Chapter 15: Fifteen

Rebelle pov

The question repeated in my head for some time as I stared hard at him.

I wrapped my hands in fists at my sides, forcing myself to hold Noah's gaze.

“I stole what I was paid to steal,” I said finally, my voice steady.

His lips formed a smile like he had expected such an answer from me.

“Did you?” he asked.

Just before i could respond, Ezekiel stepped forward again, his presence cutting the space between us as he suddenly spoke up, “Enough talking!” His voice was low and dangerous.

His gun was still raised, with no hesitation or patience left in him. But Asa moved before anything else could happen, lifting his hand in a silent command.

“Wait”, he says firmly.

Ezekiel didn’t lower his weapon, but his eyes flicked briefly toward Asa, irritation clear in his expression as he clenches his jaw.

“He’s stalling,” Ezekiel said.

“And we’re listening,” Asa replied.

“That’s a mistake.”

“Or an opportunity.”

The two of them stood there, not looking at each other but still clashing. This was more than just a disagreement; it seemed like something that had been building long before this moment, and somehow I’m still caught in the middle.

Noah watched all of it, seeming interested, his gaze shifting between Asa and Ezekiel before settling back on me.

“You always did attract attention,” he said.

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here,” I snapped with a deep frown.

“You are here,” he replied calmly, “that’s the point.”

I took a step forward before I could stop myself, anger rising again, “Then explain it.”

Ezekiel’s hand shot out, catching my wrist before I could move any closer, his grip firm, immediately stopping in place.

“Don’t,” he said quietly.

I glanced at him, showing him how frustrated I was, “I need answers.”

“And you think he’ll give them to you?” Ezekiel shot back with an equal frown.

Before I could argue, Asa stepped closer on my other side, his voice softer but also controlling.

“Careful, Rebelle,” he murmured, “curiosity gets people killed.”

I let out a sharp breath as I sharply respond, “So does ignorance.”

For a second, neither of them spoke, and I felt it again, that pull from both sides, different but just as strong. Ezekiel’s grounded me while Asa's presence felt unsettling; it felt like standing between fire and ice, not knowing which would burn more.

Noah tilted his head slightly, watching the exchange with clear amusement.

“This is interesting,” he said.

“No,” Ezekiel replied coldly, “this is over.”

He then raised his gun slightly, aiming directly at Noah, his finger tightening on the trigger, and for a second, everything slowed.

But Noah didn’t flinch; instead, he smiled, and that didn’t feel right at all.

“You still don’t see it,” he said quietly.

“See what?” Asa asked, his tone calm but sharper now.

Noah’s gaze shifted between them before landing on me again, his voice dropping just enough to make it feel more personal.

“The ledger wasn’t the prize.”

My stomach instantly dropped. “What are you talking about?” I demanded.

“The chip,” he said.

My heart beat picked up as the word ran through my head again

The chip, the one they took from me, and I didn’t even get to question it.

“What about it?” Asa asked, his tone changing just slightly.

Noah’s smile deepened, “That’s what this was always about.”

Ezekiel’s grip on my wrist tightened just a fraction, as if he felt the shift too. He finally understood that this was something bigger than he thought.

“You sent her in for that,” Asa said slowly.

“I sent her in because she could get it,” Noah corrected.

“And now?” Ezekiel asked.

Noah’s gaze flicked briefly to him, then back to me.

“Now I take it back.”

A burst of anger went through me as I snapped, “You used me!!” I said again, my stomach in a knot.

Noah didn’t deny it; instead, he stared at me blankly

“I needed someone skilled,” he said.

“And disposable,” I added.

He didn’t respond to that, and somehow that said enough. Anger continued to burn through me as I took a step forward before Asa or Ezekiel could stop me.

“You don’t get just to walk in here and take anything,” I grit out.

I watched as his gaze softened slightly, but there was no warmth in it.

“I’m not asking.”

Before I could react, everything exploded again. A loud crash echoed from behind him as more of his men pushed into the hallway, a gunshot erupting once more, the sound closer this time. Instantly, Ezekiel moved, pulling me back hard against him as he fired past the doorway.

“Get down!” he barked.

I stumbled back into him, my back hitting his chest, his arm coming around me for a brief second to steady me before he pushed me behind him again, his movements fast even in the chaos.

Asa moved as well; he stepped forward with that same calm precision, his gun raised as he took down one of the men entering the room, as if it were effortless.

“Stay close,” he said without looking at me.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I shot back, my pulse racing.

Another shot rang out, and this time it was too close, the bullet grazing past my arm, and I flinched back instinctively, my breath catching in my throat.

Ezekiel turned immediately, his hand gripping my arm as his eyes scanned me.

“Are you hit?”

“No,” I said quickly.

His jaw tightened slightly, his grip lingering for a second longer than necessary before he let go, “Stay behind me.”

“Stop saying that,” I snapped.

“Then stop stepping into danger,” he shot back.

Before I could respond, Asa’s voice cut in, calm but firm, “Both of you, focus.”

We both went quiet, and for a second our eyes met again, tension still there between us before another wave of gunfire broke it of gunfire.

Noah was still standing in the doorway, untouched, watching everything unfold like he was exactly where he wanted to be.

“You’re wasting time,” he called out.

“Then leave,” Asa replied coolly.

Noah shook his head slightly, “Not without it.”

“The chip isn’t here,” Asa said.

This made Noah pause for a bit before he yelled out over the noise, “You’re lying!!” He frowned.

“Am I?” Asa replied calmly.

Ezekiel glanced at him briefly, confusion flickering across his expression before it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by understanding.

But I didn’t understand.

Not yet.

Something was happening, something I wasn’t part of, and they weren’t telling me.

My chest tightened as I looked between them, “What’s going on?”

Neither of them answered.

And that was worse than anything else.

Noah’s gaze snapped back to me, sharper now.

“You have it,” he said.

“I don’t,” I shot back.

“Check her,” one of his men called out from behind him.

Ezekiel stepped in front of me immediately, his voice dropping dangerously low, “Try it.”

The threat was clear, and no one moved.

The room hung with thick tension, then Noah studied me for a long second, his expression unreadable, before he spoke again, quieter this time.

“If you don’t have it…”

He trailed off slightly, his gaze shifting slowly to Asa.

“…then he does.”

Ezekiel’s posture suddenly stiffened slightly.

And Asa…just smiled slightly, just enough to confirm everything without saying a word.

The realisation hit me all at once, and I turned to him, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You took it?”

He didn’t answer immediately, his eyes meeting mine, calm and unreadable. For a second, everything else faded, the gunfire, the shouting, the chaos, it all blurred into the background as I waited.

Then, slowly, he spoke.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t?”

I let the words sink into me as I was filled with different emotions, i didn’t know if u should be betrayed or impressed.

Ezekiel glanced between us, his expression tightening slightly as he said, “Now is not the time.”

But it already was, because everything had changed.

Noah’s gaze hardened, his voice colder now, “Then I guess I’ll just have to take it from you.”

Asa’s smile didn’t fade, his posture relaxed even as the danger in the room doubled.

“You’re welcome to try.”

I stood there between them, between two sides of something I didn’t clearly understand, and it was beginning to feel overwhelming. I hated when I had no control over things, and right now everything was out of my control, even my feelings and emotions

Just as Noah raised his weapon again, his eyes locked on Asa, his voice cutting through the chaos with quiet certainty…

“Tell me, Asa…”

He tilted his head slightly, his finger tightening on the trigger.

“Was she part of your plan too… or is she the one thing you didn’t see coming?”