CHAPTER 27

The estate was quiet in a way that made everyone uneasy.

Emergency lights still painted the halls in dim red. The smell of smoke and gunpowder hadn’t left yet. Guards moved through the corridors, checking doors, carrying injured men, dragging bodies away from the marble floors. Word had already spread. Someone inside had helped the attackers.

And Lina was now in the holding room below the estate. Her hands were tied to the chair—not tightly enough to hurt, but tight enough to make it clear she wasn’t walking out of the room on her own. A faint cut marked the side of her face from the explosion earlier. She hadn’t asked for medical help. She was staring at the floor when the door opened.

Aaron walked in first. Two guards followed behind him. Then Kael entered the room. Vera came in last. The air in the room shifted the moment all four of them were inside. No one spoke immediately.

Lina slowly lifted her head. Her eyes landed on Vera first. For a second, something passed across her face—guilt. Regret. Maybe both. Vera didn’t step closer. She stayed near the door.

Kael stood in front of Lina, calm but dangerous in a way everyone understood. His eyes studied her carefully, like he was scanning a map of threats and opportunities all at once. Aaron leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching.

Your friends broke into my estate tonight, Kael said, his voice steady.

Lina swallowed, but didn’t answer.

Kael continued, They cut the power, disabled part of my security, and went straight to the holding level.

Still silence. Vera’s chest tightened, She wanted Lina to say something

Anything that would explain this, But Lina stayed quiet.

Kael stepped closer. They weren’t looking for Vera, he said. They were looking for you.

That made Vera’s eyes snap toward Lina. The room stayed silent for a few seconds. Then Kael nodded once at Aaron.

Aaron pushed himself off the wall and walked forward. He placed something on the table in front of Lina: a small piece of cloth, cut from the inside lining of a jacket. Lina’s jacket.

Vera frowned.

Aaron spoke. We found this during the search after the attack.

Lina’s breathing changed slightly. Aaron lifted the cloth and flipped it open. Inside was a tiny device: a transmitter, small enough to hide easily. The room went colder.

Vera looked at Lina. “No…” she said quietly.

Lina closed her eyes. That was answer enough.

Aaron exhaled slowly. It was sewn into your clothing, Hidden well. Took one of my men a while to notice.

Kael’s eyes stayed on Lina the entire time. “You’ve been sending signals from inside my estate,” he said.

Lina finally spoke, I didn’t think they would come tonight

Vera felt something inside her drop. You knew..... Vera said, her voice shaking.

Lina looked at her, I tried to stop it

That made Aaron let out a short laugh. Am Sorry.......u tried......Really? he said. Because they knew exactly where to hit.

Vera stepped forward. Tell me this isn’t true, she said, her voice low but intense. Tell me you didn’t help them.

Lina’s eyes filled with emotion. “I didn’t want this to happen like this.”

That wasn’t the answer Vera needed. Her hands curled into fists. “You knew they were coming.”

Lina didn’t deny it. And that hurt more than anything else.

Kael reached for the transmitter on the table and turned it in his fingers. How long? he asked.

Lina looked at him, Since before you brought her here.

The room went still again. Vera stared at her. What!!!! You were already working with them before we... after everything we've been through?

Lina looked down, I didn’t have a choice

Aaron shook his head. There’s always a choice.

Lina looked up sharply. “Not with them.”

Kael studied her, They contacted you after Vera disappeared?

“Yes.”

“They told you to stay close to her?”

Lina nodded slowly. “And report anything about her"

Vera felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs, You were spying on me the entire time, i ...I thought you were my friend...i...I...you....

Lina’s eyes filled with tears, I was trying to protect you

That made Vera laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Protect me?” she said. “You helped them find us.”

“They were already looking,” Lina said quickly. “If I didn’t cooperate, they would have taken you again.”

Aaron spoke from behind them. “And you thought helping them was better?”

Lina’s voice cracked. “You don’t understand who they are.”

Kael set the transmitter back down on the table, Really? is that all you have to say

The room fell silent again. Vera’s chest rose and fell quickly. Her mind was racing, trying to match the Lina she knew with the person sitting in the chair. Her friend. The person she trusted. The person who had been beside her through everything.

You let this happen, Vera said.

Lina shook her head. No, I was trying to delay them.

They broke into the estate tonight, Vera replied. Men died.

Lina flinched, That wasn’t supposed to happen yet.

Kael’s eyes hardened slightly, So they are planning more, he said.

Lina didn’t answer. That was another answer.

Aaron cursed under his breath. “Of course they are.”

Vera felt anger rise inside her. “You knew all this,” she said. “And you said nothing to me.”

Lina looked at her with pain in her eyes. “I was trying to find a way out.”

A way out? Vera repeated.

Yes,

By lying to me every day?

