ZARA POV – Midnight – Hidden Safehouse.
The gun felt heavier in my hand than it should've. Or maybe it was the truth weighing me down.
"Sit," I said quietly, the Glock aimed straight at Leo's chest. He didn't flinch. He didn't fight.
He just sat. Slowly. Carefully. Blood still leaking through the torn sleeve on his arm, but his expression unreadable.
"You lied to me," I whispered. "Over and over again. And now I don't even know if I'm pointing this gun at an ally or an enemy."
He looked at me, tired and too honest. "I deserve that."
I stepped closer. "Start talking."
<<<<<
LEO POV – Past.
"I was recruited young. Trained to serve a man called The Viper."
He didn't say his real name. He couldn't. Not yet.
"He runs Black Mamba from the shadows. Most don't know he exists. But he controls everything — from the fake priest in that jungle chapel to the arms deals happening on that boat. He owns politicians. Tech firms. Even agents."
"You?" I asked tightly.
He nodded.
"I did awful things for him. Until I tried to leave. I thought I was out. Then they pulled me back in… when they found out I was assigned to you."
"Assigned?" I blinked. "You mean…?"
"I was sent to watch you. To make sure you didn't get too close to the missing girls. To manipulate you if necessary."
Silence.
"You weren't supposed to fall for me," I said coldly.
"I didn't mean to."
"But you did."
"Yeah," he breathed. "I did."
<<<<<
FLASHBACK — KAI'S CODED MESSAGE.
Two days before he was shot, Kai left me a voicemail. One I couldn't decipher… until now.
> "Zara, the waves will lie, but the undertow pulls true. Look for what's missing, not what's in front of you. And if you find my compass… follow it home."
It was Kai-speak. He always spoke in layers.
And he was telling me that someone close was hiding the truth.
Someone like Rina.
<<<<<
LATER – RINA'S HIDEOUT – 2:13 A.M.
She was waiting.
Armed. Calm. Almost… sad.
"I didn't betray you," Rina said. "Not the way you think."
"Then tell me the way it really happened," I snapped.
She exhaled. "In Spain… the mission was doomed before it started. Your mother's plan was never about saving the missing girls. It was about flushing out competition. The cartel wanted to frame someone—and they chose me."
"They tried to kill you."
"They did worse. They tortured me. Broke me. But I escaped. I survived."
She stepped forward, eyes wet.
"And I never blamed you, Zara. I blamed the people who made us pawns."
<<<<<
ZARA – Present.
I wanted to believe her. But trust? It didn't grow back overnight.
"I have one question," I whispered. "The night before Spain… who made the call to have Kai reassigned away from me?"
Rina looked stunned.
"That wasn't me."
I swallowed. "Then who?"
A voice came from the shadows behind us.
"That would be me."
<<<<<
ENTER: THE VIPER.
Tall. Impeccably dressed. A burn scar curled under his left eye like a snake's tail. He walked into the safehouse like he owned it. Because he did.
"Hello, Zara," he purred. "It's been a long time."
My spine locked. My breath caught. Because I knew him. Not from the agency. Not from files. From childhood.
"Uncle Lucien?" I whispered.
His smile was like frostbite. "Not uncle anymore. Just Viper."
<<<<<
LEO POV.
I stood frozen.
This was the man who trained me. Owned me. Controlled me.
And now he was standing two feet from the woman I'd bled for.
"You brought him here?" Zara hissed at me.
"No," I growled. "He found us."
Lucien laughed. "Don't blame him. He's just a dog trying to break his leash."
He turned to Zara. "Your mother worked for me. Your father died because of me. And now? So will you."
BOOM! The wall exploded inward. Smoke. Screams. Grenade flash.
It was Kalea—the missing girl from the chapel. Only this time, she wasn't the same.
Eyes empty. Skin pale. She had a bomb strapped to her chest and a gun in her hand.
"I found her first," Viper whispered. "Reprogrammed. Reinforced."
Kalea raised the gun.
"Zara Cruz," she said robotically. "You are target priority one."
<<<<<
ZARA POV.
I didn't hesitate. I dove for her—tackled her to the ground. Leo disarmed the bomb while I tried to reach the girl inside.
"Kalea, it's me. Zara. From the rescue. You're safe now."
Her eyes flickered. And then she sobbed.
"They made me hurt people," she cried. "He said you'd come for me—and I should kill you when you did."
I held her tightly. "I've got you. No one's using you ever again."
<<<<<
FINAL SCENE – SAFEHOUSE RUINS.
The Viper was gone. Smoke lingered. So did questions. Leo stood beside me, bloodied, quiet. I turned to him.
"Tell me everything. No more lies."
He nodded. "Only the truth from now on."
"And your loyalty?"
He looked at me like I was all that remained of a world he wanted to live in.
"You."