Chapter 3 A Crack in the Armor

The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the city as Mia sat at her small apartment desk, flipping through the notes she and Jack had gathered. The ticking of the clock on the wall filled the silence, marking the passing of time as her mind raced with possibilities. They were closing in on Victor Garrick, but she knew that taking him down was only the beginning. Nathan's empire was vast, with tendrils reaching into places Mia had yet to discover.

Still, Victor was the weak link. His arrogance had made him sloppy, and Jack had dug up enough dirt to bury him if they played their cards right. But the problem wasn't just getting the information-it was figuring out the right moment to strike. If they moved too soon, Victor could disappear into one of Nathan's many hideouts, or worse, alert Nathan of Mia's plan before it even had a chance to take shape.

Mia's phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen: Jack.

"Are you ready?" His voice was calm, but there was an urgency beneath it.

Mia took a deep breath. She had been preparing for this moment for weeks, and now, it was time to take the first real step toward tearing Nathan's world apart. "I'm ready. Where do we meet?"

"Corner of 4th and Montrose," Jack replied. "I'll be waiting in the alley. Be careful-Victor's got eyes everywhere. Don't let anyone tail you."

"Got it," Mia said, hanging up. She quickly grabbed her jacket, slung her bag over her shoulder, and paused for a moment in front of the mirror. She hardly recognized the person staring back at her. Gone was the meek, uncertain woman she used to be. The fire in her eyes now matched the sharp determination etched in every line of her face.

---

The streets of the city were bustling, but Mia kept her head down as she walked, blending into the evening crowd. The neon signs of late-night bars and restaurants flickered to life, casting colorful reflections across the wet pavement. As she turned the corner toward Montrose, her senses heightened. She had learned to trust her instincts over the years-especially after the betrayal that had shattered her life. Tonight, those instincts screamed at her to stay alert.

As she approached the alley, she caught a glimpse of Jack leaning casually against the brick wall, his face partially obscured by the shadow of his hood. He straightened up when he saw her, his eyes scanning the street behind her before nodding her over.

"Everything clear?" Jack asked in a low voice as she joined him in the narrow alleyway.

"Yeah, no one followed me," Mia confirmed, though her pulse quickened as she glanced around one last time.

Jack handed her a small USB drive. "This is it. Everything we need on Garrick-his finances, his connections, his deals with Nathan. We leak this to the right people, and his entire operation will unravel."

Mia stared at the drive in her hand, feeling its weight despite its size. This little piece of tech could topple one of Nathan's most powerful allies, and it was now in her possession.

"Who do we give it to?" Mia asked, her voice tight with anticipation.

"There's a reporter-an investigative journalist named Rebecca Sinclair. She's been digging into corruption in the city for years. If anyone can blow this wide open, it's her," Jack explained, his tone serious. "But we need to be careful. Rebecca's good, but Nathan's reach is long. If he gets wind of this before it's published, he'll find a way to bury it-and us along with it."

Mia nodded, her mind racing. They were playing a dangerous game, but she knew it was their only shot. She had spent too long running, hiding, and watching Nathan destroy everything her father had built. This was her moment, and she wasn't going to let it slip away.

"How do we contact her?" Mia asked.

Jack's eyes flickered with something-a hint of doubt, maybe? But he quickly masked it. "I'll arrange the meeting. You won't have to go in person. I've worked with Rebecca before. She trusts me."

Mia wasn't sure how much of that was true, but she had no choice but to trust Jack. They had come this far together, and while she had her doubts, he had proven himself reliable so far. He was her best-perhaps her only-ally in this fight.

"Alright," Mia said, slipping the USB into her pocket. "When?"

"Tomorrow night," Jack said, his voice low and certain. "I'll let you know the details as soon as I have them."

Mia exhaled, feeling the weight of what they were about to do pressing down on her shoulders. This was the first domino, and once it fell, there would be no turning back.

---

The next day dragged on, every minute feeling like an eternity as Mia waited for Jack's message. She had spent the morning holed up in her apartment, replaying the events of the last few weeks in her mind. The plan was risky, but it was the best chance she had. If they could bring down Victor Garrick, it would send shockwaves through Nathan's empire.

By mid-afternoon, her phone buzzed.

**Jack:** *10 PM. Meet me at the old dockyard.*

The old dockyard. Of course. It was isolated, far from prying eyes, and easy to slip away from if things went south. Mia quickly texted back an acknowledgment and started preparing. Her mind raced through the potential scenarios-both the good and the bad. She couldn't afford any mistakes tonight.

---

At precisely 10 PM, Mia arrived at the dockyard. The place was eerily quiet, the only sound the distant hum of the city and the occasional clanging of metal from the old, abandoned warehouses nearby. She scanned the area, her heart pounding as she spotted Jack standing near one of the rusted shipping containers.

"You're on time," Jack said, his tone casual, but his eyes were sharp, scanning their surroundings.

"Is she here?" Mia asked, glancing around for any sign of Rebecca Sinclair.

Jack nodded toward one of the warehouses. "She's inside. Ready?"

Mia took a deep breath. This was it-the moment they had been working toward. "Let's do it."

They approached the warehouse, the door creaking as Jack pushed it open. Inside, the large, empty space was dimly lit by a few overhead lights, casting long shadows across the floor. A figure stood in the distance, near a table cluttered with papers and a laptop. As they got closer, Mia recognized her-the infamous journalist Rebecca Sinclair, her sharp eyes focused on the screen in front of her.

Rebecca looked up as they approached, her expression unreadable. "You must be Mia," she said, her voice cool and professional.

Mia nodded, feeling a surge of nerves but pushing them down. "I am. You're Rebecca?"

The journalist gave a brief nod before turning to Jack. "Is this everything?" she asked, gesturing to the USB drive Jack held in his hand.

"Everything you'll need to take down Garrick," Jack replied, handing it over.

Rebecca plugged the drive into her laptop and began scrolling through the files. As she worked, the tension in the room thickened. Mia's heart pounded in her chest-this was the moment they had been building toward, but it still felt surreal.

After what felt like an eternity, Rebecca looked up, her expression unreadable. "This is good. Really good. It'll take some time to verify everything, but if this holds up, we'll have a story that'll make headlines."

Mia felt a wave of relief wash over her. Finally, they were getting somewhere. But as Rebecca continued to speak, a nagging feeling tugged at the back of her mind. Something wasn't right.

"That's the good news," Rebecca said, closing the laptop. "The bad news is, Nathan's not going to go down without a fight. And once he realizes what's happening, he'll come after you both. You'd better be ready."

Mia exchanged a glance with Jack, her resolve hardening. They had come too far to back down now. "We'll be ready."

Rebecca nodded, her gaze lingering on Mia for a moment before she turned back to her laptop. "I'll be in touch once I've got everything verified. Be careful out there."

As Mia and Jack left the warehouse, the weight of what they had set in motion began to settle in. This was just the beginning. Victor Garrick would be the first to fall, but Nathan was still out there, watching, waiting. And now, more than ever, Mia knew she had to be prepared for the storm that was coming.