The air was cold as Seojin and her team stumbled into the narrow passageway, their breath visible in the dim light. Kade led the way, his movements quick and purposeful. Seojin, her gun still gripped tightly in her hand, glanced behind her, half-expecting Phoenix operatives to come rushing down the tunnel.
But for now, it was quiet.
They moved swiftly, reaching an old, rusted door at the end of the hallway. Kade yanked it open, revealing a small, hidden courtyard—a forgotten area of the military base. There were no guards here, no security cameras, just the faint remnants of an abandoned outpost.
Seojin exhaled in relief, but the feeling was short-lived.
"This isn't over," she said quietly, her eyes on Kade.
Kade turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "We're not out of danger yet. The Phoenix will find us. They always do."
Dojin stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "And you think we can trust you?"
Seojin clenched her jaw, her eyes narrowing at Kade. There were too many unanswered questions. Too many risks. She didn't know if this fragile alliance would hold.
"We have no choice," Seojin said, her voice steady. "We either work together, or we die separately."
Kade didn't respond immediately. He simply led them through the courtyard and toward a black SUV parked in the far corner. It was well-hidden, just like everything else Kade had shown them so far.
He opened the door, and they all piled in. Minji sat next to the driver's seat, eyes scanning the rearview mirror, while Hyunwoo, Dojin, and Seojin sat in the back. The tension was palpable—each one of them wondering if this was truly their chance at survival, or if they were walking into another trap.
Kade slammed the door shut and started the engine.
"We head east," he said, his voice commanding. "The Phoenix will think we've gone the other way."
As the SUV sped through the night, the city lights fading in the distance, Seojin couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She turned to Kade, who had been silent since they left the base.
"Kade," she said, her voice firm. "Tell me what you're not telling us."
Kade glanced at her, his eyes hard. "I've told you everything you need to know."
Seojin's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then why didn't you tell us about the military base? Why did we have to find out the hard way?"
He let out a sigh. "You weren't ready for the truth. You wouldn't have believed me if I'd told you the entire picture."
Seojin stared at him, the weight of his words settling over her. What did he mean? She wasn't sure she liked the sound of it.
"You think we're not ready?" Minji interjected from the front seat. "You've been playing us all along. How do we know you're not just trying to use us to get what you want?"
Kade's grip tightened on the steering wheel, but his expression remained calm. "Believe me, I don't need any more enemies. The Phoenix is already hunting me down. I'm not in this for some personal gain."
Dojin snorted. "Then why are you still here? You could've walked away a long time ago."
Kade's gaze hardened. "I'm not walking away. You think I'm the only one in danger? The Phoenix has eyes everywhere. If they find you, they'll burn everything you care about."
Seojin felt the sting of his words. He wasn't wrong. She'd already lost so much. Her team. Her career. Everything.
But there was something else—something nagging at the back of her mind.
She looked at Kade again. "What's the real reason you helped us? You're not just here because you're on the run."
For the first time, Kade's expression faltered. He glanced at the rearview mirror, his eyes flicking between the road and the team.
"I'm here because I owe you," he said quietly. "I've seen what the Phoenix does. I've seen the destruction they leave behind. They're not just criminals. They're a disease."
Seojin was silent for a moment, processing his words.
"You owe me?" she asked, her voice low. "For what?"
Kade's jaw clenched. "You saved me once. When they came for me. When I was too weak to fight back."
Seojin's mind raced. What was he talking about? She'd never met him before this mission.
But then, something clicked.
"I didn't save you," she said, realization dawning. "Who are you really, Kade?"
He didn't answer immediately. His gaze fixed on the road ahead. "I was once a part of the Phoenix. I was an enforcer. Until I saw what they were capable of."
Seojin's heart skipped. She didn't want to believe it—didn't want to trust a former Phoenix operative, especially one who had so much to hide. But the look in Kade's eyes—the raw sincerity—told her something.
Something had happened. Something he regretted.
The car grew quiet again, the weight of Kade's confession hanging in the air. Seojin's mind raced. Could she trust him? Could she afford to trust him?
"There's more you need to know," Kade finally said, breaking the silence. "The Phoenix has infiltrated the highest levels of government. If we don't act fast, they'll have everything they need to bring this country to its knees."
Seojin's heart raced. She had known the Phoenix was dangerous—but this? This was beyond anything she had imagined.
"We stop them," Seojin said, her voice firm. "We bring them down—all of them."
Kade glanced at her, his eyes flickering with something—was it admiration? "I thought you'd say that."
Seojin felt the weight of her words. It wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about ending the Phoenix, once and for all.
As the SUV raced through the night, the road ahead uncertain, Seojin knew that the next phase of this mission would be the hardest yet. And no matter how much they tried to prepare, they couldn't predict the danger they were about to face.
The Phoenix had shown them mercy once. But now, Seojin was certain: There would be no second chances.
End of Chapter 65
Thoughts for Readers:
Do you think Kade's confession was the truth? Or is he hiding even more?
What do you think Seojin and the team will face next in their mission to bring down the Phoenix?
Sneak Peek for Chapter 66:
As Seojin and her team prepare to infiltrate the heart of the Phoenix's operations, they discover a shocking truth about one of their own. The stakes are higher than ever, and betrayal may be closer than they think.