NICOLE
"You're the mole. You're the one who gave them the keys. You're the reason he had to leave."
The cold, sleek weight of the Bentley's steering wheel is a stark contrast to the fire in my veins. My phone vibrates against the passenger seat. Ren's name glows on the screen. I hit answer, putting it on speaker.
"Anderson-san. The package is secured. The asset is neutralized and contained. Two KIA on our side. The device is disarmed."
The words are crisp, professional, but I can hear the tension underneath. Two men dead. Because of me. Because of the plan I set in motion. The weight of it hits me like a physical blow, a cold stone in my stomach, but I can't afford to feel it right now. Not yet.
"Hai," I reply, my own voice surprisingly steady, a flat line over the churning chaos inside. "Good work, Ren. Secure the scene. You can send a full report to Kenji in the morning."
I don't wait for his acknowledgment. I end the call.
