Chapter 28: All is fair in love and war

Frederick's POV

I clenched my jaw and signaled to my men. "How long until the teams get there to extract Khai and Harold?"

Gori pressed his earpiece, listening intently before responding, "They're almost there, sir."

Patrick let out a breath, his fingers slowing over the keyboard. "Done."

I wasted no time. "It's done, Lucious."

A beat of silence. Then—

A chuckle. Slow, amused.

Followed by laughter.

"Oh well, hahaha... since I am a man of my word, I will release—only Harold."

My stomach twisted. "No!!" I snapped. "We deleted the file, Lucious! Let Khai go—"

"Not yet, Frederick. Not yet."

Lucious's voice carried that sickening arrogance, the power play he thrived on.

"Because as long as you're alive, I will be needing Khai."

A pause. Then movement.

Lucious turned to his men and gestured. I watched as Harold—barely conscious, bloodied, and weak—was dragged forward and shoved onto the floor. He groaned but lifted his head, eyes burning with exhaustion and fury.

Then Lucious faced the camera again, his expression unreadable.

"Meet me at these coordinates at exactly 2 AM. You and Rain. Alone."

His tone darkened.

"Frederick, when I say alone, I mean it. No cops. No private military teams. You. Alone."

The camera shook violently, capturing brief, frantic movements—then—

Black.

The screen went dark.

A chilling silence filled the room.

Rain was the first to break it.

"We're going after her."

Her voice was steady, but her hands were clenched so tight her nails dug into her skin.

I nodded, my mind racing. "We don't have a choice."

Whatever had just happened—whatever chaos had erupted on that feed—Khai was still in danger.

And at 2 AM, we were walking straight into Lucious's trap.

Rain's POV

Before we left the headquarters, Patrick pulled me aside, his face unreadable as he handed me a tiny black object no bigger than a shirt button. With careful precision, he attached it to my shirt.

"This is a GPS tracker," he explained. "It'll transmit your real-time location. No matter what happens, we'll know where you are."

I nodded, swallowing hard. The weight of the situation pressed down on me.

Then, he crouched down and slid something small and metallic into my sock. I glanced down, raising an eyebrow.

"This," he said, "is a taser disguised as a pen. It holds enough voltage to drop a man in seconds—hell, even kill him if you hit the right spot and when you open the other side, this will turned into a knife"

I inhaled sharply. "You sure about this?"

He shot me a look. "If it comes down to it, don't hesitate."

Before I could respond, he reached for my ear and, without warning, inserted a tiny device. A sharp sting made me flinch.

"Ouch!" I hissed.

"Relax, drama queen," he muttered, adjusting it. "This is our comms. Through this little thing, I can hear everything you say, every breath you take. So don't do anything reckless, okay?"

I exhaled slowly, forcing down my nerves.

"Let's just get Khai back."

Patrick studied me for a long moment before nodding.

"Stay sharp, Rain. We'll be right behind you."

We arrived at the port of Mississippi, the cold night air thick with the scent of salt and oil. The dim glow of scattered floodlights barely illuminated the figures waiting for us—Frederick's men. They were armed, faces impassive as they stepped forward.

As they began patting us down, my heart pounded against my ribs. My mind raced. If they found the taser pen hidden in my sock... I kept my breathing steady, praying my thick boots would keep it concealed.

One of them grunted in approval and stepped back. They didn't find it. A silent victory.

Without another word, thick cable ties were looped around our wrists, yanking them tight. A sharp sting shot through my skin, but I clenched my jaw, refusing to show any sign of weakness. They dragged us toward a boat waiting at the dock, its engine humming softly against the waves.

Then, a sudden crackle from a radio.

"Safehouse compromised. Proceed to the meeting point."

I turned to Frederick, his jaw tightening as he processed the words. Under his breath, he muttered, "The warehouse where Khai was hidden was compromised. My men are probably infiltrating it right now—"

His eyes met mine, a flicker of determination hidden beneath the controlled exterior. Then, louder this time, he added, "Our team will be here to extract us. We just need to buy them time."

I gave a subtle nod, my fingers curling into fists.

Hold on, Khai. We're coming.

Khai's POV

Chaos erupted. Frederick and Harold's team are here, or so I thought.

Gunfire roared from every direction, bullets ricocheting against metal and concrete. The sharp scent of gunpowder filled the air, mixing with the stench of sweat and blood. My body ached, every bruise and cut screaming in protest, but I didn't have time to think about the pain.

