Chapter 8

Zena’s POV

I walked into my office and sank into my chair, but rest would not come. My mind raced uncontrollably, voices clashing and overlapping no matter how hard I tried to silence them. Every scenario I had imagined over the years, every failure, every close call, every time El Fuego had slipped through my hands, all came rushing back at once. My chest tightened, and I felt the familiar sting of frustration and exhaustion.

Not now, I told myself. I would not let the doubt win today.

I finally had a lead. The only lead that might end this. El Fuego. The man I had chased for years. The ghost who had ruined lives, destroyed families, and left a trail of terror wherever he went. This was my moment to end it. To finally bring him down. To close the chapter that had haunted me for far too long.

“Boss, what are your thoughts on this?” Ceila asked, breaking the tense silence. “Are we going to shut down that auction?”

I looked at her, momentarily confused. “What else are we supposed to do? This is what we wanted, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but what is the plan?” she pressed, leaning forward in her chair. “We have the information now. What comes next?”

“Ceila, we're going to that auction,” I said firmly, my voice steady even as my heart raced. “We arrest everyone there, including El Fuego. This ends now.”

She took a seat across from me, her expression serious and calculating. “Do you not think it will be more complicated than that? You cannot simply walk in and arrest people without solid evidence.”

I folded my arms across my chest, fighting the rising frustration. “Are you serious right now?”

“Yes, Boss. You know this better than I do,” she said. “If we rush in and start arresting people, it will reflect badly on you as Chief. We do not fully know what we are dealing with here. This could blow up in our faces.”

“It is a human trafficking auction, not a carnival,” I said, my voice rising slightly. “If that is not enough evidence, then I do not know what is.”

“I understand,” Ceila said carefully. “But do you really trust the information Mr López gave us enough to just walk in blindly?”

“I do not,” I admitted, leaning back in my chair. “That is why we will go there ourselves and find out.”

She hesitated, weighing her words. “What if I went undercover? Maybe as one of the girls. I could scope out the place, confirm the operation, and call for backup if needed.”

I stared at her, stunned. “Are you mad? That is a terrible idea.”

“But we could catch them in the act,” she insisted, eyes bright with determination. “We would have undeniable evidence. We would make sure no one walks free. This is our chance to stop them completely.”

“Just think about it, Boss,” she added, rising to leave as though her plan would sell itself.

“Ceila, wait,” I said, stopping her. “Explain exactly how you think this would work.”

She turned back, her hope evident. “If I position myself where El Fuego’s men can reach me, they would kidnap me and put me up for auction. We already know the time and location. The team would be on standby if anything goes wrong. We could finally catch him in the act and have enough evidence to put him away for good.”

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes. The plan was reckless. Dangerous. Possibly suicidal. And yet, as foolish as it sounded, it just might work.

“Say something, Boss,” she urged.

“Fine,” I said at last. “We will do it your way.”

Relief washed over her face. “It is the best option. We will catch El Fuego. I promise.”

“I am not worried about that,” I said slowly. “What worries me is that his men might recognise you. You are always in the field. They have seen you before.”

Her smile faded as realisation hit. “I did not think of that. You are right. They might recognise me. But we could assign one of the female officers instead. Someone who blends in.”

Silence fell over the room as I thought it through. Every second stretched into eternity.

“No,” I said finally.

Ceila’s brow furrowed. “No?”

“There will be no need for that,” I continued.

“Boss, trust me, it will go smoothly,” she said quickly, her insistence unwavering.

“I know it will,” I replied. “Because I will be the one going undercover.”

She froze. Then she laughed, a short, incredulous burst. “Forgive me, Boss, but you cannot be serious.”

“I am,” I said firmly. “I may have been off the field since becoming Chief, but I have not forgotten how this works. And because I have been away for so long, El Fuego’s men will not recognise me. That makes me perfect for this role.”

She stared at me, wide-eyed. “Are you sure about this?”

“I am,” I said, leaning forward. “We are done discussing it. Go and make the necessary preparations. The auction is in a week.”

“As you wish, Boss,” she said quietly before leaving the office.

When the door closed behind her, the weight of my decision hit me like a wave. Every warning in my head screamed that this was a mistake. Every instinct I had screamed danger. Every memory of El Fuego, every file, every victim, every failed lead, all whispered the same thing: This could end badly.

But uncertainty had been my companion for years. It was no longer something I could avoid.

Going to that auction was something I had to do. Catching El Fuego was the only thing that mattered now. This was my chance to finally end him.

The only problem was that I would have to tell Kelly and Noah.

Kelly would panic. She would beg me not to do it. Noah would be furious. Angry that I would put myself in harm’s way.

But I could not do this without telling the two most important people in my life. They deserved to know. They had to be aware of the danger.

And as my thoughts shifted, my mind immediately turned to another person—my sister, Rose.

She would worry too, but she would also understand. She would support me, even if she did not say it. Even if her heart was racing as mine was now.

I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes, and let myself breathe. The path ahead was uncertain. Dangerous. Possibly deadly. But it was a path I had to take.

And I would take it alone if I had to.