CHAPTER 61

Jack stumbled back into the apartment, his tipsy state threatening to compromise his carefully laid plans. He had tried to pace himself, sipping his drinks slowly, but the night had gotten the better of him. As he entered the darkened apartment, he assumed Ashley was fast asleep, and he made a concerted effort to be quiet, not wanting to disturb her.

He crept into the bathroom, the soft glow of the nightlight casting eerie shadows on the walls. The sound of running water filled the air as he stepped into the shower, the warm spray washing away the lingering scent of alcohol from his skin. He scrubbed his body vigorously, trying to shake off the haze of intoxication.

After his shower, Jack brushed his teeth, the minty flavor of his toothpaste invigorating his senses. He felt a little more alert now, his mind clearing slightly as he prepared for bed.

As he approached the bed, he saw Ashley's peaceful form, her gentle breathing a soothing soundtrack to his own tumultuous thoughts. He leaned over, his lips brushing against her forehead in a soft, gentle kiss. The touch sent a spark of tenderness through his chest, and he felt a pang of gratitude for this woman who had captured his heart.

Slipping into bed beside her, Jack tried to settle his racing thoughts, his mind still reeling from the events of the night. He knew he had to stay focused, to keep his wits about him, but the alcohol had taken its toll, and his eyelids began to droop, heavy with the weight of his exhaustion.

As he drifted off to sleep, Jack's thoughts were a jumbled mix of Alexander's revelations, his own ambitions, and the gentle warmth of Ashley's presence beside him. Little did he know, the secrets he had uncovered would soon set in motion a chain of events that would change everything.

The next morning, Jack woke up feeling groggy and disoriented. His head was pounding, and his mouth was dry. He looked over at Ashley, who was still fast asleep, and felt a pang of guilt for not being able to keep his drinking under control.

He slowly got out of bed and made his way to the kitchen, hoping to find some coffee to help clear his head. As he waited for the coffee to brew, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He tried to remember the events of the previous night, but his memories were hazy and unclear.

As he sipped his coffee, Jack's mind began to clear, and he remembered his conversation with Alexander at the bar. He recalled the anger and frustration in Alexander's voice as he talked about his father's shady dealings.

Suddenly, Jack's phone buzzed with an incoming text message. He hesitated for a moment before picking it up, his heart racing with anticipation.

The message was from an unknown number, but the words sent a chill down Jack's spine: "Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone."

Jack's instincts told him something was wrong, but he couldn't ignore the message. He knew he had to take action, to protect himself and those he cared about.

With a sense of determination, Jack made a decision. He would go to the meeting, but he wouldn't go alone. He would bring Ashley, and together, they would face whatever lay ahead.

Jack's eyes widened in disbelief as Ashley's words hung in the air like a challenge. Human and drug trafficking? He couldn't fathom what she was getting at. Alexander's secrets, the ones he had so eagerly shared, seemed trivial compared to this.

"Explain," Jack demanded, his voice firm but laced with a hint of trepidation.

Ashley took a deep breath, her eyes clouding over with a mix of determination and concern. "Alexander's father, Marcus Blackwood, is involved in some shady dealings. We've suspected it for a while, but we need concrete evidence to take him down."

Jack's mind raced as he tried to process the information. He had heard rumors, of course, but he had never imagined it went this far.

"What makes you think Alexander would know anything about this?" Jack asked, his curiosity piqued.

Ashley's expression turned calculating. "Alexander may have seemed drunk and careless, but trust me, he's smarter than that. He knows exactly what he's doing. By sharing those 'secrets' with you, he was testing your loyalty and gullibility."

Jack felt a surge of anger at being manipulated, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the bigger picture.

"So, what do we need to do?" Jack asked, his determination renewed.

Ashley's eyes locked onto his, her gaze intense. "We need to gather evidence of Marcus's involvement in human and drug trafficking. It won't be easy, but if we can get something concrete, we can take him down and bring an end to this nightmare."

Jack nodded, his mind racing with the implications. He knew this wouldn't be a walk in the park, but he was ready to face whatever lay ahead.

As they sat there, the silence between them was palpable, the weight of their mission settling in like a shroud. They knew they were in for the fight of their lives, but they were determined to see it through.

Finally, Jack spoke up, his voice firm and resolute. "Let's get to work, Ashley. We have a Blackwood to take down."

..

"So we're taking down the whole chain?" Jack asked, his curiosity piqued. He didn't want to let such a heinous crime go unpunished.

"No," Ashley replied, her short answer catching Jack off guard.

"What do you mean no?" Jack scowled, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "We know they're involved in drug and human trafficking, and they're probably not working alone. So why aren't we ending all of it?"

Jack's eyes widened in disbelief as Ashley's words sank in. He couldn't understand why they wouldn't want to take down the entire operation, especially since they had uncovered such heinous crimes.

"So, you're telling me that we're just going to let them get away with it?" Jack's voice rose in frustration. "We know they're involved in drug and human trafficking, and they're probably not working alone. Why aren't we ending all of it?"

Ashley's expression remained calm and collected, as if she had expected Jack's outburst. "Because we're not heroes, Jack. We're not here to save the world. What do you think will happen when we try to take down all the workings of the trafficking?" she asked, her voice firm but laced with a hint of sadness.

"They'll try to silence us, and they will succeed," Ashley continued, her words painting a grim picture. "They'll go for your mother, Jack, and they won't just threaten to kill her. No, they'll kill her. And don't even mention the organization I used to work for. Remember, it's an assassination organization, not the police."

Ashley's words struck a chord in Jack's mind. He knew she was right, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of responsibility. He felt like they had a duty to protect the innocent and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"I know why you'd want to take down all the trafficking, Jack," Ashley said, her voice softening. "But this isn't something we can do. We can't afford to be heroes. Taking down one family won't bring us trouble, but two, three, or more... we'll turn the entire underground world against us, and we won't be able to handle it."

Jack's mind raced as he tried to process Ashley's words. He knew she was right, but he couldn't help feeling like they were abandoning the victims of the trafficking. He felt like they were choosing to save themselves instead of fighting for what was right.

"But what about all the people they've hurt?" Jack asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What about the families they've destroyed? Don't they deserve justice?"

Ashley's expression turned sympathetic, and she reached out to place a hand on Jack's arm. "I know, Jack. I know it's hard to accept. But sometimes, the hardest thing to do is the right thing. And in this case, the right thing is to take down the Blackwoods and leave the rest as it was."

Jack nodded, feeling a sense of resignation wash over him. He knew Ashley was right, but it didn't make it any easier to accept. He felt like they were compromising their values, their morals, and their sense of justice.

But as he looked into Ashley's eyes, he saw the determination and the conviction that had driven her to take on this mission in the first place. And he knew that she was right. They had to prioritize their own survival, no matter how hard it was to accept.

With a heavy heart, Jack nodded again, and Ashley knew that he understood. They would take down the Blackwoods, and not interfere with the rest. It wasn't the heroic thing to do, but it was the smart thing to do. And in this world, sometimes being smart meant being alive.