Rough hands yanked me forward. Stefano—one of Lucious's most loyal men—dragged me along, his grip bruising as he forced me through the chaos. Lucious walked ahead, completely unfazed by the carnage unfolding around us.

"Move!" Stefano snarled, shoving me forward. My knees nearly buckled, but I forced myself to stay on my feet.

I stole a glance back—Harold was gone. He must have been extracted. That meant Frederick's men were here. That meant Rain was close.

I just had to hold on.

"Boss, we need to move faster!" Another of Lucious's men shouted over the gunfire.

Lucious remained calm, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "Relax," he said coolly, stepping through the dimly lit corridors of the warehouse. "We still have time."

I clenched my jaw. He was enjoying this—playing us all like pieces on a chessboard.

A sudden explosion rattled the building. The walls trembled, dust and debris cascading from the ceiling. The lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the space.

Lucious barely reacted, but Stefano cursed under his breath, gripping my arm tighter. "Shit, they're closing in."

Good.

I used the momentary distraction to slam my elbow into Stefano's gut. He grunted, loosening his grip just enough for me to twist away. My breath came in ragged gasps as I lunged for a weapon—anything—

But Lucious was faster.

Before I could react, a fist slammed into my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. I hit the ground hard, coughing, my ribs screaming in agony.

Lucious crouched beside me, his cold fingers gripping my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His lips curled into a smirk. "You're strong, Khai. Resilient. I raised you well."

I spat blood onto the floor between us. "You didn't raise me. You created a monster."

Lucious chuckled. "That's where you're wrong, my dear granddaughter. The monster was already inside you. I simply gave it a purpose."

Another explosion rocked the warehouse. Lucious stood up, adjusting his cuffs. "Let's go. We're not done yet."

Stefano yanked me back to my feet, and we disappeared into the chaos once more.

As we moved through the rusted, decaying hallway of the abandoned building, my body remained tense, my senses on high alert. Lucious walked ahead, unfazed, while Stefano kept a firm grip on my arm. Every creak of the old floorboards beneath our feet, every distant gunshot outside, sent a fresh wave of adrenaline through my veins.

Then—chaos.

A sudden barrage of gunfire erupted from the shadows. But it wasn't Frederick's men. I didn't recognize the attack pattern.

"Get down!" Someone shouted.

Before I could react, a smoke grenade landed at our feet, hissing as it spewed thick, choking plumes into the air. Stefano cursed, coughing violently, his grip on me weakening. Through the dense fog, I saw Lucious's silhouette disappear into the darkness.

"Damn it!" I tried to move, but rough hands grabbed me.

"Friendlies! We need to get you to a safe place," a voice barked in my ear.

I tensed. Friendlies? Who the hell were they?

"Were you Frederick's men?" I managed to ask through the smoke, my vision blurred.

The man dragging me shook his head. "Not exactly."

Before I could press for answers, a small but firm hand gripped my wrist.

"Khai, get down!"

I knew that voice.

Through the haze, I caught a glimpse of Letty's sharp eyes, filled with urgency. She wasn't here to play games.

I didn't hesitate. I dropped low just as another round of gunfire tore through the corridor. Letty pulled me behind a pile of broken crates for cover, her expression unreadable.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, breathless.

She smirked, but there was no amusement in her eyes. "Saving your reckless ass, apparently."

Letty handed me a gun, her lips curling into a knowing smirk.

"Try not to shoot me," she quipped.

I rolled my eyes but checked the magazine anyway. Fully loaded.

We crouched low, moving swiftly through the dimly lit corridor. The air was thick with the scent of rust, gunpowder, and smoke from the earlier grenade. Letty's bodyguards, Mateo and Roy, flanked us, their movements sharp and calculated.

"Ms. Harrington," Mateo murmured into his earpiece. "We need to move. The chopper is waiting on the deck."

Letty barely spared him a glance.

"Khai, you need to get out of here," she said, her voice steely. "I will end Lucious myself."

I turned to her, eyes blazing. "No! We will end him together."

Before she could argue, a shadow moved ahead.

"Contact—three o'clock!" Roy called out, raising his rifle.

I barely had time to react before the first bullet whizzed past my head.

Shit.

