Chapter 102 Chapter 102
There were not just lists but phone numbers, addresses of loved ones, and people associated to the people in the other lists.
"This doesn't make any sense. Why have the names, phone numbers, and addresses of people associated with these people if they had already given him their support?" I asked, staring at the list.
"Or perhaps they didn't. These are not the names of people who willingly support Alexander. These are people he threatened into supporting him, and still plans to threaten into supporting him." Damien concluded.
"It makes sense. That makes perfect sense. He wants to take out all the rival organizations and consolidate their power solely for the Syndicate, and that explains why he is targeting high table members of these organizations. He has been strategic about it all along. That was why Claudia was killed." My eyes widened.
"We have the Syndicate's plans in our hands." This felt like a lot. We had been chasing after the syndicate for a really long time, riding in circles, when all along the answer was just this.
"You're right, if we can single out who they have met and they haven't, then..."
Suddenly, a message entered my phone. I took it out of my pocket and looked. It was a message from Claudia's burner phone. Cold ran down my body.
"What is it? Let me see." Damien took the phone from me. "Be careful, Alexander is planning to attack someone close to you."
A scoff escaped my lips as he read the message aloud. What did this mean? Was Claudia alive? I had seen that man shoot her; blood had splattered everywhere. It was not even possible that she survived that.
"Somebody must be playing some kind of trick on you," Damien said, not sure what to make of the sudden message.
"Why would anybody joke like that? Who could they possibly be...Mia! Oh my goodness, he is going after Mia, Damien." I began to panic, but Damien held me down.
"Relax, we'll find a way to sort this out. You just need to calm down, Lisa."
"He knows how much she means to me and is trying to use her as leverage to get me. Damien, please, you can't let anything happen to her." I pleaded with him. He put his hands in his pockets and leaned back against the sofa.
"We can't contact her right now, Lisa. It's too dangerous. If you contact her now, then there's every possibility that Alexander might find out about it."
"But I can't sit back and do nothing. I cannot let her die?" I replied, panicking. He was not going to help me rescue her, save her, and sabotage Alexander's plans? Just because he was worried it would attract the Syndicate's attention, when we already had it.
I ignored him and pretended to be calm, but later that day, when I was alone, I called Mia.
"Hey, Mia, it's me, I've been trying to reach you for so long," I said when I finally heard her voice.
"Yeah, I know. I literally went off the grid after our last discussion. I hope you are doing okay. Did you finally get free of all those people?" She asked. Her voice sounded so subtle that it made me want to cry. Mia had always been more conscious of the world than I was.
"No, Mia, I did not. And right now, you're in danger." The words made my chest fill with sorrow. I really do not want anything bad to happen to her.
"What? You mean I'm being targeted? Why? That doesn't make any sense. We haven't spoken in a while, and I have nothing to do with this."
As if it dawns on her, she gasped, and I could sense the fear that gripped her. "It's because of you, isn't it?" She asked, and I swallowed.
"Yes, Mia. I am really sorry, and that is why I need you to go into hiding just for a little while. I'll text you the address and everything. Please, just for a little while." I pleaded.
"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Lisa, what if they find me, how do I escape?" She panicked.
"Mia, you're a smart woman, go now," I said and cut the call as soon as a knock sounded outside my door.
I walked to the door and unlocked it, and there was Damien waiting for me. "What is it?" I asked, hiding my phone so he did not see it and catch on to what I had done.
"I just brought some food for you." He said and handed me a tray of food. "This whole thing has really been an exhausting situation. I know you are worried about your friend, but we must first consider the risks involved before we make any moves."
"But she is my friend, Damien. I have to try to help her. If it weren't for my getting involved with you, she would not be in any danger right now. This would be the second time my life is making hers complicated. First Victor, now Alexander. She is the only family I have." I said with tears glistening in my eyes.
He swallowed and then nodded. He walked in and placed the food on the table. My stomach groaned from nervousness; hunger was far from the picture right now. What was most important to me was that Mia was safe.
"I understand that, but perhaps you should eat something first. Just a little bite and relax." Damien suggested. The food did look sort of delicious, Chinese sweet rice with eggs, bacon, and veggies.
I took a little and put it in my mouth. It melted, but everything tasted like sand. I was hungry, the food was delicious, but for some reason, my heart kept palpitating really fast. Something was definitely wrong.
Just then, my phone began to ring. Damien was the one who answered it. "It's Mia," he said, frowning at me. My breathing became labored as a voice came over the phone.
"Hello?" Damien spoke into the phone.
"Hello, Damien, where's Lisa?" My blood ran cold.