Zadie’s POV
“Raise your hands and surrender!”
Chief Chris’ voice roared over the chaos, sharp and final. I stood frozen, surrounded by armed agents with rifles pointed straight at me. My hands twitched at my sides. One wrong move and I'd be done.
"I didn't betray anyone!" I shouted. "I came back to finish the mission. I came back for the truth!"
Before he could answer, the thunder of engines cut through the tension. Black SUVs skidded to a stop at the gates of HQ. Doors slammed, boots hitting the pavement.
"What the hell…?" One of the agents muttered.
I turned my head just as Lazaro’s men swarmed in like a storm, silent, armed, and terrifyingly coordinated. They formed a wall behind me, guns raised.
“Stand down,” one of Lazaro’s men growled, locking eyes with the HQ soldiers.
Chief Chris stepped forward. “Is this your idea of a rescue? You brought him here?” But it wasn’t me.
Lazaro emerged from the back of one of the SUVs, his left arm in a shoulder cast, his expression hard despite the pain he must’ve been in. He walked like a man who still owned the world.
"Nobody shoots," he barked. Both sides paused. Fingers still hovered over triggers, but no one fired.
Lazaro walked right up to Chief Chris, eyes burning. “Drop the act. We both know you’re not here to protect justice.”
Chief Chris didn’t blink. “You’re delusional. You think these people will believe you over me?”
Lazaro tilted his head. “Then let’s tell them the truth. About who you really are.”
I stepped forward, confused. “What truth?”
Lazaro looked at me, something raw flashing in his eyes. “Your beloved chief… is one of us. Or was. Until he got greedy.” The air went still.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I whispered.
Lazaro turned to the crowd. “Chris is not just your commander. He’s part of the very syndicate he claims to be dismantling, he’s been using his position to take out threats and that includes me. He sent Zadie here as a pawn, he wanted her to kill me so he could take full control of the black-market channels.” Gasps rippled through the room. I stared at Chief Chris, my heart pounding.
“You used me?” I choked out.
Chief Chris’ face darkened. “You think this is about you? I made you. I gave you that mission. You were nothing but a tool to me.”
I took a step back, shaking my head. “All this time… I trusted you. I believed in HQ. I believed we were the good guys.”
Lazaro looked at me. “We’re all monsters, Zadie. The only difference is who admits it.”
The next second happened too fast. Chris lifted his gun.Lazaro reached for his.I grabbed mine and screamed, “No!”
Gunshots exploded. Bodies hitting the ground. I hit the floor, crawling behind a pillar as bullets tore through the air. I saw Chief Chris fall back, hit in the leg. Lazaro was pulled back by one of his men, bleeding again.The HQ soldiers scattered. Some surrendered. Some fought. But it was chaotic. And me? I just crouched there, stunned, numb.