Cassie POV

I trusted him more than anyone else. Now, he was pointing a gun at my head, as if I never meant anything to him.

The rain poured down heavily, slapping my face like a blow of humiliation from the sky.

I looked up, staring into his eyes—eyes that were once filled with a warm glow, now looked cold and heartless.

"Why, Wisley?" My voice was barely audible amidst the sound of the rain and my frantic heartbeat in the midst of this surprise attack.

In fact, earlier I had refused to do this mission; I wanted to quit. But, he convinced me by promising that this was the last mission we would do together, after which we would leave the group and start a new life.

Right... the last mission he said was true, but I wasn't sure about the sentence after that. Start a new life? Did he mean with the woman beside him?

My mind went back to the incident a few weeks ago...

"The world is too dirty for a child, Cassie," Wisley said back then, sitting on the edge of the bed with a cigarette tucked in his fingers. "I'm not even sure we can last long, let alone bring a child into it."

I swallowed, trying to hide my disappointed expression.

"I just thought... it would be nice if we could live a normal life." My voice sounded small, almost drowned out by the sound of the rain outside.

"I want a normal life too," he replied, his brown irises fixed on me, I could see the warmth there, he was trying to comfort me. "I promised you that we would get out. But for the presence of a child we can't. Not now."

I wanted to tell him. That I was pregnant with our child. That I had seen two lines on the test pack this morning. But the words just evaporated on the tip of my tongue.

I waited. I believed in his promise.

That this was the last mission.

After this, we would come out of the underworld and live happily, like any normal couple.

But now, in the middle of the endless rain, I stood before him with the muzzle of a gun pressed against my forehead.

My gaze shifted to the woman beside Wisley.

Rachel Frances.

The daughter of the owner of Europe's largest drug cartel. She was supposed to be dead tonight—the last target before Wisley and I could leave the group and start a new life.

But she was still here. Standing elegantly in her knee-length white dress, contrasting with my disheveled appearance, her fingers wrapped in long lace gloves held the umbrella elegantly, while her other hand was perched on Wisley's arm. As if signaling ownership.

I wanted to be angry.

I wanted to scream, to ask what this was all about.

"So, everything was a lie?" But I could only whisper while looking away from Wisley.

Wisley looked at me without emotion. "I didn't know the target of our mission this time was Rachel," he said. "I can't kill a woman carrying my child."

His confession pierced me deeper than any bullet he could have fired into my head.

I was struck, but more than that, I didn't understand.

"I..." My voice choked. "I thought you didn't want children."

However, my mind went back to the day I had accidentally found Wisley's little notebook. Rachel Frances—I had obviously heard that name before. Why didn’t I realize it? No wonder it didn’t sound familiar when I received this mission.

I obviously knew. Wisley's first love was a woman named Rachel, they loved each other until Rachel's whereabouts were declared missing. I thought his first love had died. But I finally understood, life as the daughter of a drug cartel owner made her have to move around.

But that had nothing to do with destroying my happiness. She definitely left Wisley back then. But now? She's back with his child?

I almost laughed. So that's the reason? That's what made him side with Rachel and betray me?

I wanted to ask, what about my child? Our child?

But I swallowed back the words. There was no point.

Because more than that, I was too hurt to realize that Wisley was sleeping with another woman.

Was it because she was the daughter of the biggest drug cartel owner?

The woman we were supposed to kill?

Wisley would live safely with her, even with a child.

But me?

I'm alone.

There was no guarantee of protection for me. There was no safe place for me to give birth to this child.

What hurt even more was that Wisley was looking at me with a disgusted expression.

"Don't think I don't know, Cassie," he said coldly. "You slept with Max Nolan, right?"

I stared at him, unable to believe what I had just heard.

Max Nolan. Our boss. The forty-five-year-old man who was more my father than my cheating partner.

I chuckled, almost choking on the sting that was building in my chest.

"You're such an asshole," I muttered.

Rachel suddenly took a step back, her fingers gripping Wisley's arm as if I could strike her at any moment. Her eyes were rounded, filled with pretense.

"Honey, I'm scared," she whispered, her voice trembling dramatically. "What if she attacks me? I'm carrying your child in my stomach..."

My blood boiled.

