Chapter 17: The final betrayal

Carter was barely conscious, his breathing shallow as he lay on the couch. His face was bruised, his wrists raw from the ropes that had bound him. But he was alive. That was all that mattered.

Michael finished stitching up the wound in my shoulder, his jaw tight. "You could've died."

I exhaled sharply. "So could Carter."

Michael shook his head. "Damien's going to know something's up. We just declared war."

I already knew that.

And I didn't care.

Carter groaned, his eyes fluttering open. "Did we win?"

Michael snorted. "Barely."

Carter tried to sit up, wincing. "We need to finish this."

I met his gaze. "Do you still have the files?"

Carter nodded weakly. "Hidden. If we can get them to the right people…" He trailed off, exhausted.

Michael folded his arms. "And how do we do that before Damien finds us?"

Silence.

I clenched my fists.

We had one last chance to bring Damien down.

And it had to be now.

The plan was simple.

Carter had proof—documents, recordings, enough to bury Damien. If we could get it to the right hands, Damien would be finished.

But we had to move fast.

Michael and I loaded up the car. Carter was too weak to fight, but he could still guide us.

"We need to go to the old cathedral," he said. "The files are hidden there."

Michael raised an eyebrow. "A church?"

Carter smirked. "Even criminals need a place to confess."

I didn't laugh.

I had a bad feeling about this.

The cathedral was empty when we arrived.

Dust filled the air, sunlight streaming through the broken stained-glass windows.

Carter led us toward the altar.

"There's a compartment under the floor," he muttered, kneeling. He pried up a loose wooden panel.

And there it was.

A small black case.

Michael let out a breath. "That's it?"

Carter opened it, revealing stacks of documents and a flash drive. "This is everything."

I reached for it.

Then I heard it.

The click of a gun.

I turned slowly.

And my blood ran cold.

Damien.

Standing at the entrance.

Gun aimed at me.

Smirking like he had already won.

Michael moved first.

Gun drawn.

But Damien had men.

Too many.

They surrounded us, weapons ready.

Michael's jaw tightened.

Carter looked ready to collapse.

And me?

I felt rage.

Pure, burning rage.

Damien chuckled. "Did you really think I wouldn't find you?"

I didn't answer.

Didn't move.

Didn't breathe.

He stepped closer. "I'll take those files now."

I gripped the case. "You're finished, Damien."

He laughed.

A cold, hollow sound.

"Am I?"

Then he snapped his fingers.

And someone else stepped into the room.

My stomach dropped.

It was her.

My stepmother.

Smirking.

Standing at Damien's side.

Betrayal slammed into me like a punch to the gut.

She had been working with him.

All this time.

She looked me over, shaking her head. "You always were a stubborn girl."

I felt sick.

I should've known.

I should've seen it.

Damien smiled. "She told me everything, Winnie. Every little secret."

I clenched my fists.

Michael's grip on his gun tightened.

Carter barely held himself upright.

We were trapped.

And Damien knew it.

"Hand over the case," Damien said. "Or I'll kill you all."

I swallowed hard.

I couldn't let this end like this.

We had come too far.

Carter had almost died for this.

I glanced at Michael.

He gave the smallest nod.

A signal.

I took a slow step forward. "Fine."

Then—

I threw the case.

Right at Damien's face.

The moment he flinched—

Michael fired.

The room exploded into chaos.

Gunshots.

Shouting.

I lunged, grabbing the case as bullets flew past me.

Michael tackled one of Damien's men.

Carter staggered, barely able to move.

I grabbed his arm. "Run!"

We bolted.

Dodging bullets.

Scrambling through the cathedral doors.

Michael covered us, firing as we ran for the car.

We made it.

We sped off.

Leaving Damien screaming in rage behind us.

Back at the safe house, we didn't speak.

We just sat there.

Breathing.

Shaking.

Alive.

I clutched the case to my chest.

It was over.

Almost.

One last move.

One last step.

We had the proof.

Now, we just had to expose Damien to the world.