Bait Used To Be Believable Novels & Stories

The same bait message we’d seeded three nights ago under Bella’s supposed outburst. They took it. Hook, line, and sinker. “The leak’s real,” Elena said, her voice low and tight. “We let the mole believe the plan was genuine. They passed it on. Just like you predicted.” I didn’t answer. I just sat there, staring at the proof. It should’ve felt like a victory. The kind that keeps you alive in this world. But all I felt was the hollow space in my chest where she should be. Bella. “She played her part too well,” I muttered. “And I let her.”

Words becomes useless when they have been used as a tool of manipulation once before. Watching the footage, it was just as he said but I wasn't convinced, it could have been staged, after all the footage I uploaded at home was fake too. Home! Shit. I glanced at my watch to see that my time has been far gone. "I'll believe you. For now." I stated, and hurriedly placed a call to the man in charge of most of the Gilbert's business telling him to prepare a secluded place for them to move into that same day. When I was done I hurried outside, waving Simpson off when he tried to see me off.

I said, and he nodded. “And that is why we are going to play him correctly. When a man wants to have spies, he puts them there to give him information. I am going to be sure that the information that YOU give him look convincing enough to have him doubting those who he is working with. When he starts getting rid of them or growing tired of them, or if they even try to confront you, we are going to know those who side against us.” He said, making my heart race. “You are going to use me as bait.” I said, and he shook his head.

The moonlight dripped down my back like a cold finger of Elky Jennings tracing my spine before the execution. I folded the paper and slid it under the mattress—not because it was safe there, but because I wanted to keep it close. Like a knife taped under the table, like a lie that just started to taste like the truth. Then I turned my head to the shadows near the dresser, and let the words fall out of my mouth like teeth they thought they’ve knocked out. “He thinks I’m the bait,” I whispered. “Fine. But he is not ready for what happens when the bait grows teeth.”

Her name jumped out in his handwriting, underlined twice. Bait. Her stomach dropped as she read the full line: Use Elara as bait to draw out the killers.

“All these werewolves have ever done is keep you down. I’m offering you a way out. A chance to shine like your mother deserved.” He reaches out his hand, so close that if he leans forward he’ll touch my shoulder. I see the veins running through his forearm; I see the particular oval shape of his nails. “All you have to do is trust me,” he whispers. “Trust that my army, made mostly of humans like you, would want to have you for a Luna. Mate me, let me take your magic, and we will be powerful enough to ruin this fucking town and it’s evil werwolves. ”

“Because I don’t believe in coincidences. She brings me a lunch that tastes like a family I read about in a charred police report. The same day, someone rips a briefcase from a lawyer who used to represent her mother. She plants a device that would make sense if she thought I was part of the men hurting her father. And then those men send messages to her with props that belong in a theater, not an operation.” I tipped my head back, stared at the cabin ceiling. “I want to see who shakes when she moves. I want to see who follows.” Tommaso took that in. “Bait.” “Something like that,” I said. “But I’m not fishing. I’m hunting.”

“What if we bait it instead? Make it think we’ve found something it cares about. Draw it to us.” “Bait?” Leah asked. “Yeah. Give it a target. Something juicy. Something personal. Maybe even something fake.” Jason nodded slowly. “A false lead. Something Andrew would think he has to protect.” Maya’s eyes lit up. “What about me?” Everyone turned. “I still have digital footprints they haven’t erased. I’ve still got access to some of the shadow forums I used when I was undercover. If we make it look like I’ve stumbled across the Architect’s source code..”

I began, my voice slicing through the silence, "there's something we need to discuss first." She froze mid-bite, her eyes darting up to meet mine, the last remnants of bread clutched in her hand. I could see the flicker of uncertainty in her gaze. I enjoyed that moment, the second before everything changed, when she was still hopeful, still unaware of what was to come. I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on the desk as I regarded her. "I’m going to be upfront with you, Sienna. I’m using you as bait."

He grinned at me, and I knew that I was right. He was using us as bait. “Trust me.”