“We create a diversion. Something big enough to pull security away from the meeting location, leaving the three leaders vulnerable, with minimal protection.”
“A diversion like what?”Jasper signs.
An idea hits me. A terrible, absolutely insane plan.
“We burn down this house. We throw a massive party—invite everyone, make it the biggest rager of the semester. Thenwe have someone crash it. Make a scene. Start a fight that ‘accidentally’ ignites the fire.”
“You want to burn down your own house as a distraction?” Valen raises an eyebrow.
“Buildings can be rebuilt. And think about it—a fire at OCK house during a massive party? Every emergency responder in the area will respond. Campus security, the local fire department, probably even news crews. The Syndicate’s security detail will split. Some will stay with the leaders, but some will have to respond to the fire, especially if there are reports of students trapped inside.”
“That’s actually brilliant—the chaos, everyone will be focused on OCK. Meanwhile, the three leaders are in their secret bunker beneath PTO, thinking they’re completely secure,” Milo says.
“But with reduced security,” Kade finishes.
“We’d need to evacuate the party first,” Talon says.
“And we’d need someone to start the fight convincingly enough that the fire looks accidental,” Mara adds.
“DSN. We get DSN boys to crash the OCK party. It’ll look completely natural—inter-fraternity rivalry, everyone’s drunk, someone throws a punch, things escalate, something catches fire in the chaos.”
“DSN hates the Syndicate right now—after what happened with the murders. But would they agree to help?” Milo points out.
“Not the officers, but Sable might,” Kade says.
“What about her boyfriends?” Valen asks. “Levi, Kai, Silas, Dayton—they’re not going to want to be involved after everything they’ve been through.”
“They won’t have to be; she has enough influence over the other DSN brothers—the ones who are angry, who feel like they got screwed by the Syndicate. She can convince them to crash the party, start the fight. Her actual boyfriends can sit it out.”
Talon pulls out a notepad. “So, let me get this straight … Tomorrow night, we throw a massive OCK party. Sable convinces DSN brothers to crash it and start a fight. In the chaos, a fire starts—CJ rigs it to look accidental but ensures it spreads fast. Emergency responders flood the area. Syndicate security splits their forces.”
Valen continues. “Meanwhile, the three leaders are in their secret meeting room beneath PTO, thinking they’re safe with reduced security. That’s when we move in.”
“How do we access the secret room?” Talon asks Kade.
“There’s the main entrance near the engineering building—the one the leaders will use—but there’s also an emergency exit inside the PTO house, hidden behind a false wall in the mechanical room. My father showed me in case of an emergency.” Kade’s smile is sharp. “We go in through PTO, down through the emergency exit, and we’re right there.”
“While everyone’s focused on the fire at OCK,” Milo says.
“And while the Syndicate’s security is spread thin, responding to the crisis,” Valen adds.
“Three targets, minimal security, element of surprise.” I look around the table. “This could actually work.”
“The Syndicate meeting is scheduled for nine p.m. tomorrow. That’s when all three leaders will be in the room together. So we start the party at seven—let it build. DSN crashes around eight thirty, a fight starts, fire begins, and chaos ensues by eight forty-five. Emergency response floods OCK by nine p.m., right when the leaders are settling into their meeting.” Milo lays it out all for us.
“We move in at nine fifteen—give them time to feel secure, let some of the security detail leave to help with the fire. Then we go in quietly, take out whoever’s left, and end this,” Talon says.
“Three men, one room, no witnesses. We all in?”
“In,” Milo says immediately.
“In,” Kade confirms.
“In,” Valen agrees.
Mara looks at me, then Talon, then Jasper. “We’re really doing this? Burning down the OCK house and committing triple homicide.”
“We’re ending a war,” I correct. “And taking back our lives.”