I dived behind a rusted crate, Letty right beside me. The deafening roar of automatic gunfire filled the space as Lucious's men closed in.

"We don't have time for this!" Mateo hissed.

"Then we make time," Letty shot back, pulling out another pistol.

The moment their gunfire paused, I popped up from cover and fired, hitting one of the men square in the chest. He crumpled to the floor.

Letty took the left flank, moving with lethal precision. She ducked under incoming fire, rolled forward, and fired two quick shots, taking down another enemy. I covered her, aiming at the next attacker before he could get a shot off.

More footsteps thundered down the corridor. Reinforcements.

"They just keep coming!" Roy grunted, taking down another target.

"We need to push forward!" Mateo ordered.

Letty and I exchanged glances. No words were needed.

I sprinted ahead, firing at the enemies blocking our path while Letty took advantage of the distraction. She vaulted over a fallen crate, landed smoothly, and drove her knife into the throat of one of Lucious's guards. Blood splattered across her cheek, but she didn't even flinch.

More men stormed in. One swung a crowbar at me—I dodged at the last second and drove my elbow into his ribs, following up with a brutal shot to his kneecap. He screamed, collapsing.

Letty fought just as fiercely. She kicked an attacker's gun away and fired point-blank into his chest.

"We need to move now!" Mateo urged.

A distant explosion rocked the building.

I turned to Letty, breathless. "Together?"

She smirked. "Together."

With a final push, we cut through the last of Lucious's men, making our way toward the deck. But I knew—this fight wasn't over. Lucious was still out there, and we were coming for him.

As we reached the stairwell leading up to the deck, gunfire erupted once more. Bullets ricocheted off the rusted metal walls, sparks flying in all directions. We barely had time to react before Roy let out a sharp grunt of pain.

"Roy's hit!" Mateo shouted, his voice strained.

I turned to see Roy clutching his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers. At the same moment, Mateo staggered back, a bullet tearing into his leg.

"Damn it!" Letty cursed, gritting her teeth.

"Go!" Mateo barked. "We'll cover you—just get to the deck and finish this!"

Letty hesitated for only a split second before nodding.

"Don't die on us," she ordered.

With a final exchange of fire, Letty and I broke through, sprinting up the stairs. The metal steps vibrated beneath our feet as more bullets whizzed past us. I returned fire, hitting one of Lucious's men square in the chest before he could take another shot.

As we burst onto the deck, we were met with an unwelcome sight—Lucious's remaining men were already waiting for us, their weapons raised. Beyond them, Lucious was making his way toward a waiting speedboat, his figure illuminated by the moonlight.

"We have to stop him!" I snarled.

Letty didn't need to be told twice.

With precise, synchronized movements, we raised our AK-41 rifles and unleashed a storm of bullets. The first wave of Lucious's men didn't stand a chance. Some dove for cover, but others fell instantly under the relentless barrage.

A second group retaliated, firing back from behind crates and rusted barrels. I ducked behind a steel container, reloading as bullets clanged against the metal. Letty crouched beside me, her breathing heavy but steady.

"We need to push forward," she muttered.

"Cover me," I said.

She nodded, then popped up, laying down heavy suppressing fire. Using the distraction, I sprinted to the side, flanking the enemies. One of them turned too late—I slammed the butt of my rifle into his jaw, then fired at another before he could react.

Letty took out two more with quick, efficient shots. Blood splattered across the deck, the scent of gunpowder thick in the air.

More men came at us, and I could see Lucious in the distance climbing onto the boat.

"You're not getting away this time," I hissed under my breath.

One of Lucious's men charged at me with a knife. I barely dodged in time, twisting my body as the blade sliced past my shoulder. Without hesitation, I drove my knee into his gut, then pressed my gun against his temple and pulled the trigger.

Letty spun, shooting two more attackers in rapid succession.

"They just keep coming!" she shouted.

I reloaded, my eyes locking onto Lucious. He was steps away from his escape.

"We end this now!" I yelled.

With a final push, Letty and I fought our way through, side by side, our bullets tearing through the last of Lucious's men.

The cold night air whipped against my face as I landed hard on the helicopter's floor, my knees barely absorbing the impact. The rotors above roared, drowning out everything except the pounding of my heart.

Lucious was already there, standing near the cockpit. His gun was pressed against the pilot's temple, his grip steady, his expression unreadable. But what made my stomach drop was the small device in his other hand—a dead man's switch.

