Nick laughed softly. "Not bad. You're smarter than I thought." He pulled off his mask. "You and Zain were always in my way."
Then his gaze slid to Daisy. "So you were the one who injured my palm." His smile twisted. "then I'll have to return the favor."
Rain stepped forward instantly. "Touch her, and you deal with me."
Nick waved him off. "Later."
He turned back to Lara and tossed a stack of papers at her feet.
"I never knew you could use a gun," he said coldly. "Looks like I underestimated you."
He kicked Ben forward, hard.
"Sign these. Now," Nick ordered. "I'll free Ben."
His gaze hardened, voice dropping to a lethal calm.
"Refuse—and I blow this place up."
"Nick," Lara said, voice shaking, "how could you do this?"
His expression hardened. "Guards!"
A troop of armed men stormed in.
Ten.
Maybe fifteen.
Lara, Rain, and Daisy moved without thinking—back to back, weapons raised.
They fought.
Bodies fell.
Eight… ten… more.
But numbers won.
Rain took a bullet saving Daisy.
They were overpowered—restrained, weapons kicked away.
All three were bound to chairs.
Nick stepped forward, grabbed Lara's hand, and forced her thumb onto the papers.
"Finally," he said, satisfaction curling into his smile. "I have everything I need."
He turned to his men. "Burn this place down. All four of them inside."
He walked away.
---------------------------------------
Five minutes later—
Gunshots exploded at the entrance.
Nick staggered—blood blooming across his chest.
Zain.
He didn't hesitate. He fired again, shredding the papers, then charged inside.
The fight was brutal and fast.
Zain entered the base and freed Lara, Rain, and Daisy. Together, they took down the remaining guards.
"Get Ben out," Zain shouted. "I'll find the bomb control."
"No—" Lara started.
"Go!"
They ran.
Ben was dragged clear.
Then—
BOOM.
The building erupted in flames and toxic smoke.
"ZAIN!" Lara screamed, trying to run back.
Rain caught her, holding her tight. "You can't—the gas will kill you!"
Her legs gave out.
Lisa's face flashed in her mind.
"No," she sobbed. "You can't die like Lisa. Please… please come back."
The fire roared.
And Zain was still inside.
Zain POV
I can't move.
That's the first thing I realize.
Not pain.
Not blood.
Just… nothing.
My body feels distant, like it isn't mine anymore. Arms heavy. Legs dead. Even my fingers refuse to answer me. Panic spikes—but my chest barely rises in response.
The air is wrong. Thick. Bitter. Every breath burns, then fades into numbness. My head feels light, floating, like I'm sinking underwater instead of standing in a burning building.
Toxic gas, I register vaguely.
So this is how it works.
The sounds around me blur. The fire crackles somewhere far away. Alarms scream, then soften, like someone turned the world's volume down.
I try to shout.
Nothing comes out.
Great, I think.
Paralyzed and voiceless.
Faces drift in.
My dad—steady voice, rough hands on my shoulder, teaching me how to stand my ground. Think first. Act once.
My mom—soft smile, worried eyes that never stopped believing in me
Lisa—standing straight, uniform crisp, that same damn look she always had when she knew better than everyone else.
Rain—quiet strength, always watching the exits.
Daisy—sharp tongue, sharper instincts, never backing down.
And then—
Lara.
Not the agent. Not the woman with the gun.
The girl in the red dress.
The girl who trusted too easily.
The woman who learned to be fierce because the world forced her to.
Little rabbit, my mind whispers.