"The same way I always find what I'm looking for." A pause. "May I come in?"
Simon looked to Charlie, who nodded. Whatever Noah was, he'd helped them escape. That counted for something.
The door opened to reveal Noah, wearing a maroon sweater and a bowtie with rubber duckies on it. He carried himself with casual confidence, as if walking into a room full of weapons and paranoid fugitives was perfectly normal.
"You look well," Noah said to Simon. "The transformation suits you."
Simon's jaw tightened. "What do you want?"
"To deliver news. The Organization is imploding."
Brent sat up from his prone position on the floor. "What?"
"Reuben operated with significant autonomy. His superiors were unaware of the full extent of his... projects." Noah's expression remained pleasant, but something sharp glinted in his eyes. "Human experimentation on children, deals withvampire elders, creating an army of enhanced soldiers… None of this was sanctioned."
"Bullshit," Simon said. "The Organization runs on intelligence. They knew."
"The broad strokes, perhaps. But the details? The systematic trauma, the orchestrated murders?" Noah shook his head. "The higher-ups are scrambling to contain the damage. The local chapter is being shut down."
Charlie felt a flicker of hope. "So it's over?"
"This particular threat, yes." Noah's gaze found Charlie. His expression softened. "You did good."
"I didn't do anything," Charlie said. "I just got caught in the middle of all this."
Noah studied him, head tilted. "You did exactly what I needed you to do."
Before Charlie could say anything else, Brent got to his feet. "So what happens now?"
"That depends on all of you." Noah looked at each of them in turn. "The Organization's local operations are in disarray, but that doesn't mean you're entirely safe. There will be... loose ends."
Simon crossed his arms. "Operatives who were loyal to Reuben."
"Precisely. And some may hold grudges."
Viktor moved away from the wall he'd been leaning against. "They'll come after us."
"Perhaps. But not with the full resources of the Organization behind them." Noah straightened his bowtie. "I suggest staying vigilant."
Charlie leaned forward. "Why are you helping us?"
Noah's smile never reached his eyes. "Let's just say I have my own reasons for wanting to see certain parts of the Organization dismantled. Our interests align."
Simon's posture remained tense. "And what do you want in return?"
Noah shrugged. "For you to be happy?"
Simon's gaze narrowed. "I'm not buying that."
Noah smiled at him. "Of course you're not." He headed for the door. "You've all been through quite an ordeal. Perhaps it's time to go home and rest. Maybe read a good book." He waved them goodbye and left.
"I don't trust him," Simon said immediately.
Viktor nodded. "Agreed. But if what he says is true..."
"We might actually be able to breathe," Brent finished. He flopped onto one of the beds. "God, I miss my apartment. This place doesn't even have a pull-up bar."
Charlie sat heavily on the edge of the other bed. Home. The concept felt foreign after everything that had happened. Could he really just go back to his life? Clock in at the convenience store? Worry about his overdue electric bill?