Rachel saw me as a threat, even though she was the one who had taken everything from me.

I bit my lip, restraining myself from breaking her manipulative smile.

Rachel clung even tighter to Wisley, tilting her face up with a pleading expression. "Kill her now, darling."

Without hesitation, Wisley raised his gun.

A click sounded-the bullet was loaded in the barrel.

"Goodbye, Cassie."

I closed my eyes.

Not because I was afraid of dying.

But because for the first time, I realized... I had loved the wrong person.

I wanted to scream, but I was too broken to make a sound. In fact, I wanted to laugh because of how ironic this was.

I was pregnant with his child. But he chose another woman who was also pregnant.

However, the gunshot that rang out did not come from Wisley’s gun.

Instantly, the atmosphere became chaotic.

I heard footsteps approaching, then a familiar voice echoed through the rain.

"Put down your weapons, or I'll take all three of you out."

I recognized the voice before I even saw him.

Thomas Alison.

Max Nolan's right-hand man. The man who never hesitated to finish off anyone who betrayed the group. He came with several of his confidants.

I saw Wisley step back, his eyes widening, while Rachel let out a small squeal.

"Damn," Wisley whispered softly.

"I finally found you guys." Thomas' voice was deep and sharp, echoing through the rain. His eyes circled the three of us with a look full of contempt. "I thought who would be stupid enough to stab the group in the back, turns out it's you, Cassie... Wisley."

My heart pounded.

I should have known. Wisley had not only betrayed me, but also our group.

But why did Thomas mention my name too?

"Stop talking nonsense, Thomas."

Thomas just chuckled. "Nonsense?" He shifted his gaze to me for a moment, then back to Wisley. "I'll skip the pleasantries. Where is that document?"

I frowned. What documents?

Thomas grinned. "Don't play dumb. You two stole an important group document. And planned to hand it over to Frances, didn’t you?"

I was stunned. "What? I didn't-"

"Don't be stupid, Cassie." Wisley suddenly cut me off. "Thomas won't believe you."

I turned to him, looking for any other signs of a lie that I might not have caught yet.

But before I could digest the situation, Wisley glanced back at me and said, "I don't know. Maybe Cassie brought it."

I turned to him in shock. What?!

But I didn't have time to speak. Because the next second, everything happened so fast.

Wisley suddenly yanked Rachel behind him and shouted, "Rachel, run!"

Rachel ran, and I caught a glimpse of her triumphant grin before she vanished into the darkness.

Wisley chose to save Rachel and left me behind.

Anger and hurt burned in my chest, but before I could do anything, I could see Thomas' gaze on me turn darker, sharper. I could see the anger stored there.

"So this is your partnership? Max paired you two for this mission because he believed in your cooperation. Apparently, he wasn’t wrong—but he wasn’t right either," he said, his voice now lower-more dangerous.

I shook my head hard. "I don't know anything about that document! I-"

"Shut up."

I saw Thomas raise his gun again-and this time, the muzzle was pointed at me.

I froze before taking a step back.

"Thomas, I don't-"

BANG!

A muffled scream escaped my lips as searing pain shot through my arm. I turned around-blood was starting to seep from my shirt, mixing with the rainwater.

I'm... shot.

My heart is racing. I had to escape.

With all my might, I turned and ran, despite the pain radiating through my body.

I heard Thomas shouting orders for his men to chase me, but I didn't care.

Before, I didn't really care if I died at Wisley's hands; when he pointed a gun at me, I was too shocked and beaten to fight back.

But now I realize, this child in my belly is innocent.

I must protect it.

I must live.

***

Limping, I entered the apartment I used to call home. My breathing was heavy, blood flowed from the wound on my arm, and my body felt weaker and weaker.

I just hope they don't think they can find me here, because I need to get here first before going anywhere.

This place was already falling apart. I can smell the gun smoke and the trail of destruction Thomas' men left behind.

It seemed like they had come here first to search for the documents Thomas mentioned earlier, before finally tracking down Wisley and me when they didn’t find them.

I stepped into the bedroom. The first thing I saw was the wide-open wardrobe, its contents disheveled.

I didn't have much time to ponder. Quickly, I opened the drawer of the bedside table.

My fingers trembled as I found what I was looking for-a small black box hidden under a pile of old documents.

