Page 78 of Victorious: Part I

Even in Alpha’s.

Progress.

He sits forward, his attention intent on her now. “So then, if you’ve been with him for years, what’s his endgame?” Alpha asks. “What’s he planning?”

“Total and undeniable control,” Nighthawk replies without hesitation. “Not just of territory or drug routes, but of the entire system. Rico was old school. He wanted power, sure, but he operated within certain parameters. He stood by the code. Javier doesn’t see limitations or consequences. He just wants it all. And hewilldoanythingto make it happen.”

The mood of the room shifts again, the energy clearly changing from anger at her being here to eagerness to know more. “Tell us about the prison,” I press. “What’s happening there? How is it connected?”

Nighthawk’s eyes flick to Montana as he sits forward, his eyes wide, desperate for information. “It’s become a training ground. Javier’s bringing in women, inmates with the right psychological profiles, and guards who can be bought or blackmailed. They’re birthing a pipeline of new birds, but without the careful conditioning we went through.”

“They’re creating assassins on an assembly line,” I mumble.

“But that’s not all,” Nighthawk continues. “The prison sits on a network of old tunnels, maintenance shafts, and fallout shelters from the Cold War era. Javier’s men have been expanding them, connecting them to other systems. They’re creating aliteralunderground network.”

“What the fuck for?” Loki asks, leaning forward.

“Movement of drugs. Transportation of guns. Safe houses. It’s how they’re moving supplies,and people, without detection,” Nighthawk explains. “But the prison is also a test site for something bigger.”

We all shift, uneasy with that last sentence. “What do you mean,something bigger?”Alpha’s tone is dangerous now.

“Javier wants to prove he can take over a government facility. Turn it into his own operation without anyone on the outside noticing,” Nighthawk states. “Once he succeeds with the prison, he plans to expand the model into other government buildings.”

We all sit back, letting out a collective exhale. “He’s trying to make the Cartel indestructible by having them ‘officially’ runeverything,” I state.

Nighthawk solemnly shrugs. “The Cartel runs deeper than you know. The Rojas’ corruption is seeping into everything. I mean, they’re recruiting everyday people to join the Cartel just so they can get their foot into doors theyneverwould have been able to before. If it wasn’t so horrifying, I would say it was a fucking smart business model.”

Montana’s face turns as pale as a sheet, his eyes practically pleading. “And what about my mother in all of this?”

“She wasn’t part of the original plan,” Nighthawk admits. “But when Javier realized she was in the prison, he saw an opportunity to add pressure. Two birds, one stone. Target you through your mother and compromise the Warden because he’s Alpha’s friend. Garver was theoriginaltarget. Your mother was just an added bonus for Javier.”

“Jesus Christ,” Alpha mutters. “Garver’s walking into a trap and doesn’t even know it.”

“Oh, he knows,” Nighthawk counters. “That’s why he called you. He just doesn’t understand yet how deep it goes. When this all comes to light, Javier’s plan is to make it look like Garver was in on the whole damn thing. Plant evidence, manipulate records. Alpha, it’s gonna be a shit show for your friend.”

“While my mother’s caught in the fucking middle,” Montana adds bitterly.

“And hundreds of other inmates,” Nighthawk nods. “Javier doesn’t care about collateral damage. In fact, he welcomes it. The more chaos, the better for his plans.”

Alpha leans back, running a fingers through his hair. “Okay, you’ve given us a lot of information, and Ireallyappreciate that, Nighthawk. The question is… howthe fuckdo we stop it?”

She lets out a small laugh. “You don’t!” Nighthawk says flatly. “Not directly. The system is too entrenched. You’d need an army, and even then, you’d be playing right into his hands. He thrives on anarchy. If you think The Rojas Cartel is only infiltrating Los Angeles…” She lets out a long breath. “I’ll just say that Javier was planning his takeover from Ricolooongbefore he stepped into the role. He put this action plan into motion years ago. You just gave him the chance to move up the date.”

“So, what’s our next move?” I ask. “We can’t justletthis happen.”

Nighthawk looks at me, her expression unreadable. “You need to get Valerie out first. Cut off Javier’s control by making the operation too visible to continue. It needs exposure on all fronts.”

“And howexactlydo we get my mother out of a maximum-security prison?” Montana demands.

A slow smile spreads across Nighthawk’s face. “I thought you’d never ask. I know the tunnel system like the back of my hand. I was part of the team that helped them use the tunnels to plot the systems they now have in place. I know their routes. I know their time schedules. I know the damn security system because I fucking built it, including the failsafe I installed, which theydon’tknow about.” She tilts her head at me. “Thanks for teaching me that, Blue Jay.”

I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head. “Well-fucking-done,” I murmur, a sense of pride rolling through me as hope flickers across the table from face to face.

It’s a long shot, but it’s something.

“Thereisone more thing you should know,” Nighthawk adds, her voice dropping. “Javier’snotworking alone. He has partners. People with influence.”

We all slump our shoulders, feeling the weight of this becoming heavier and heavier. “Who?” Alpha groans.

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