The tension in the office had faded, but it wasn't peace that brought the stillness—just a heavy silence. Ezra Kane sat rigid in his chair, heart racing from the words he had just let slip: "I've given you everything… I want to give you All Of Me." Those words lingered in the air like smoke—unreturnable and impossible to overlook.
Kael stood frozen, still reeling from the confession. He was shrouded in flickering light from the holo-display, his expression unreadable as his eyes scrutinized Ezra, searching for any hint of untruth. Ezra felt a burn in his throat; each moment Kael remained silent felt like a fresh wound being inflicted.
Before Kael could respond, Luka's hologram blinked back to life again, his cybernetic eye flashing with urgency. "Boss," Luka said, his voice tense. "Nico's on his own this time in the Warehouse District. He's got something—it looks like a virus core."
Kael's attention snapped away from Ezra, his jaw tightening with resolve. "Where?"
"Warehouse 7."
As Kael's van glided silently through the deserted industrial area, the city's distant glow faded into darkness. The hum of the engine felt disproportionately loud, heightening Ezra's anxiety. He sat stiffly across from Kael, grappling with the tension from his earlier confession: I was working for Nico… but I fell for you. He struggled to meet Kael's gaze.
Kael hadn't fully replied; he merely instructed Luka to track the signal and warned Ezra in an icy tone, "If you're going to stand with me now, show it." Those words struck deep, like a knife in Ezra's heart.
The van came to a screeching halt in front of the warehouse, the imposing structures looming against the dark sky. The air was thick with the scent of oil and rust, punctured only by the occasional sound of drips from aging pipes. Luka's hologram flickered in Kael's hand, delivering clipped updates: "Warehouse 7. Nico's trapped. Signal shows he's trying to transmit."
Kael's jaw hardened. "Block all exits."
They moved quickly. Ezra felt a burn beneath his bandaged arm as he followed Kael through the warehouse doors, the clang of their footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness.
At the far end, illuminated by a flickering overhead light, stood Nico. His suit was wrinkled, hair falling over his face, gripping a small drive while a transmitter flickered beside him.
"Nico," Kael's voice sliced through the air, sharp and commanding. "This is over."
Nico turned, and upon seeing Ezra, a twisted, bitter smile spread across his face. "So, this is where it ends. Not by Veyra's machines or your empire's demise, but with him." He pointed the drive at Ezra. "My weapon. My pawn. My betrayal."
Ezra felt shame wash over him, gripping at his throat. "Nico—"
"You really believe he loves you, Ezra?" Nico's voice broke with a twisted laugh. "He doesn't love anyone. That was the point. I gave you direction. I put my trust in you. And you chose him."
But before Ezra could respond, Kael stepped in front of him, fierce anger in his eyes. "You've manipulated him," Kael spat. "Turned him into your game piece. That ends tonight."
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**To be continued**...