One wrong move, and everything could go up in flames.

"Huh—trying to play the hero, Khai?" His lips curled into a smirk, his voice mocking.

I kept my gun aimed straight at him, my hands steady.

"Drop it, Lucious."

He chuckled darkly. "I bet Frederick and Rain are on their way here, right? To save your ass?"

His laughter filled the tight space, echoing through the cockpit like a death toll.

"Oh, poor Khai. But congratulations, you've turned into a resilient warrior." His tone was almost... proud. "You really are my blood. But guess what?"

His smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with malice.

"You think you can outsmart me? Nah, Khai. I made you. And I'm always ten steps ahead."

He waggled the switch in his hand.

"The moment Frederick and Rain arrive at the coordinates I gave them? They're done. And so are you."

His laughter grew, twisted and full of triumph.

A cold dread crawled up my spine. I clenched my jaw, my mind racing. He had planned everything—he wanted me here, alone, while he set a trap for Frederick and Rain.

I had seconds to act.

And I wasn't about to let him win.

The cold metal of Lucious's gun pressed against my temple, its weight a chilling reminder of the situation I was in. I forced my hands up in surrender, my breaths shallow as I lowered my gun to the floor of the helicopter.

"Kick it, Khai. Outside," Lucious ordered, his voice smooth but deadly.

I hesitated for a fraction of a second, my mind racing. Then, with a swift motion, I kicked the gun, watching it tumble through the open hatch and disappear into the night.

Lucious chuckled, satisfied. "Good, that's it."

The helicopter continued its course, flying over the dark ocean beneath us. My pulse hammered as Lucious reached for the radio, his expression unreadable.

"Is the package secured?" he asked, his tone eerily casual.

A crackling response came through. "Yes, both of them are here."

I stiffened. Both? My eyes flickered with panic.

Lucious turned toward me, his smirk widening as he savored my reaction. "Now, this is where the real game begins, Khai."

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper, but the malice in his tone was unmistakable.

"I want you to watch as I end the life of your so-called biological father. And then..." He paused, tilting his head, eyes gleaming. "I'll make you witness Rain's life flashing before your very eyes. This is what you get for turning your back on me."

His laughter filled the confined space, each echo making my skin crawl.

Then, as the helicopter descended lower, I spotted a boat beneath us. The deck was dimly lit, but I could make out two figures standing near the edge. My heart clenched as my gaze met Rain's.

"Baby!" I screamed, my voice nearly breaking. "Everything's going to be okay!"

I wanted to believe that. I needed to believe that.

Lucious's gun pressed harder against my head. "Uh-uh," he tsked. "If only you had listened to me, you wouldn't have to see Rain sacrificing herself for you again. Twice, Khai. Twice in a row."

His laughter was cruel, like a predator toying with its prey.

I didn't respond. Instead, my eyes flickered to Frederick. He stood next to Rain, tension visible in every line of his body. His jaw was clenched, but his eyes... his eyes were locked onto mine, sharp and calculating.

Then I saw it—the slight movement of his fingers, the smallest shift of his stance.

He knows.

He knows Lucious has a deadman's switch.

I swallowed, forcing myself to remain calm. I gave him the tiniest nod, signaling my understanding.

Frederick inhaled slowly, then took a deliberate step back.

I braced myself.

"Dad! Now!" I shouted.

Without hesitation, Frederick moved. He kicked Rain off the edge of the boat and into the water just as I lunged at Lucious, using the element of surprise.

I swung my elbow up, smashing it against his chin. The impact rattled my bones, but I didn't stop. I grappled with him, struggling for control over the gun as we crashed into the side of the helicopter.

Lucious snarled, shoving his forearm against my throat, trying to overpower me. But I used my knee, slamming it into his ribs. He grunted, but he didn't let go of the gun.

We wrestled, the helicopter swaying as the pilot struggled to keep control. The sound of wind and rotor blades roared around us.

Then—

BANG!

The gun went off.

I barely registered the deafening shot before Lucious jerked violently. His grip slackened, his body shuddering. My eyes widened as I watched the bullet rip through his chin, an ugly hole tearing into his flesh.

Blood sprayed as his body convulsed for a second before his eyes rolled back, his expression frozen in shock.

He collapsed, his body slumping lifelessly to the floor.

For a heartbeat, everything was still.

Then—

A series of deafening explosions erupted.

