CHAPTER 60: THE LAST BETRAYAL

"Took you long enough."

Smooth and unflinching, Victor's voice cut through the dense silence. With his legs crossed and one

arm resting comfortably on the armrest while the other clutched a drink of whiskey, he sat on one of

Jeo's leather chairs.

Relaxed.

As if he owned this place.

However, he didn't.

My body was still hurting from the struggle at the warehouse, and my heart was racing. Beside me,

Jeo's muscles tensed like a predator about to attack.

After raising the glass to his lips and taking a slow sip, Victor grinned. "I must admit that I was hoping

for better security, Jeo. Your men are becoming careless.

Jeo remained still. The energy emanating from him was lethal, but his face was unreadable.

"What the hell are you doing here, Victor?" I was surprised at how piercing my voice sounded.

Victor's grin widened as his eyes turned to me. Elena is still as feisty as ever. I appreciate that about

you. He gave his drink a swirl. "You don’t seem surprised to see me."

I wasn't.

Not after everything.

Coolly, Jeo remarked, "You should be dead,"

Victor shook his head and laughed. "You should know by now, Jeo—I always have a backup plan." His

eyes were shining as he leaned forward a little. Speaking of contingency plans, you may want to see

how your men are doing. To put it simply, they won't be saving you."

I felt a chill go through me.

I stepped back and looked at Jeo. He had a hard jaw and an unwavering hold on his ride. However, he

remained still.

With a sigh, Victor placed his glass on the table next to him. "Let me quickly get to the subject. This

tiny contact between us? Tonight is the last day.

I balled my sts. "You think you can just walk in here and—"

Victor held up anger. "Ah, ah, ah. I'm not done yet, my love."

He moved a little, and I saw something that made me shiver for the first time.

On Jeo's chest, a tiny red dot danced.

A sharpshooter.

I felt sick to my stomach.

Jeo's expression stayed neutral despite his body tensing. He had also witnessed it.

Victor let out a nearly bored sigh. "Jeo, you are aware of how this operates. You're a really intelligent

dude. We have two options: the easy route or the difficult way.

"The easy way?" Joe inquired in a sarcastic tone.

Victor's grin widened. "You and Elena go once you give me your assets. Free. Untouchable.

I sneered. "And the hard way?"

Victor shrugged. "You don’t walk away at all."

The space seemed more intimate. The walls are closing in.

I gave Jeo a quick look. He hadn't moved yet. Not even a blink.

I understood his thoughts.

Victor would not allow us to leave.

Whatever we did.

Victor's head cocked. "Jeo, tick-tock. "What will it be?"

When Jeo did speak, his tone was uncannily serene.

"Go to hell."

Victor let out a sigh. "I was hoping you’d say that."

Then everything went haywire.

The Battle for Life

The silence was broken by the gunshot.

Joe pushed me to the ground before I could even move, and I rolled behind the couch while bullets

ew everywhere.

The glass broke. The wood broke.

I crawled behind the marble counter, my breath coming in rapid bursts, my pulse roaring in my ears.

Joe returned re, swift and accurate. Before they even understood what had happened, two of

Victor's soldiers fell to the ground.

However, there were more.

Thunderous footsteps echoed down the corridor.

With trembling hands, I reached for the revolver Jeo had slipped me earlier.

Through the confusion, Victor's laughter could be heard. "Oh, Jeo, hurry up. There are more people

than you. Outgunned.

Joe didn't answer.

He was too preoccupied with planning what to do next.

Just as one of Victor's men turned the corner, I peered over the counter.

I didn't consider it.

I let go.

I felt the recoil, but the bullet found its target.

The man fell.

There was no time to hesitate, even though my ears were pounding with blood. There's no time to

doubt.

Joe took down one enemy after another while moving like a shadow and swerving between covers.

He had been underestimated by Victor.

A huge error.

The ring slowed.

Then there was silence.

I looked around the room, my breath coming in short, irregular gasps. The door was littered with

bodies. The air curled with smoke.

Victor, however, was no longer there.

Jeo's chest rose and fell as he stood in the middle of the debris.

With my body yelling in protest, I forced myself to stand up. "Where is he?"

Joe glanced toward the corridor. "He’s not done yet."

He was correct.

Because the front doors ew open as soon as we turned.

And the last person I had anticipated entered.

The Greatest Betrayal

My heart stopped beating.

Holding a rie while standing in the doorway

was a person I had faith in.

Someone I believed to be on our side.

"No." I hardly got the word out of my mouth.

Beside me, Jeo's body stiffened.

No wound was as profound as the betrayal.

"You?" My voice broke.

The individual grinned. "Elena, I told you. You need to have chosen the victorious side.

My stomach turned over. "After everything… you were working with him?"

A shrug. "Loyalty is just a matter of price."

Joe gripped his rie more tightly. "So this was your plan all along?"

With icy eyes, the traitor took a step forward. Victor's offer was superior. Joe, how about you? You've

been surviving o of borrowed time.

Victor's laughter opted out of the darkness.

"This," he stated with ease as he re-entered the scene, "is what happens when you trust the wrong

people."

Joe remained silent.

However, I saw it in his eyes.

Fury.

Betrayal.

And something much more hazardous.

A pledge.

This was not the end of it.

By no means.

Victor grinned more broadly. "Game over."

The scoundrel raised his weapon and pointed it at Jeo.

Before my thoughts moved, my body did.

"No!"

Everything fell dark when a gunshot rang out.