Zadie’s POV
Fresh air never felt this good. The sun was warm on my skin as I stepped out of the hospital for the first time in days, not a single IV in sight, no nurses hovering, no machines beeping in my ear. Just me, my scars, and the weight of everything I had to do next. I didn’t head home. I went straight to the precinct.
The officer at the front desk blinked when he saw me. “Agent Zadie Hollis?”
“Just Zadie today,” I said, flashing a small smile. “Is Chief Chris here?” He hesitated, then buzzed me in.
I walked through the halls like a ghost revisiting the ruins. Every step closer to the holding cells made my heartbeat louder. And then I saw him, sitting on the other side of the glass, wrists cuffed, eyes alert.
He looked... older. Broken. Like someone who finally stopped pretending to be untouchable.
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, if it isn’t my star agent.”
I sat down across from him, folding my hands on the table. “I came to say thank you.”
Chief Chris blinked, thrown off. “Excuse me?”
“You trained me. Molded me into the woman who saw through your lies. That irony isn’t lost on me.”
He let out a bitter chuckle. “You’ve got guts showing up here.”
“And you’ve got nothing left but time to think,” I said coolly. “So do me a favor. Use it.” We stared at each other for a moment. No apologies. Just history.
Then I stood. “Goodbye, Chief.” I walked out before he could respond. The offer came in a few hours later. Luca called me as I sat in a café, watching the world pass by like I wasn’t once part of a deadly operation.
“They want you back,” he said. “As the new chief. Clean slate, new team, full authority. You earned it.” I closed my eyes, letting the words settle. It would’ve meant everything to me a year ago. But now?
“No,” I said softly. “I’m done.” Silence.
“You sure?”
“I want a life that doesn’t end in a bullet wound,” I said. “I want mornings without target lists. I want... peace.”
Luca sighed. “You sound like someone in love.” I didn’t feel the need to answer. Later that night, I found Lazaro on the rooftop of his penthouse, shirt sleeves rolled up, nursing a glass of scotch. The city glowed behind him, all glitter and shadows, like the man himself.
“You look better,” he said without turning.
“I feel better,” I said, stepping beside him. “Physically, at least.”
He glanced at me. “And emotionally?”
“That’s complicated.”
He smirked. “Welcome to my world.”
I looked out at the skyline. “I visited Chief Chris.”
Lazaro’s jaw tightened. “Why?”
“Closure. And to thank him,” I let out a bitter smile.
His expression flickered with anger, confusion and respect. “You’re too kind.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I just don’t want to carry bitterness forever.”
He took a sip. “You’ve changed.”
“I want to,” I said quietly. “I want to change everything.”
He finally looked at me fully. “What does that mean?” I took a deep breath. This was it.
“I’m done with the agency. I turned down the position…” I said then looked him in the eye.
His eyes widened. “You what?”
“I want a clean life. I want to wake up and not worry about which mask I need to wear, which name I need to use.” My fingers went numb because of how hard I am clutching them.
He set his glass down. “And me?”
I turned to him. “That’s up to you.” He stiffened.
“I love you, Lazaro. But I can’t live in the shadows anymore. I can’t love a man who still runs weapons across borders or launders money through fake clubs. I need to know that if we do this... it’s real and safe.”
He didn’t move. Didn’t blink. “Zadie-”
“I’m not asking you to change overnight,” I said, voice trembling. “But I am asking you to leave it all behind. Start over with me.” He pulled away. That small, subtle movement like a knife in my chest.
“It’s not that easy,” he muttered.
Tears burned my eyes, but I kept my spine straight. “It could be.”
“You don’t understand-”
“I do,” I said sharply. “I know what you’ve built. I know how deep it goes. But I also know who you are when you’re not hiding behind it.”
He turned away, jaw clenched. “I’m not a good man, Zadie.”
“I never asked for a perfect man,” I whispered. “Just honest. Just free.” He didn’t answer. And that silence said everything. So I stepped back. One step. Two.
“I’ll be here,” I said, “but only if you walk away from the life that almost got us both killed.” I left him there on the rooftop, standing in the middle of power and pain, trying to decide which one he wanted more.