finding it.”

Maddie leaned over the laptop. “Could Victor be planning a hostile takeover?”

“Possibly,” Dante said. “But if he’s involving mercenaries, this isn’t just about business. It’s personal. Violent.”

Aidan clenched his fists. “Then we need to find out what Phoenix is before he uses it against us.”

Elliot hesitated. “There’s something else. I intercepted communications between Victor and a third party. He knows you’re digging, Aidan. He’s not just going after you—he’s targeting everyone close to you.”

The words hung heavy in the air.

As the call ended, Maddie crossed her arms. “What’s the plan? Because sitting here waiting for Victor to make his move isn’t an option.”

“We need leverage,” Aidan said. “Something that puts him on the defensive.”

Dante nodded. “Then we hit him where it hurts. His alliances. If we can isolate him, his power crumbles.”

“How?” Maddie asked.

“By turning his allies against him,” Aidan said, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “And for that, we need Chloe.”

Later that evening, Aidan met Chloe Reynolds in a dimly lit café on the outskirts of the city. She was already seated, her expression unreadable as she sipped her drink.

“You’re late,” Chloe said as Aidan slid into the seat across from her.

“Busy day,” Aidan replied.

Chloe leaned forward, her voice low. “Why are we meeting here? You usually prefer more neutral territory.”

“Because this isn’t a negotiation,” Aidan said, his tone icy. “It’s a warning. Victor’s planning something, and if you don’t start feeding me actionable intel, you’ll be collateral damage.”

Chloe’s eyes narrowed. “You think threats will work on me?”

“They’re not threats,” Aidan said. “They’re facts. Victor doesn’t care about loyalty. When you’re no longer useful, he’ll discard you—or worse.”

Chloe studied him for a long moment before sighing. “Fine. I have something, but it’s risky.”

“I’m listening,” Aidan said.

“There’s a warehouse on the east side. Victor’s been meeting someone there late at night. I don’t know who, but it’s not one of his usual associates.”

“Time?” Dante asked from the shadows, startling Chloe.

“Tomorrow. Midnight,” Chloe said.

Aidan nodded. “Good. Now, one more thing—if you’re lying, you’ll wish Victor got to you first.”

The following night, Aidan, Dante, and Maddie staked out the warehouse. The area was quiet, almost too quiet.

“You sure this is the place?” Maddie whispered, adjusting her earpiece.

“Chloe’s info has checked out so far,” Aidan said. “Stay sharp.”

An hour passed before a convoy of black SUVs rolled into the warehouse lot. A tall figure stepped out of the lead vehicle, followed by several armed guards.

“That’s Victor,” Dante muttered.

“And he’s not alone,” Maddie added, pointing to another man emerging from the shadows.

Aidan’s breath caught. The second man was Emery Blackwell.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Aidan whispered.

As the two men entered the warehouse, Aidan made a split-second decision. “We’re going in.”

Dante grabbed his arm. “Are you insane? We’re outnumbered.”

“We can’t wait,” Aidan said. “If we lose this chance, we may never find out what Phoenix is.”

Inside the warehouse, Victor and Emery stood near a large crate, discussing plans in hushed tones. Aidan crept closer, staying hidden behind stacks of shipping containers.

“Phoenix is nearly operational,” Victor was saying. “Once it’s deployed, Aidan Harper won’t be a problem anymore.”

Emery frowned. “You’re underestimating him. He’s smarter than you think.”

Victor smirked. “And you’re overestimating him. He’s just a boy playing a man’s game.”

Suddenly, a loud clatter echoed through the warehouse. Victor’s guards drew their weapons, scanning the area.

“Find whoever’s here,” Victor ordered, his calm veneer cracking.

Aidan’s pulse quickened as he motioned for Dante and Maddie to retreat.

“We’re compromised,” Dante whispered.

“No,” Aidan said. “We’re finishing this.”

The tension exploded as a guard spotted them. Gunfire erupted, forcing Aidan and his team to dive for cover.

Dante returned fire, shouting, “Get out of here, Aidan!”

“Not without answers,” Aidan yelled back, ducking behind a crate.

In the chaos, Maddie managed to disable one of the guards, grabbing a tablet from his bag. “This might have what we need!” she called.

Aidan nodded. “Go! I’ll cover you!”

As Maddie and Dante retreated, Aidan found himself face-to-face with Victor.

“You just don’t know when to quit, do you?” Victor sneered, aiming a pistol at Aidan.

“I’m not quitting,” Aidan said, his voice steady. “I’m just getting started.”

Victor’s finger tightened on the trigger, but before he could fire, a shot rang out. Victor staggered, clutching his shoulder.

Lydia emerged from the shadows, holding a smoking gun. “I told you, Victor don’t underestimate me.”

The room descended into chaos as sirens blared in the distance. Victor’s men scrambled to escape, leaving Aidan, Lydia, and a wounded Victor behind.

“This isn’t over,” Victor hissed as Lydia aimed her gun at him again.

“No,” Lydia said coldly. “It’s just beginning.”

With a final glance at Aidan, she walked away, leaving him alone with the weight of what had just transpired.