Chapter 14 Fourteen

Chapter 14 Fourteen
Rebelle’s Pov

Before I could steady myself, the first shot came, loud and sharp, just outside the door. Then everything else that happened after was too fast for me to process, as Ezekiel suddenly stepped in front of me without hesitation.

His body shielding me while his gun was aimed towards the entrance, like this was a second nature to him.

“Stay behind me!” He orders sternly, and I didn’t argue, not because I was scared and couldn’t defend myself, but because I knew it was better not to move when men like him were already calculating every move.

Another gunshot rang closer, followed by yelling and the sound of things crashing to the ground. Oliver was moving towards the door, his hand hovering over the handle as he glanced back at Asa for a silent confirmation.

Asa gave a shot nod, his expression calm in a way that didn’t make sense, especially in this situation. Then Oliver pulled the door open, and Everything exploded at once.

Gunfire ran through the hallway, loud and chaotic. Immediately, Oliver shot back, stepping into the line of fire with precise movements. At the same time, Ezekiel shifted slightly in front of me, keeping me behind him as he leaned just enough to return shots without exposing too much of himself.

“Stay down,” Ezekiel muttered, pushing me back slightly with his free hand.

Instinctively, I crouched down, my heart pounding hard in my chest as I tried to wrap my mind around what was happening, but there was no time to think because the hallway outside had turned into utter chaos. Men shouting, bullets flying around, with bodies hitting the ground.

“Left side!” Oliver called out.

Instantly, Ezekiel stepped forward just enough to take down one of the men trying to push through.

I had seen him looking dangerous before, from short clips I saw on the internet, but this was far different, like a lethal animal.

From the other side, I noticed Asa hadn’t moved from where he stood. I took a proper glance at him and noticed something a bit unsettling… he was amused as he watched everything unfold, as if it were a performance rather than a threat.

“You’re enjoying this,” I said under my breath with a confused frown

His eyes flicked to me briefly, a small smile forming on his lips, “Enjoying is a strong word.”

“People are trying to kill us,” I snapped.

“And yet,” he said calmly, stepping closer, “you’re still standing.”

Before I could respond, another burst of gunfire rang out, and this time it was closer, and Ezekiel swore under his breath as he grabbed my arm and pulled me back further into the room.

“They’re pushing in,” he said sharply.

“Let them,” Asa replied, his voice still too calm for my liking.

Ezekiel shot him a look, “This isn’t a game.”

“It never is,” Asa said.

The tension between them flared again, even in the middle of all this, and I could feel it, that silent clash of control and power, but there was no time to focus on that because footsteps were getting closer. In a second, the doorframe splintered as a bullet tore through it.

“Move!” Ezekiel barked, pulling me with him as he backed us toward the far side of the room.

I stumbled a bit trying to keep up with his steps, my heart racing rapidly as I glanced back just in time to see two men push into the doorway, weapons pointed out, but before they could fire, Oliver took one down while Ezekiel dropped the other in a clean shot.

For a second, it was silent, but then more footsteps could be heard coming from the hallway.

“There are too many,” I said, my voice weaker than I wanted it to be.

Ezekiel didn’t respond, his focus completely locked on the entrance, but Asa stepped closer again, his hand brushing lightly against my arm as he leaned in just enough for his voice to reach only me.

“You’re shaking,” he said quietly.

“I’m not,” I shot back, even though my pulse was racing and it felt like I was going to puke.

Oh god.

His fingers lingered for a second longer than necessary before he pulled back, his gaze still fixed on me as he murmured, “Liar.”

Heat rushed through me, which was weird, and I pulled my arm away, “Focus.”

“I am,” he replied calmly.

Another crash from outside cut the moment short, and this time the gunfire paused just long enough for a voice to echo down the hall. It was very familiar.

“Well, this is disappointing.”

My stomach dropped instantly.

Noah.

