Chapter 2

The early autumn sun was beautiful.

I followed Damien to his deal.

His contact this time was infamous, known as "Black Panther."

Based on the intel I passed on, the police should have already set up at the transaction site.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly.

Damien never shied away from my presence at any major event.

I couldn't stop thinking, I could finally go home.

Finally, I wouldn't have to stand in the shadows. Finally, I could go home.

I couldn't even imagine how happy I'd be when I pulled out my gun, pressed it against Damien's head, and told him, "I'm a cop."

Footsteps echoed down the corridor. Both Damien and Black Panther frowned.

The door was kicked open simultaneously.

I instantly drew my gun and pressed it against the forehead of the man sitting beside me.

"I'm sorry, I'm a po—"

Before I could finish, Captain Miller's voice crackled through my hidden earpiece.

"Operation terminated. Kira, you cannot arrest this man."

"...The police are here."

My pistol barely grazed Damien's forehead, the bullet hitting the wall behind the door.

Immediately, everything erupted into chaos.

These anti-drug officers who stormed in weren't actually there to catch fugitives; they were putting on a show.

What's more, their firepower wasn't even as strong as what Damien and Black Panther had brought.

"Kira, your primary mission is to protect Damien."

"He's a key witness. We can't lose our lead with you."

The final order came through my earpiece.

Damien grabbed me and ran.

The anti-drug police were lenient with Black Panther's men, but for Damien, it was real bullets.

As whistling bullets flew past, I stumbled, still wearing my heels.

"Move!"

Damien practically grit his teeth as he dragged me, uttering that.

But I stood there, unmoving.

"Go!!"

His voice was almost hoarse from shouting.

Amidst the commotion, I turned to where my Captain stood, gun raised, pointing it at me.

I admit, for a moment.

I didn't want to be this damn undercover agent anymore.

If I just took that step, if I fully exposed myself, I wouldn't be undercover anymore.

Captain Miller would surely take me back.

But the moment I hesitated, Captain Miller didn't hesitate to fire a shot at me.

In that critical moment, Damien pulled me aside.

But he was hit by a bullet.

Instantly, blood gushed from his abdomen.

Yet he still gripped my hand tightly, pulling me to run outside.

"I'm sorry, Damien, I didn't know…"

But before I could finish, Molly, Damien's step-sister, slapped me.

"This is all because of you! My brother is so badly hurt because of you! You're such a bitch!"

She yanked my hair.

My scalp stung from the pulling, but I didn't dare say another word.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Damien in the backseat, his head bowed as he tended to his wound.

He didn't even glance at me.

Before, if anyone dared to hit me, he would have ended their life.

"I was just… so scared."

I kept my head down, explaining non-stop. There was nothing else I could do; I was back here, and I had to fight for my survival. I still had a mission.

Showing weakness, playing coy — those were my usual tactics against him.

He always used to go soft on me.

But this time…

After bandaging his wound, he finally looked up.

He pulled out a gun and pressed it against my forehead.

"Just now, I distinctly heard you say you were a cop. Care to explain, Ms. Kira?"