I opened it.

Two silver rings glittered inside.

I held my breath.

I remembered finding them in Wisley's drawer a few weeks ago. He always said that after the last mission, we would get out of this world and live a normal life.

I was stupid. I believed it. I had even imagined what life with Wisley would be like in a more peaceful world.

But now I realized, it was all a lie.

My hand trembled as I picked up the ring. Instead of throwing them away, I took a thin chain from another drawer and slipped both rings into it.

I stare at them for a moment before draping them around my neck.

I wasn't going to wear them on my fingers like I had imagined. No, I would keep them here-right on my chest, as a reminder.

Every second of Wisley's betrayal will always be with me.

I forced myself up, grabbed a small backpack, and stuffed it with a few essentials—a fake passport, emergency cash, and the small knife Wisley had given me.

I touched the handle, then without hesitation slipped it under my jacket.

Wisley probably thinks I'm dead. But I'm still here.

***

I ran through the dark alley behind a rundown hotel—a place where no one asked for my identity as long as I had the cash.

The receptionist only gave me a quick glance as I threw a few bills onto the counter.

The small room I was staying in only had a rickety bed, a sink with a cracked mirror, and an old wooden table.

I locked the door, took a deep breath, then sat on the floor with my back against the wall. My hands trembled as I pulled a small knife from my jacket.

I tried to tilt my body while raising my shot arm. My breath catches as the tip of the knife touches the skin, then stabs slowly.

Heat ran through my arm. I bit my lip, holding back a scream.

Flashes of the past hit me.

Back then, it was Wisley who sat beside me just like this. His hands worked swiftly as he pulled the bullet from my body, his eyes filled with worry.

"I won't let anyone hurt you again," he said back then, his voice trembling. "I swear I'll kill the bastard who did this to you."

And he kept his promise. He killed for me.

Back then, that Wisley was mine.

But now, he accused me of treason. Accusing me of having an affair.

Now, he was the one who stuck the knife in my back.

I opened my eyes, coming back to reality. My hands trembled as I poured vodka over the wound.

The pain is excruciating.

My body trembled, my vision blurred, and before I knew it, everything went dark.

I could see Wisley looking at me with a small grin, holding out a piece of chocolate he had stolen from the convenience store.

"Don't tell me you still have doubts about us," he said, his eyes full of his signature confidence.

I accepted the chocolate, even though I knew we shouldn't be here. We had a darker world to live in-a world that demanded we trust no one.

But back then, I wanted to think that Wisley was an exception. That maybe, just maybe, with him I could find something more than just survival.

"If I leave," I whispered, "will you come with me?"

He didn't answer. Just smiled faintly before pulling me into his warm embrace.

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that all of this was real.

However, the memories suddenly fell apart. His warm gaze turned cold. His smile faded away. In an instant, the sweet chocolate in my hand turned into a gun pressed against my forehead.

"Why, Wisley?"

I jerked awake.

Sunlight streamed through the small window of this cheap room, piercing my eyes.

Breathing heavily, cold sweat beaded down my neck. My chest rose and fell rapidly, as if my lungs refused to accept that I was still alive.

The pain in my arm was still there—sharp and piercing. My lips were dry, my body limp.

But that's not what's bothering my mind right now.

The damn dream!

I take a deep breath.

Hormones. It must just be the pregnancy hormones.

I'm not an emotional person. I've survived this far with a cool head, running away from their pursuit, suppressing all the fear and pain as if it wasn't mine.

But now?

I suddenly feel... homesick.

Stupid.

My hand touches my still-flat stomach. I couldn't feel him yet, but I knew he was there. The little heart that beats at the same time as mine.

Wisley's child.

Was I supposed to tell him?

I bite my lip. I knew this was a bad idea. Wisley wasn't someone I could trust. Not after everything that happened. Not after I saw him with Rachel.

But still...

I reach into the bag on the side of the bed, pulling out the disposable cell phone I keep for emergencies.

This wasn't an emergency. I knew that.

But why did I still turn it on?

My hands tremble as I type in a number I don't even need to see anymore. I could just throw this phone away right now, go back to my plan, disappear without a trace like I should. But my fingers are already moving faster than my brain.

The first ring.

