My head was pounding, my arms numb, and my throat dry like sandpaper. The red light still flickered weakly above me, casting shadows that danced on the walls like ghosts. I wanted to cry, scream, collapse—but then…
The door burst open.
And there he was.
“Kyle,” I whispered, my voice weak and groggy.
He rushed in, eyes wild, breathing heavy. The moment he saw me, something in his face cracked.
“Oh my god,” he breathed, hurrying to the bed. “Debby.”
He reached for the cuffs around my wrists, pulling out a small metal key and unlocking me fast, as if every second counted.
“I got you,” he said, his hands trembling. “I got you, I got you, you’re safe now.”
As soon as my hands were free, I threw myself into his arms. My legs were still sore, my body shaky, but I didn’t care. I needed him. I needed to feel him. And he hugged me back like he’d been waiting forever.
“I’m so sorry,” Kyle whispered against my hair. “Debby, I am so sorry. I should’ve protected you better. I should’ve never let you out of my sight. I’ll explain everything, I swear.”
“You should explain,” I muttered against his chest. “Because none of this makes sense.”
He let out a soft laugh, still holding me. “It will. I promise. But right now, we’re getting you out of here.”
Just then, we heard footsteps outside the room—fast and heavy.
“Debby? Kyle?”
One of the agents appeared in the doorway, his gun still drawn. “Are you guys alright?”
Kyle turned and nodded. “Yeah. She’s safe.”
“Good,” the agent said. “We have to catch Dave before he gets away.”
Kyle looked at me, brushing hair from my face. “It’s almost over.”
I nodded. “Let’s finish it.”
***
We stepped outside together.
And I froze.
Bodies. Everywhere. Agents. Attackers. Smoke curling through broken windows. Blood on the walls. The ground.
It looked like a war zone. My breath caught. And in the middle of it all…
Dave.
Sitting on the cracked pavement.
Handcuffed.
Two agents stood beside him, guns raised, but he looked… calm. Too calm.
My eyes widened, and I instinctively gripped Kyle’s hand tighter.
He squeezed back, then turned to me, and gently pressed his lips to my forehead.
“It’s all over now,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”
I closed my eyes. For the first time in what felt like forever, I believed him. I felt it. That deep breath I hadn’t been able to take all this time—I finally took it.
But of course…
Dave had to ruin it.
He looked up with that same smug, twisted smile. His lip was bleeding, one eye swollen, but that smirk? Still there.
“You think I’m behind all of this?” he said, chuckling like we were all fools.
Kyle turned slowly. “What did you just say?”
Dave stood, the agents holding him firmly.
“You got the wrong person,” Dave said, laughing through his teeth. “I was just doing what I was told.”
Maddox stepped forward. His face was stone, but his voice? Ice cold.
“Who the fuck is behind this?”
Dave tilted his head, spat blood on the ground, and then whispered one word:
“Rachel.”
I blinked. “Rachel?”
Dave nodded, almost proudly. “Her father is reopening the ring. She’s not just some jealous ex. She’s been in it since day one. You think she dated me for me? I was her job. We were all just pawns.”
Maddox’s jaw tightened. “You’re saying she’s the one behind the surveillance. The threats. The attack?”
Dave smirked. “Oh no, not her directly. She’s daddy’s little girl. But he’s the boss now. And she’s the one who fed him everything.”
Kyle took a slow step forward, fury flashing behind his eyes.
“And Debby?” he asked. “Why drag her into this?”
Dave looked at me. “Because she was your weak spot. And she made you soft.”
Kyle lunged forward, but Maddox stopped him with one hand. “Not now.”
I stared at Dave, a lump rising in my throat. “You drugged me. You kidnapped me. You put me in chains. And you’re standing there acting like it’s nothing?”
His smile faded for the first time.
“I just followed orders,” he muttered.
“And those orders?” I asked, voice trembling, “they came from Rachel’s father?”
He nodded.
We all stood there in silence, the weight of the truth pressing down hard. Kyle reached for my hand again. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said softly.
I looked at him, really looked at him. And for the first time, I knew exactly who he was—
Not just Kyle. Not just the guy who kissed me when I cried.
But the one who would go to war for me.