The Syndicate fractured.
Without Cross's money, they turned on each other.
And Damien and Christabel watched their enemies destroy themselves.
---
The first sign came on a Monday.
Sterling called with news. Not about the lawsuit. About the Syndicate.
"Cross's accounts have been frozen. The court seized everything. He's got nothing left to pay his lawyers, his allies, or his soldiers."
"How much did he have?"
"Forty-eight million. All of it gone."
"Then the Syndicate is finished."
"No." Sterling's voice was grim. "The Syndicate is desperate. Desperate people do desperate things."
---
The first to break was Marcus Webb.
Not publicly. Privately. He called Christabel at midnight.
"It's falling apart," he said. His voice was shaking. "They're blaming each other. Accusing each other. Threatening each other."
"Who?"
"Everyone. The Syndicate. They're not a team anymore. They're a pack of wolves fighting over scraps."
"What are they fighting over?"
"The money that's left. The connections that remain. The chance to save themselves."
"And you?"
Marcus was quiet for a moment.
"I want out."
---
Christabel set down the phone.
Damien was beside her.
"What did he say?"
"The Syndicate is crumbling. He wants out."
"Can we trust him?"
"We trusted him before. He betrayed us."
"He also saved us."
She looked at him.
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to give him a chance."
"Why?"
"Because someone gave us a chance once."
---
They met Marcus at a safe house.
Not the penthouse. Not the courthouse. Somewhere neutral. Somewhere safe.
Marcus looked different. Thinner. Paler. His hands were shaking.
"They're going to kill me," he said.
"Who?"
"All of them. They think I'm the one who talked. They think I'm the one who told Sterling about Cross."
"Did you?"
"No." Marcus looked at Christabel. "But they don't believe me."
"Then we'll protect you."
"How?"
"The same way we protect everyone. You'll disappear. New identity. New city. New life."
Marcus's eyes were wet.
"Why would you do that for me?"
"Because you asked."
---
The second to break was Isabella.
Not to Christabel. To Damien.
She called him on a Tuesday.
"Damien."
"Isabella."
"The Syndicate is falling apart. Cross is in prison. The money is gone. The allies are turning on each other."
"And you?"
"I want to make a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"Protection. In exchange for information."
"What information?"
"Everything. The names. The plans. The people who are still out there."
---
Damien was quiet for a moment.
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because I have nowhere else to go."
"Neither did we. When you tried to destroy us."
Isabella was silent.
"I'm sorry," she said finally.
"Sorry isn't enough."
"It's all I have."
---
Christabel walked into the room.
Damien covered the phone.
"It's Isabella."
"What does she want?"
"A deal. Protection in exchange for information."
"Can we trust her?"
"No."
"Then why are you still on the phone?"
"Because she knows things we don't."
---
Christabel took the phone.
"Isabella."
"Christabel."
"You tried to destroy my family."
"I know."
"You tried to take my husband."
"I know."
"And now you want my help?"
Isabella was quiet for a moment.
"I want to survive."
"So do we. That's why we can't trust you."
She hung up.
---
Damien looked at her.
"That was cold."
"That was necessary."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
---
The third to break was Adrian.
He didn't call. He showed up.
At the penthouse.
At midnight.
Jax met him at the door.
"You've got some nerve," Jax said.
"I need to talk to her."
"She doesn't want to talk to you."
"Then she can tell me that herself."
---
Christabel walked to the door.
Adrian was standing in the hallway.
His face was pale. His clothes were disheveled. His eyes were wild.
"Christabel."
"Adrian."
"The Syndicate is finished. Cross is in prison. The money is gone. The allies are gone. I have nothing left."
"And?"
"And I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything. For leaving you. For coming back. For trying to destroy your family."
She was quiet for a moment.
"Sorry isn't enough."
"I know."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because you're the only person I've ever loved."
---
Damien appeared behind her.
"Adrian."
"Damien."
"You need to leave."
"I need to talk to her."
"You need to leave before I make you leave."
Adrian looked at Christabel.
"Please."
She was quiet for a long moment.
Then she stepped back.
"One hour."
---
They sat in the living room.
Damien stood by the window. Watching. Waiting.
Adrian sat on the couch.
His hands were shaking.
"I was wrong," he said. "About everything. About leaving you. About coming back. About trying to destroy what you built."
"Why did you do it?"
"Because I was jealous. Because I was angry. Because I couldn't stand seeing you happy with someone else."
"That's not love."
"I know."
"That's obsession."
"I know."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
---
She stood.
"I forgave you a long time ago."
"You did?"
"I had to. In order to move on. In order to love again."
"Damien."
"Yes."
"He's lucky."
"No." She shook her head. "I'm the lucky one."
---
She walked to the door.
"Don't come back here again."
"Christabel—"
"Don't. Come. Back."
Adrian stood.
Walked to the door.
Stopped.
"Goodbye, Christabel."
"Goodbye, Adrian."
---
He left.
The door closed.
Damien walked to her.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine."
"I'm relieved."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
---
That night, Christabel put Lena to bed.
Not Damien. Her.
Lena was walking now. Everywhere. All the time.
"Da," she said.
"Dada."
"Da da da."
Christabel laughed.
"Your father would be so proud."
Lena smiled.
Then she fell.
Then she got up.
Then she kept walking.
---
Damien appeared in the doorway.
"She's getting stronger."
"She's determined."
"She's yours."
"She's ours."
He put his arm around her.
"The Syndicate is finished."
"For now."
"They'll be back."
"Then we'll be ready."