Chapter 14 - The Trap is Set

Serena paced her office, eyes scanning the monitors and logs one more time. The source was identified, a former ally who had once promised loyalty, now exploiting insider knowledge for unknown motives.

“This ends tonight,” she muttered, tone steady, voice cold.

Ethan stepped in quietly, presence calm but unyielding. “We’ll handle it. Quietly. Professionally. No mistakes.”

She nodded. “We need a controlled environment. No surprises. And Leo stays completely out of it.”

“Agreed,” he said. “No exposure.”

By early evening, Serena and Ethan had orchestrated a digital trap. Fake security alerts, phantom camera feeds, and carefully planted breadcrumbs on network logs. Whoever was behind this would think they had the upper hand, that Serena’s defenses were ordinary.

Ethan monitored the perimeter from a nearby building while Serena remained in the apartment, poised and alert. The city outside buzzed unknowingly as they waited. Minutes passed. Then, finally, a figure appeared on one of the security monitors.

Moving cautiously, confident in their anonymity, the traitor, someone Serena had once trusted implicitly approached the building.

Serena’s lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s him.”

Ethan’s voice came quietly over her earpiece. “Do not confront physically. We want confession and leverage. Nothing more.”

Serena exhaled, steadying herself. “Understood.”

The intruder moved closer, unaware of the countermeasures surrounding him. What he didn’t know: every step was being tracked, every movement predicted. Cameras, motion sensors, and Ethan’s strategic positioning left no gap.

He reached the building, attempting to access the main entry, unaware that digital locks had been manipulated to trigger a silent alarm.

“Caught,” Serena whispered.

Moments later, he entered the lobby still unaware that Serena was already on the upper floor, observing through the surveillance feed.

Ethan guided her calmly. “Wait for him to reach the designated point. Do not let him know we’re prepared.”

The intruder paused near the elevator. Serena’s heart thumped, controlled, precise.

Finally, the man reached the center of the lobby. A phone vibrated in his pocket, a video call. Curiosity and arrogance got the better of him.

On the screen: Serena, calm and collected.

“Looking for someone?” she asked, voice even, commanding.

The man jumped, eyes narrowing. “Serena… how...”

“You underestimated me,” she cut in sharply. “I’ve anticipated every move, every routine, every access point you’ve used to follow Leo.”

His face turned pale. “I… I didn’t mean....”

“You intended to scare him,” Serena replied. “You intended to manipulate me. But you didn’t consider what happens when the person you target is ready.”

Ethan’s voice came through the earpiece now, low and steady: “You’re cornered. No exit. No witnesses. Confess, or we escalate.”

The man’s bravado crumbled. Sweat beaded at his forehead.

“I...I was hired,” he stammered. “By someone… I just followed instructions.”

“By someone who wanted Leo exposed,” Serena said calmly. “Someone who thought you could intimidate me by targeting him.”

“Yes,” he admitted. “Yes, that’s it!”

Serena pressed further. “Do you understand the consequences of your actions? That you endangered a child?”

He nodded frantically. “I didn’t, I mean… I only did what I was told!”

“You will provide every piece of information you have,” she said, voice like steel. “Names, contacts, methods, everything. No omissions.”

He gulped. “I...I will. I swear.”

“Good,” she said. “Because if you don’t, Ethan here will make sure this ends in a way you’ll regret.”

Ethan’s presence was silent but palpable, a warning that resonated without words.

Later, Serena stood by her apartment window, watching the city lights. Ethan was beside her, silent.

“We neutralized him,” she said finally.

“Yes,” Ethan replied. “But this is only the first layer. Whoever hired him still has leverage though now, we know the source.”

Serena nodded. “And now, we control the game.”

She turned slightly, catching Ethan’s gaze. “Leo remains protected. And nothing, no one threatens him again.”

Ethan exhaled, eyes dark and steady. “Agreed.”

A calm descended over the apartment. Not relief, but control. The enemy had been revealed. The first strike had been contained. And Serena Blake, as always, remained untouchable.