Author's POVLoud echoes of bangs resonated in the room, while Amy had been unfazed about it. She didn't bother to wear headphones and glasses for caution. Her arm laid straight as she continued to push the trigger of the gun, firing the bullets on the target that stood 100 meters away.
She had been pissed and guilty at the same time. She was pissed because she didn't want things to be revealed like this. She had thought of revealing her identity by herself and not being exposed by someone else. And surely the idea was ruined by none but her damn partner in crime, Edward.
She was guilty because she hid the fact for so long that it hurt her brother. Her brain was hit with flashbacks of Alex's disappointed face. She had betrayed him bad. She couldn't even explain herself to Jay. It never bothered her in the past to explain her actions to people. She didn't care. In the end, what she achieved only mattered, not bothering whether her acts had tarnished male egos.
But since her dear husband had entered her life. She couldn't help but seek his acceptance and validation, which was so unlikely of her. These 2 words never entered her dictionary. It was only money and power. But she knew she had to let him go. But she couldn't make up her mind; she still considered him her husband. Her ring hadn't slipped off her finger. She never removed any memory of her husband. Yes, she hadn't submitted the divorce papers to the court.
Her chain of thoughts delved deeper while her fingers subconsciously triggered the gun, firing the bullets. A sigh escaped her lips as she finally yanked the gun to the corner.
"Firing bullets won't help the horses in your mind."
A sudden voice interrupted but she knew to whom it belonged. Eric.
The most sane one in the group. Calm and collected. The one who held the group together, no matter what the conflicts were, he would make things easy.
Eric: Look, I did try to stop Ed but he had gone nuts.
Amy couldn't help but agree.
Eric: But being isolated and not talking things out can lead to problems. We have gotten close to our target, our last mission, which will either lead us to the freedom that we wished for or, death. You and Ed need to be working together on this. You are the only one who could help all of us be free.
Amy's eyes screwed shut. She remembered her days with them, being tortured for months, just to make a cruel weapon out of her and them. She was forced to kill and do things against her will, but to survive, you can either kill or be killed in the underworld, there was no place for mercy. If she would had revealed herself as a girl, things would be worse, she couldn't imagine. They would either sell her, keep her as an escort or be a damn trophy or a toy for men. Her blood boiled at the thought.
She kept her identity hidden for a while until Edward saw her almost naked. Embarrassment was a better term to define it. But it was vice-versa. She couldn't deny that the guys had been roaming around half-naked all the time and talking about all kind of stuffs that were more than embarrassing and nasty. Since the revelation, they had become a team, and their goals were the same. Freedom was the thing they all wished for. They helped Amy hide her identity and supported her. Her sudden chain of thoughts broke.
Eric: Remember, we all promised.
Amy knew Eric was right, she had always listened to what the elder had to say. She understood his intention and accepted the thought of talking to Ed.
Amy: fine.
With that, she left the room for the hidden office, where Ed had always been after their boss's death. They were partially free. If Ed wanted, he could leave the clan and lead a peaceful life like others. But he couldn't leave Amy behind, she was in danger. Since they had been a part of the clan, not to mention the strongest ones, every other clan had been on their backs. The fact that the heir is still unknown was a plus point that made them even more desperate. Their rivals still couldn't figure out that the heir was a woman.
Even though Amy had purposely held a grand party for everyone in the underworld, no one could figure it out. She even dared to greet each one of the leaders who stood clueless in front of her. They had all mistaken her for the mistress of the late boss. While all she did was smirk at them. Some of them had tried to hit on her, while all she did was flirt back at them.
She finally reached the office, entering in, not caring to knock on the door. She barely visited the office, every time she stepped in, all she remembered was her decision to join the clan and after that, there was no looking back.
Edward: You finally planned to show up.
She spotted Edward standing near the table. Amy didn't meet his gaze.
Amy: It's not like I'm dying to. But I have no options left.
Sure they both were high on egos.
Edward: you are still sulking. Ash. It's not like you. That piece of trash of a so-called husband has made you change. Forget him. It was a sham marriage.
Amy scowled at his words.
Amy: No Shit Sherlock. I'm here to help with the plan and once we succeed, we'll be free. That's it.
Edward: There isn't any assurance, Ash. It might backfire.
Amy: Death is inevitable.
Edward: I can't let you die.
Amy: I can't let you die either.
Edward: You are the heir.
Amy: You are our leader.
Edward: That means I need to save the master.
Amy: I need to save my assets (people) too.
Edward: I love you.
That was enough for her to shut up. She couldn't retort. Things had already escalated in another direction. From loathing her husband to confessing his feelings again, which he knew wasn't going to affect her. Amy couldn't retort any further. Edward took slow steps towards her, finally reaching an inch away from her. His fingers almost touched her face but he restrained his urge to do so. Drawing his hand away, he looked at her hurt.
Edward: I was first. I was with you for years. I knew from the start that you were pretending to be a man. I had protected you from everything. We promised together to get the freedom that we wanted. I was there for you, always. While that shit of a husband of yours did nothing but question you, he blamed you for everything! He won't even want to see your face now. So why can't it be me?
Amy knew he was right. Each of his words were true. But she couldn't choose him. She knew she had no feelings. And she couldn't afford to hurt him more than he already was. After a moment of silence, Amy spoke.
Amy: We need to work on the plan.
Edward sighed, not speaking any further as they walked towards the large table.
Amy spotted a large architectural map of a building. It was complex.
Edward: It's a damn maze. We can lure them in there and get rid of each of them.
Amy: how?
Edward: All we need to do is let them know that we are joining hands with a Russian clan.
Amy raised a brow, wanting him to explain further.
Edward: A rumour basically, we'll send an invitation to a grand party to all. We need to pretend and make them believe that the heir is going to seal the deal. And obviously, those dogs are going to sniff for an opportunity to get you. And we are going to bomb that place.
Amy seemed sceptical about the idea. It sounded like mass suicide. If they didn't make it out of that place in time. This was going to be the end of it all. But this could also bring down the four big clans and finally set them free. Leaving the underworld was a big deal. If you stop and live a peaceful life, people are still going to hunt you down.
Those big clans want nothing but to slit away the possible threats before the others ruin their future. And she couldn't afford any destruction to her loved ones. She wasn't scared of death. In a way, it was an option to put away the misery. Either in this world or forever.
There was a sudden commotion of hurried footsteps outside as the door busted, Mateo and Carlos looking panicked, making Amy and Edward frown.
Mateo: Dr. Jay...
He trailed off as he held a tablet in front of her. The screen displayed the camera footage of a car running off the bridge and down the cliff at midnight as the flames illuminated the surroundings in the dark. The car was none other than Jay's.
Amy felt her heart drop. She didn't expect the worst to come this early. She thought she had secured safety for Jay once she parted ways from him. But looking at the screen felt like a nightmare; she didn't want to believe it.
Carlos: He- He's dead.
Her world crashed. She felt her ears ringing, the thing she feared the most now was in front of her. The fact that Jay had purposely driven to her place to alarm her had turned futile. She couldn't save him. He wanted her help. Her trembling hands caressed the screen where the flames and smoke flared up the cliff. Her knees felt stiff, causing her to stumble. But Edward had been quick to hold her in place.
It was too late.
The more she stared the screen the more her heart ached. But there was a sudden change of emotion, her eyes flickered from sorrow to a dark gleam.
Revenge.
She didn't blink.
Amy: They'll pay.