I can turn it off now. I can still-

Second ring.

Shit.

Third ring.

I hold my breath.

Click.

Someone picked it up.

My words tumbled out without me being able to stop them. "Wisley, I'm carrying your child-"

The female laughter on the other side sounded light, almost playful, but enough to make my entire body tense up.

It wasn't Wisley who picked up the call.

"Cassie, dear... do you really want to tell him?"

Rachel.

My blood froze.

My hand gripped the phone tighter.

"Where's Wisley?" my voice was hoarse.

"Taking a shower," she replied casually. "Should I tell him to come out?"

I held my breath.

Rachel giggled. "I want to confess something to you. I actually never carried Wisley's child. I only said that so he wouldn't kill me. I loved him. I didn't want him to leave. And you know what's even funnier? We met a month ago... alcohol makes things easier, you know?"

I felt something hit my chest.

"You're lying."

Rachel giggled again. "The funny thing is, Wisley believed me."

My heart skipped a beat.

"He said you're not like me," Rachel sighed contentedly. "Not as pretty as me. Not as graceful as me. He could never even imagine you wearing a dress like me. Oh, and one more thing..."

I heard her sly laughter before she lowered her voice.

"I still remember the look on his face when he saw the photos of you and Max Nolan."

I gripped the phone tighter. "What...?"

Rachel laughed. "That photo was very real, Cassie. Do you know how easy it is to make a man like him believe?"

I hung up instantly, throwing the phone across the room as if it could erase the fact that I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.

I shouldn't have called.

***

Three days and three nights I've been hiding in this hotel while waiting for my body condition to improve, but I need to see the situation outside.

Finally, tonight I forced myself out. I wore a black hoodie, hiding my face as far as possible.

As I walked through the city, slipping into dark alleys, something made me stop.

It was a flyer taped to the corner of a wall.

My blood froze.

My face.

Big and clear.

And next to it, Wisley's face.

"Fugitive," it said in large letters. "Dangerous. Report if you see them."

I bit my lip. No wonder the streets felt more dangerous tonight. Not just the police, but the underworld was after me.

Max Nolan has connections with the higher-ups. As long as I was a member of the group, the police would turn a blind eye to the crimes Nolan ordered.

But now? Nolan considers me a traitor. That means I'm not only being hunted by the law, but also by bounty hunters who want to extract a huge reward from Nolan.

They want my head. They want Wisley's too.

But I knew the difference.

They wanted Wisley alive.

They wanted me dead.

I took a deep breath, stroking my still flat stomach.

No one can catch me.

I must continue to survive.

But just as I turned into a dark alley to head for the secret locker storing my spare weapons, something else caught my eye-a group of men stood in the corner, talking in low tones.

Their gazes were directed at me, and then I realized something that made my heart beat faster.

They weren't just looking.

They recognized me.

Before I could react, a hand grabbed my arm from behind.

"Shit," I muttered.

"Look who's still breathing," the voice mocked.

I didn't recognize them. But I knew that they weren't Thomas's men, probably crazier people-bounty executors or bounty hunters.

"Max Nolan wants you taken dead or alive," one of them approached, the muzzle of a gun pointed at my forehead. "But if you resist, we can have some fun first, right?"

I didn't answer. I waited.

When he was close enough, I made my move.

My hand snatched the gun, twisting his wrist in the wrong direction. He screamed as he heard a crack. Quickly, I thrust the knife into his stomach, twisting roughly before pulling it out.

Blood spurted onto my face. He staggered, then fell.

"Damn it, she killed Hector," one of them hissed.

I didn't have time to process the incident when someone slammed into my stomach from the side.

Something worse happened.

Excruciating pain radiated through my body. I screamed.

Then, everything went dark.

But before I lost consciousness completely, I heard something.

"Are we taking him to Max Nolan?" someone asked.

"No," another voice replied.

I felt my hands being cuffed.

Then, the voice came again.

"Our mission isn’t just to capture her. Frances wants to make sure she loses the baby first."

My blood froze.

Rachel.

This was all her doing.

But before I could process everything, another voice spoke-colder, more menacing.

"She killed one of Nostra's men. Let's just turn her over to Stilliam."

I knew that name.

Anyone who worked in the underworld would know Stilliam's name.