Ezekiel’s grip on his weapon tightened, his frown deepening as he stepped forward slightly, putting more distance between me and the door.

“Stay back,” he said again, more firmly this time.

I didn’t argue, but my eyes were locked on the doorway as the footsteps grew closer, like he wasn’t walking into danger but into something he had already planned.

“You know,” Noah’s voice came again, smoothly, “I expected a little more resistance.”

“Keep talking,” Asa called out, his tone almost bored, “it makes it easier to find you.”

A soft chuckle echoed in response, “Still as confident as ever, Asa.”

The way he said his name made something twist in my chest.

They knew each other…Of course they did.

“Step into the room,” Asa said calmly.

There was a sudden pause as the footsteps slowed down, and he finally appeared in the doorway, gun in hand. His expression was calm, as if this were just another day.

Our eyes met for a brief second, and something unreadable passed through his gaze before it disappeared just as quickly.

“Rebelle,” he said.

My jaw tightened, “Don’t.”

A faint smile touched his lips, “Still alive, I see.”

“Disappointed?” I shot back.

“Not at all,” he replied.

Ezekiel shifted slightly, his voice low and dangerous, “You picked the wrong place.”

Noah’s gaze flicked to him briefly, then to Asa, “On the contrary, I think I picked the perfect one.”

“Bold,” Asa said.

“Calculated,” Noah corrected.

“You used me,” I said suddenly, my voice cutting through the tension.

Noah’s eyes returned to mine, “I guided you.”

“You lied,” I snapped.

“I gave you purpose,” he replied smoothly.

I took a step forward before I could stop myself, anger burning inside me, “You set me up.”

“And yet,” he said, tilting his head slightly, “you survived.”

Ezekiel’s hand shot out, gripping my arm and pulling me back slightly, his voice low, “Don’t.”

I glanced at him for a second, his grip firm, but in a way to ground me, which I didn’t expect.

“He’s not worth it,” he added.

Our eyes met for a second, and something shifted that I couldn’t properly understand. Then Asa stepped closer on my other side, his presence just as close and overwhelming.

“Careful,” Asa murmured, his voice softer but no less dangerous, “you’re standing between two very bad decisions.”

I let out a breath, “You both keep saying that like I have a choice.”

“You do,” Asa said.

“Not really,” Ezekiel added.

Noah watched the exchange with quiet interest, his gaze moving between us like he was studying something deeper.

“This is fascinating,” he said.

“Shut up,” I snapped.

He smiled slightly, “You always did have spirit.”

“And you always did hide behind lies,” I shot back.

His expression didn’t change, but his grip on his weapon tightened slightly. “I didn’t come here to argue.”

“Then why are you here?” Asa asked calmly.

Noah’s gaze shifted back to him, “To take what’s mine.”

Silence followed, and I felt Ezekiel’s grip tighten slightly while Asa’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes darkened just a fraction.

“You think she belongs to you?” Ezekiel said, his voice low and threatening.

Noah didn’t hesitate, “She was always part of the plan.”

My chest ached in anger, and before I could stop myself, I spoke again, “I’m not part of anything!!”

Noah’s eyes locked on mine, “You were from the moment I chose you.”

A chill ran down my spine at the certainty in his voice, the way he said it like it was already decided, like I didn’t have a say in it at all.

“You’re not taking her,” Ezekiel stepped forward slightly, putting himself between us, his voice sharp.

At the same time, as he moved, not in front of me but enough that I could feel him there, his voice calm but dangerous, “that would be a mistake.”

Noah looked between them, then back at me, his expression unreadable for a moment before he spoke again, quieter this time, “You really don’t see it yet, do you?”

“See what?” I demanded.

His gaze held mine, and for the first time, something in it felt… certain, like he knew something I didn’t.

“That you were never the thief in this story,” he said slowly.

His words made my stomach drop.

“So tell me, Rebelle…”

His voice dropped just enough to make it worse, to make it linger.

“Do you even know what you really stole?”