The bomb!

The boat detonated in a massive fireball, the shockwave sending a blast of heat through the air. The explosion rocked the helicopter, making it lurch violently.

I barely had time to register what was happening before I felt myself falling—

Tumbling—

Crashing through the open hatch—

Straight into the dark abyss of the ocean below.

Rain's POV

The moment Khai's eyes locked onto mine and then flickered toward Frederick, I understood—this was it.

A surge of adrenaline shot through me as I braced myself for what was coming. Then—

"Dad! Now!" Khai's voice rang out.

Before I could fully process it, I felt Frederick's forceful kick against my back, propelling me off the edge of the boat.

The world tilted, the wind roared past my ears, and then—splash!

Cold water engulfed me instantly. The impact stung, but I didn't waste a second. My body reacted on instinct.

Still submerged, I reached for my boots, fingers working fast against the resistance of the water. I found the small blade hidden inside and immediately began sawing at the zip ties binding my wrists.

The plastic dug into my skin, but I gritted my teeth and kept cutting until—snap!—they broke free.

I ripped them off and propelled myself forward, kicking hard against the waves.

Swim.

I forced my limbs to push harder.

Farther.

The boat behind me was seconds away from hell, and I had no intention of getting caught in it.

Frederick's POV

The moment Khai locked eyes with me, her voice echoed in my head—

"Under any circumstances, let Rain live. Protect her at all costs."

I remembered those words. The promise I made to her before she left for Jackson.

Then—reality snapped back into focus.

I took two steps back, just enough distance between Rain and me. My heart pounded, but there was no room for hesitation.

"Dad, now!" Khai's voice cut through the chaos.

Using all my strength, I kicked Rain off the boat. She plunged into the dark waters below, disappearing beneath the waves.

No time to think.

I launched myself over the edge right after her.

The moment I hit the water, cold shock rippled through me, but I forced myself to move. Still submerged, I reached for the small knife Patrick had given me earlier. My fingers wrapped around the handle as I cut through the restraints and propelled myself forward.

The ocean was vast, pitch black, and endless—but I had to get as far from the boat as possible.

I swam. Hard. Fast. Every muscle burned, every breath felt like fire in my lungs. But I didn't stop.

Then—

BOOM!

The explosion tore through the night, a deafening blast of fire and destruction. The shockwave rolled through the water, a force so strong it sent a violent current surging toward me.

I braced myself, fighting against the pull, my only thought—Rain.

She had to be alive. She had to be.

The seconds felt like hours as I swam, heart racing, every muscle protesting against the cold, salty water. I didn't dare look back, knowing that the boat's explosion had left nothing but wreckage in its wake.

Then, I saw it.

The halo—a helicopter spinning out of control, its body engulfed in flames. The propellers were still turning, but at a frantic, erratic pace. My breath caught in my throat as I realized—Khai was inside.

She was still in there.

The flames wrapped around the spinning machine like a fiery vortex, and I felt a pang of dread gnawing at me. Her face flashed before my eyes—her fierce determination, the way she always pushed forward no matter the odds.

But this... this was different.

I saw her silhouette through the smoke and fire, spinning uncontrollably, her body jerking with every twist. The heat from the flames stretched out toward me, scorching my skin even from a distance.

No, Khai. Please. No.

Instinct took over. I kicked harder, moving faster through the water. The pain in my limbs didn't matter.

I couldn't lose her.

I had already lost too much.

I turned my head, hearing my name being called through the dark, turbulent water.

"Frederick! Frederick!"

It was Rain. Her voice cut through the chaos, but there was a tremble in it I couldn't ignore. I quickly swam toward her, my movements clumsy but desperate.

"Where's Khai?" she asked, her face pale, worry etched deeply in her eyes.

I took a deep breath, pushing my exhaustion to the back of my mind. There was no time for panic.

"Let's get to safety first," I said, my voice hoarse. I couldn't bring myself to lie to her. I couldn't promise her that Khai was okay, not when I wasn't sure myself.

We kept swimming, as the sound of an engine roared through the night. Through the dark waves, I saw my men on jet skis speeding toward us. Relief hit me like a wave as they reached us, pulling us onto the vessels and speeding away from the wreckage.

As we finally reached safety, I looked back one last time at the burning halo, but my heart twisted.

Khai was still out there, and the flames kept spinning, mocking the time we didn't have.