The name “Ava” lingered in Hayden’s mind long after she left. Something about her demeanor didn’t align with the Syndicate’s typical operatives. Her confidence wasn’t laced with arrogance but with precision, like someone playing a longer game than what she revealed.

  Still, Hayden couldn’t afford to dwell on one messenger. He had a crew to lead and a Syndicate to dismantle.

  The team gathered again that night. Hayden stood at the center of the room, his crew seated around a makeshift war table.

  “We can’t trust anything that comes from Dregan,” Hayden began, his voice firm. “A truce? That’s nothing more than a stalling tactic. He’s testing us, waiting to see how we respond.”

  Griff nodded in agreement, his expression grim. “So, what’s the play? Ignore it and keep pushing forward?”

  “No,” Hayden said, shaking his head. “We use it to our advantage. If Dregan thinks we’re considering his offer, he’ll let his guard down. That’s when we strike.”

  Tessa leaned forward, her glowing tattoos casting faint light across the table. “And Ava? What do we do about her?”

  The Codex chimed softly in Hayden’s mind:

  “Ava: Unquantified Variable. Recommend Engagement for Further Analysis.”

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  Hayden frowned slightly, then glanced at Tessa. “We let her deliver the message back to Dregan. But when she does, we make sure we’re ready for the Syndicate’s next move. If they’re coming for us, we’ll hit them first.”

  Griff tapped the map spread out across the table. “We know where they’re weakest—here, in the western zone. Their supply lines are stretched thin. We take that out, and it’ll cripple their operations for weeks.”

  Hayden’s eyes narrowed as he studied the map. “Good. Then that’s our next target. But we need to be smart about this. A direct assault will just get us killed.”

  “I’ve got an idea,” Tessa said, a sly grin forming on her face. “We use their greed against them. Bait them into a trap, just like we did with Kael.”

  The crew murmured their agreement, and Hayden nodded. “Let’s get to work”

  Later that evening, Hayden found himself alone, pacing the narrow confines of his quarters. The Codex pulsed softly, its presence almost soothing now.

  “You are evolving, Hayden,” it said. “Your ability to strategize and adapt exceeds projections.”

  Hayden snorted. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. But we’re not even close to done yet.”

  The Codex hummed. “Ava presents an opportunity. Her allegiance may be malleable. Pursue engagement for potential leverage.”

  Hayden frowned, leaning against the wall. The Codex’s suggestion wasn’t entirely unexpected—Ava’s calculated demeanor had already piqued his interest. But trusting anyone connected to the Syndicate was a risk he wasn’t sure he could take.

  Still, the Codex had yet to steer him wrong. And if Ava truly was a key to undermining Dregan, he couldn’t afford to ignore it.

  As Hayden mulled over his next steps, a faint knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He opened it to find Tessa standing there, her tattoos dim but still glowing faintly in the dark.

  “You okay?” she asked, her tone softer than usual.

  Hayden nodded. “Just thinking.”

  “About Ava?” she guessed.

  “Among other things,” Hayden admitted.

  Tessa stepped closer, her gaze steady. “Whatever you’re planning, just remember we’ve got your back. You’re not in this alone, Hayden.”

  For a moment, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter. He offered her a faint smile. “Thanks, Tessa. That means a lot.”

  She returned the smile, though a flicker of something unreadable crossed her face before she turned to leave.

  As the door closed behind her, Hayden exhaled slowly. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but he wasn’t backing down. The Syndicate had taken everything from him, and he wasn’t stopping until they paid the price.