Chapter 34 Plans of Destruction.

The days since Lily’s kidnapping had been a blur of fear, anxiety, and constant vigilance. Though we had managed to bring her back safely, the threat of Kali—Kaleb Alexander—still loomed large over our lives. He had disappeared into the shadows, but we knew he was out there, plotting his next move. One morning, Marcus called with news that sent a shiver down my spine. “We’ve located Kali. He’s taken refuge in a warehouse on the outskirts of the city. He’s not alone—he’s with several members of the syndicate.” Kai and I exchanged a grim look. We had suspected he would regroup with his old allies, but hearing it confirmed made the danger feel all the more real. “Do we have a plan?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “We’re working on it,” Marcus replied. “We need to gather more intel first. We can’t afford to make any mistakes.” As we waited for more information, the tension in our home was palpable. Lily sensed our unease and clung to us even more tightly. We did our best to