The air inside the van was thick with tension. Seojin's mind raced as she replayed the events of the past hour. Someone had set them up. Someone had leaked their location.
And now, they were being hunted.
She turned to Jinho, her voice sharp. "Start talking. Now."
Jinho wiped the sweat from his forehead, his breath uneven. "I told you—I don't know who tipped me off. But I do know one thing."
Seojin narrowed her eyes. "What?"
Jinho swallowed hard. "The Phoenix isn't just after you. They're after something much bigger."
Before he could say more, Minji's voice cut through the van's speakers.
"Hold on! We've got company!"
Seojin barely had time to process the words before the entire van lurched violently to the side.
A black SUV had rammed into them.
Tires screeched as Minji fought to regain control of the van. Seojin grabbed the overhead handle as her body was thrown sideways.
Through the rear window, two black SUVs followed close behind, their headlights burning like twin eyes in the dark.
Dojin gritted his teeth. "Of course, they wouldn't just let us leave."
Hyunwoo reloaded his gun. "They want us dead."
Seojin's pulse pounded. "Minji, lose them."
Minji's hands were steady on the wheel. "I'm trying, but they're fast."
Another hard slam from behind nearly sent the van off the road. Sparks flew as the tires skidded.
"They're trying to flip us!" Minji shouted.
Seojin turned to Jinho. "You want to prove yourself? Grab a gun."
Jinho didn't hesitate this time. He reached into the weapon stash under the seat and pulled out a pistol.
Seojin, Dojin, and Hyunwoo loaded their weapons as well.
"On my mark," Seojin said. "We take them out."
Minji took a sharp turn, sending one of the SUVs swerving.
Seojin kicked the van door open, the wind roaring past her. She aimed at the driver of the nearest SUV and fired. The windshield cracked, but the driver swerved just in time.
Dojin cursed. "They've got armor."
Hyunwoo didn't hesitate. He aimed for the tires. Two shots rang out, and one of the SUVs wobbled before spinning out of control.
One down.
The second SUV accelerated, pulling up beside them. The tinted window rolled down, revealing a masked gunman.
Jinho moved first.
Bang!
His shot hit the gunman square in the chest, sending him slumping against the wheel. The SUV jerked to the side, crashing into a streetlight.
Seojin's eyes widened slightly. Jinho was too good of a shot for a regular detective.
But now wasn't the time for questions.
Minji took another sharp turn, and the city lights blurred past them.
Then—silence.
No more cars. No more gunfire.
Minji exhaled heavily. "I think we lost them."
For now.
Inside the van, everyone caught their breath. The scent of gunpowder and sweat filled the air.
Seojin turned to Jinho. "That was some impressive shooting."
Jinho met her gaze but said nothing.
Seojin crossed her arms. "You're hiding something."
Dojin smirked. "Yeah, no way a regular detective shoots like that."
Jinho exhaled, rubbing his temple. "It's… complicated."
Hyunwoo leaned forward, voice cold. "We don't have time for complicated."
Jinho finally looked at Seojin. "Fine. I wasn't always a detective."
Seojin's heartbeat quickened.
Jinho continued. "Before joining the force… I was a sniper in an elite military unit. A black ops group that technically doesn't exist."
Dojin let out a low whistle. "That explains a lot."
Seojin studied him. "And now you're telling me this?"
Jinho's jaw tightened. "Because I think the Phoenix knows who I am. And if that's true… this isn't just about you anymore, Seojin."
Seojin exhaled slowly. She had suspected Jinho was more than he claimed to be, but this… this changed everything.
Minji's voice cut through the silence. "Uh… guys? We've got another problem."
Seojin turned toward the front.
On the dashboard screen, Minji had pulled up live security footage.
It was from the police department.
And it showed a group of masked operatives storming the building.
Her blood ran cold.
"The Phoenix isn't just hunting us," Minji whispered. "They're taking out the entire task force."
Seojin clenched her fists.
This wasn't just about survival anymore.
It was war.
End of Chapter 55
Thoughts for Readers:
Now that Jinho's past has been revealed, do you trust him more or less?
What do you think the Phoenix wants from the police department?
Sneak Peek for Chapter 56:
As Seojin and her team rush to the station, they realize the attack isn't just about them—it's about wiping out evidence. And the only person who might hold the key to the truth… is already missing.