17. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter seventeen
W hen we reach the Brixton compound, the exterior is dark and still with only a small perimeter of security lighting, giving no clue to the action taking place inside. To a random person finding their way into this neighborhood, it looks boring and industrial as hell.
Inside is a different story. The five of us are beeped in, and we enter single file, coming to a stop in the center of the room. In the corner, Brick is sharpening some of his blades, while Slade prepares dinner, the sizzling aromas of garlic and chili permeating the air.
I make my way to Aidan's office, where maps and surveillance photos cover the walls.
He turns as I enter, his piercing gaze searching my face. "You got something?"
I nod. "My arrogant client from today’s surfing lesson was more than happy to brag about a new deal going down. He couldn’t help but namedrop and tell me way too much about his plans. It may be the break we need."
I relay the details—shadowy alliances, major players converging, the operation that could ‘shake the foundations of this damn city.’ Aidan listens intently, his brow furrowed.
"This is big. We need to act fast, get all our informants on this. I'll call Dimitri and see what he’s able to dig up with his team."
“Right? I thought so too, which is why I wanted to fill you in straight away. Even if we can’t use this deal front and center of our plans, he’s still going to be very distracted for the next few weeks while these guys are in town. I’m sure his calendar is filled with mandatory events. He won’t have a ton of down time to be worrying about us, or plotting revenge.”
Aidan grabs a burner phone, then turns to me. "Good work Skyler. The ocean's given us a rare gift today. Now we ride this wave as far as it takes us."
His words resonate as I gaze out the window at the darkening ocean. The tide is turning, and with it, our fortunes in this endless war for the soul of these islands. But as always, I'm ready to ride.
I nod, letting Aidan make the call while I retreat into my own thoughts. This new intel has lit a spark in me, awakening that familiar thrill I get when a promising lead presents itself.
As I stare out at the roiling ocean, I think back to the surf lesson earlier. Beneath the man's arrogant exterior, I detected subtle cracks—flashes of worry, odd pauses, eyes darting about. It was only with time and patience that I drew out the nuggets of valuable information, like a prospector sifting through sand to find specks of gold.
I asked my questions in a way designed to make him feel like I was in awe of his ‘big Mr. businessman who I could never hope to be like’ persona. That I was way too much of a simpleton surfer bum to ever understand a big business deal involving more than Monopoly money. And he drank it up like a thirsty kid with a Slurpee on a hot summer day.
The man was a font of knowledge, bloated with secrets begging to spill out. And I was there to catch them, to gather the bits and pieces into a larger mosaic. Surfing is simply the pretense that allows me access to these powerful men and their incredibly loose lips.
I smile inwardly, knowing that the ocean has blessed me yet again. With each wave I ride, I'm that much closer to understanding the shadowy forces that grip these islands .
And with that knowledge comes the power to fight back, to loosen the stranglehold and clear a path into the light. The Snakes and the Brixtons ride with me, trusting in my skills to steer us through the churning unknown. And now, Dimitri and his team, so strong in their knowledge of these islands, filling in the gaps and making us a well-rounded powerhouse.
Soon we'll be crashing down on our enemies, the full force of our gathered intelligence driving us forward. But for now, I bide my time and wait for the next set of waves. The ocean always provides.
With Aidan’s phone call completed, we both stride into the main living room where everyone else is making themselves comfortable, men on a mission. The others gather around, alert to the urgency in our steps.
"It's time," I announce. "The intel is solid. I know the players, the location, the nature of this mysterious deal."
Aidan nods. “I made a quick phone call and was able to verify some of the key parts of this. It’s all legit.”
Slade crosses his arms, his face intense. "Tell us everything."
I launch into the details, laying out all I learned between waves. Aidan and the team listens raptly, hanging on each new revelation. I can see the gears turning behind their eyes as a strategy takes shape.
"This is just what we've been waiting for," Roman says, a slow smile spreading across his face. "We can use this."
The mood in the room shifts, anticipation charging the air. We've worked so long for an advantage and now, finally, we have one. A crack in our enemies' armor we can exploit.
In low voices we make our plans, united by purpose. We all have scores to settle and this intelligence will let us exact the vengeance we crave. The streets will run red before this is finished.
Night falls, the strategy set. I stand at the window, gazing at the glimmering lights of the industrial neighborhood. Somewhere out there, our targets laugh and scheme, ignorant of the forces now aligned against them. But not for long .
Soon, the mighty will fall and the Snakes, Brixtons, and now Dimitri and his team, will claim what is ours by right. The waves have delivered us to this moment and we will ride the growing swell to victory.