Gunfire rattled through the building, shattering the silence. The team hit the ground, instinct taking over.
Seojin pressed herself against the wall, her gun drawn. The apartment was pitch black except for the dim glow of Kai's computer screen. Shadows flickered outside the windows as Phoenix operatives closed in.
Kai swore under his breath. "They were waiting for us."
Jinho gritted his teeth. "We don't have time to complain. How do we get out of here?"
Seojin's mind raced. They were on the third floor. The main exit was compromised. The only way out was—
"The fire escape," she said.
Dojin nodded. "I'll cover the hallway. You get Kai out."
Hyunwoo moved to the window, carefully pushing it open. "We need to hurry."
Kai hesitated. "Wait. My setup—"
Seojin grabbed him by the collar. "Forget it. You can't hack if you're dead."
The moment they turned toward the window, the door exploded inward.
Debris flew as masked operatives stormed in, guns raised.
Seojin reacted instantly. Bang! Bang! Two operatives dropped before they could fire.
Jinho grabbed Kai and dragged him toward the fire escape. "Move, move, move!"
Minji laid down cover fire. Hyunwoo threw a chair at one of the intruders, buying them a few seconds.
Seojin followed last, firing at the operatives pushing through the doorway.
They had barely stepped onto the fire escape when—
Bang!
A sharp pain shot through Seojin's arm.
She gritted her teeth, ignoring the burn of the bullet grazing her skin.
No time.
They climbed down, feet landing hard on the alley pavement below.
"Van's around the corner!" Minji shouted.
They sprinted.
Just as they rounded the corner—
A gun clicked behind them.
Seojin froze.
Kai stiffened.
Slowly, she turned.
Jinho stood there, gun aimed at them.
Her stomach dropped.
"You're kidding me," Dojin muttered.
Kai's face twisted in disbelief. "You set us up?"
Jinho's eyes were cold. "It's nothing personal."
Seojin's mind raced. Jinho had led them here. He had suggested finding Kai. Had he been working with the Phoenix all along?
Or had they gotten to him recently?
Hyunwoo clenched his fists. "You're a damn coward."
Jinho's grip on the gun didn't waver. "I'm a survivor."
Seojin took a slow breath. "You're making a mistake."
Jinho's expression didn't change.
Then—gunfire erupted from the street.
A black SUV screeched to a stop. More Phoenix operatives spilled out.
The alley became a war zone.
Seojin didn't hesitate. She grabbed Kai and ran.
Bullets tore through the night.
Jinho cursed, dodging behind a dumpster as the Phoenix operatives opened fire.
He was no longer in control of the situation.
Hyunwoo shoved Minji toward the van. "Get in, now!"
Dojin covered their retreat, taking down two operatives before diving into the driver's seat.
Seojin and Kai barely made it inside before the van sped off, tires screeching.
Through the rear window, she saw Jinho—caught between the Phoenix and his former teammates.
He had betrayed them.
But now?
He was alone.
Inside the van, the tension was suffocating.
Kai was breathing heavily, staring at the floor. "That was close."
Minji's hands trembled as she reloaded her gun. "Too close."
Hyunwoo leaned against the window, face unreadable. "Jinho's a traitor. He sold us out."
Seojin exhaled, gripping her injured arm. "We should've seen it coming."
Dojin, still focused on the road, muttered, "He's dead to us."
But Seojin wasn't so sure.
Jinho had turned on them—but the Phoenix had turned on him too.
That meant something.
Kai wiped sweat from his forehead. "We need to find a safe place. I still have some access to their system, but not for long. If we want that list, we have to move fast."
Seojin nodded. "We find the list. We bring them down."
And if Jinho got in their way again…
She wouldn't hesitate next time.
End of Chapter 58