Lina couldn’t meet her eyes.

Kael finally spoke. “Why did they call her their daughter?”

That question froze the room. Lina slowly looked up. Her face changed. Fear. Real fear.

They Told you that? she asked.

Yes.

Lina’s breathing became heavier, I can’t talk about that

Aaron scoffed. “You’re not really in a position to refuse.”

Lina shook her head quickly. You don’t understand, If I say anything—

Kael stepped closer. You already helped them attack my estate. You’re far past the point of worrying about consequences.

Lina looked at Vera again. Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. “They made her.”

The words barely left her mouth.

Vera frowned. “What does that mean?”

Lina looked away. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Kael’s eyes darkened slightly. “You’re going to explain everything.”

Lina shook her head again. “I can’t.”

The room stayed quiet for several seconds. Then Kael reached for the gun at his side. The sound of it leaving the holster made Vera’s heart slam against her chest.

“Wait,” Vera said quickly.

Kael looked at her. Vera stepped forward, standing between him and Lina.

“You can’t just—”

“She betrayed you, Kael said.

“ She was trying to survive, Vera shot back.

She brought enemies into my home, Kael said

Vera’s voice rose, She’s my friend.

The word friend hung in the air.

Kael’s gaze stayed on Vera for a moment, then he looked at Lina again. Lina was watching both of them. Something strange passed over her face—acceptance.

“Vera,” Lina said softly.

Vera looked at her. “I’m sorry.”

Vera shook her head. “Stop saying that like this is over.”

Lina’s eyes moved briefly to Kael, then back to Vera. “You don’t know what they’re capable of.”

“Then tell us,” Vera said.

Lina didn’t answer.

Kael raised the gun slightly. The room seemed to shrink. Aaron didn’t move. The guards stayed still. Vera’s breathing grew uneven.

“You’re really going to do this?” she said to Kael.

“Yes.”

The word hit like a slap.

Vera stared at him in disbelief. “She helped them attack us,” Kael said. “If I allow that, everyone here becomes a target.”

“She’s not just anyone.”

“She made her choice.”

Vera’s voice broke slightly. “You don’t even care.”

Kael didn’t respond.

Lina suddenly spoke again. “They’re not done,” she said.

Everyone looked at her. “They will keep coming.”

Kael’s eyes stayed steady. “I know.”

Lina looked at Vera one last time. “Don’t trust what they tell you about yourself.”

That confused Vera. “What are you talking about?”

But Lina didn’t answer.

Kael pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed through the room.

Vera froze. For a moment, everything inside her went silent.

Lina’s body slumped in the chair. The room smelled like gunpowder again. Vera stared at her friend’s body, unable to move. Her chest hurt. Her hands were shaking.

Slowly, she turned toward Kael. Her eyes were filled with anger. “You killed her.”

Kael didn’t look away.

“She betrayed us.”

“She was trying to survive,” Vera shouted. “She put everyone here in danger.”

Vera’s voice broke. “She trusted me.”

“And she used that trust.”

Those words only made Vera angrier.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes,” Kael said. “I did.”

Vera looked at him like she didn’t recognize him anymore. Maybe she didn’t. Aaron watched both of them carefully, saying nothing.

Vera didn’t stop fighting. Two guards grabbed her arms, but she twisted hard, trying to break free.

“Let me go!” she shouted, struggling toward Lina’s body.

Aaron stepped forward, trying to calm the situation, but Vera was past listening.

“You killed her!” she yelled at Kael, voice shaking.

One of the guards tried to hold her still. She elbowed him hard enough that he lost his grip. She almost reached Lina. That was when Kael moved.

He grabbed her wrist, pulled her back, and before she could react—he struck her. Not violently. Just enough.

Vera went still in his arms, unconscious.

Kael handed her over to the guards. “Take her to her room.”

They didn’t question it. Aaron watched them carry Vera away, his brow slightly furrowed. The attack was still ongoing, but Kael looked… focused on something else.

Kael turned to Aaron. “Check the security grid,” he said.

Aaron nodded and moved off down the corridor, issuing orders into his radio.

Kael looked at the guards still standing there. “Leave us.”

They obeyed immediately. Footsteps faded down the hallway. Silence returned. For a moment, nothing moved.

Then another door opened quietly. A man stepped inside. The doctor. He had been inside the estate for weeks, but most of the staff barely noticed him. Kael didn’t look surprised to see him. He only gestured toward Lina.

“Check her.”

The doctor knelt beside her, opening a small medical kit. A few seconds passed. Then he looked up.

“She’s alive.”

Kael’s expression didn’t change.

“Good.”

The doctor hesitated slightly. “Should I—”

“Patch her up,” Kael said. “No records. No reports.”

He paused. Then added quietly, And no one finds out.