Carter’s proposal hung in the air, thick with unspoken tension. Caleb could feel the weight of Evelyn’s hesitation like a storm brewing at his side. Her knuckles were white around the hilt of her knife, her body coiled tight as if she were deciding whether to fight or flee.

“What makes you think we’d trust you?” Evelyn said finally, her voice low and sharp.

Carter smirked, tilting his head slightly. “Trust is irrelevant, Evelyn. I have the numbers, and you… have the key. Seems to me we both have something the other needs.”

Evelyn’s jaw tightened, her gaze darting to the men behind Carter. Their weapons were still trained on her and Caleb, their stances steady and unyielding.

“And what exactly are you after?” Caleb asked, breaking the silence.

Carter turned to him, his expression cool and calculating. “Same thing you are. The Vault. The difference is, I don’t have time to play hero.”

“I’m not playing anything,” Caleb shot back, his grip tightening on his gun.

“No?” Carter said, raising an eyebrow. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve gotten yourself dragged into something way over your head.”

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Evelyn stepped forward slightly, her posture stiff. “Enough. You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

“Oh, I think I do,” Carter replied, his voice smooth. “The Vault is real. And the keys are the way in. We both want the same thing, Evelyn. You just don’t want to admit it.”

Caleb glanced at Evelyn, his gut twisting. He didn’t trust Carter—everything about the man screamed danger. But the way Evelyn’s silence stretched on told him something she wouldn’t say outright: Carter knew more than he should.

“What happens if we say no?” Caleb asked, his tone flat.

Carter’s smirk widened. “You won’t.”

Caleb’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond.

Evelyn finally lowered her knife, though her posture remained defensive. “You don’t care about the Vault,” she said. “You care about the payout.”

Carter shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a businessman. But even I know when something’s worth more than money.”

Evelyn didn’t respond. Caleb could see the gears turning in her head, the way her gaze flicked between Carter and his men. She was weighing their options, and Caleb had the sinking feeling there weren’t many.

Finally, Evelyn said, “Fine. We’ll talk. But your men stay back.”

Carter’s smirk didn’t falter. He raised a hand, signaling to the others. “You heard her. Fall back.”

The men hesitated for a moment, then lowered their weapons and stepped back into the shadows. Caleb didn’t relax. He kept his gun raised, his eyes locked on Carter.

“This doesn’t mean I trust you,” Evelyn said.

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Carter replied, stepping closer.

Evelyn didn’t flinch, though Caleb could see the tension in her shoulders. “You’ll get your answers when I’m ready to give them. Until then, stay out of my way.”

Carter chuckled softly. “Always a pleasure, Evelyn.”