Chapter 109: Who Betrays First?
The gunfire blasted through the skyscraper like thunder, breaking the heavy silence in Zayden’s office. Bullets bounced off the reinforced windows, and guards were shouting orders in the halls below. Aylin crouched behind the desk, gripping her knife tightly, her mind racing, Alpha’s crew? Here already? Zayden was barking orders into his comms, using his body to shield her from the door. Leo was firing back from the doorway, the smell of gunpowder hanging thick in the air.
But just as fast as it started, it stopped. No breach. No injuries reported on Zayden’s side. Just a flurry of bullets that scarred the outside and disappeared into the night.
Zayden narrowed his eyes as he put his gun away. "Not an attack. Just a warning."
Leo nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Classic Alpha, but too coordinated. Too neat for his wild gang."
"Maksim," Zayden growled. "He’s teamed up with Alpha again. That was his signature move, hit and run, minimal damage. He’s telling us he’s keeping tabs."
Aylin’s heart was racing. After two years on the run, the wolves were closing in. "They know I’m here. Someone on your team is spilling info to them."
Zayden shot her a glance, his expression dark with unspoken anger. "They won’t get to you. Not while I’m around. You’re mine."
She stood up, knife still in hand. "I’m not yours. But if they’re back together, we need to act fast."
He smirked, a dangerous gleam in his blue eyes. "Oh, we’re on the move. But first, we’ll play their game." Then he turned to Leo and said, "Figure out who’s feeding them our info. Because only we knew she was coming."
She looked at Zayden and said, "Maybe it’s not someone, but something." Her eyes shifted to the plant, where a red light was blinking.
*****
Selina’s heels clicked loudly on the marble floor, each step counting down the time left. Below her, the Hudson stretched out like a dark mirror, taunting her confinement. Teaming up with Maksim Karza and Alpha Dark felt like stepping into a trap. She had ditched Alpha two years ago because of non-stop power struggles, fights over territory, and betrayals that tore them apart over women and weapons. Back then, she’d sided with Maksim. Now, they were back together to take down Hazard King’s crumbling empire, definitely a short-term solution at best and totally ridiculous at worst.
She grabbed the scotch bottle, poured herself a shot, and slammed it down. The burn hit her throat hard, matching the anger coursing through her veins. Her reflection glared back at her, sharp features outlining a scarred soul, eyes hollow from too much booze. "Alpha played me like a fool from the start," she muttered. He’d sweet-talked her with lies about power, used her smartness, and then tossed her to Maksim when it suited him. A tough lesson learned, allies can vanish in no time, and her mother was killed in a brutal power grab. Her instincts screamed, "They’re using you again, idiot."
Her phone buzzed with an encrypted message from a shadowy contact, "HK’s got Lunel. Big deal."
A wild grin spread across her face. Lunel was a game-changer. She remembered how the girl always managed to slip away whenever they caught her. Alpha and Maksim had big plans to crush HK together, but cracks were starting to show. Maksim’s ego was swelling, while Alpha’s greed was eating him alive. They’d turn on each other the second they thought they were winning. Selina needed to pick a winner. Or be the winner herself.
Her plan fell into place, act like a loyal pawn, and feed them details about HK. But once the trap was set, she knew HK would be too smart to fall for it, she’d switch sides. She’d back whoever came out on top or grab the crown for herself.
At first, she thought her best bet was to betray both of them by anonymously leaking their locations to HK. Let them take each other down. Survival was all about timing, not loyalty.
But a little voice inside nudged her, "Go with Hazard King. Help him now. He’ll forgive you once Maksim’s out of the picture. Lunel with HK? That’s Maksim’s worst nightmare. He always worried about those two working together because he knew they’d be unstoppable." A wave of worry washed over her, "The guy who made Alpha get rid of his own brother? Mercy? Zero. How long until he turns on me?"
Selina’s fingers flew across her phone screen. She sent the same intel to both snakes.
She sent a message to Alpha, "East service entrance. HK tower. Light guard tonight; go for it. Lunel is inside, ripe for the taking. Or maybe you can send a warning."
Then she sent the same thing to Maksim.
Now, for the real move, a hidden server sending an untraceable ghost message she had buried deep. She guessed he had Lunel now, and he’d probably figure out who was behind the message and go on high alert.
"Alpha and Karza are both hitting your east service. 02:00–02:30. They’ll go at it like crazy dogs, thinking they’ll catch you off guard. Use it. I’m ’loyal’ to them. For now," she wrote.
She crushed the glass in her fist, blood trickling from the cut. "Pretend to play nice with the snakes. But when they’re bleeding out? I’ll feast."
*****
Maksim Karza relaxed in his leather chair, a cigar smoldering between his fingers. His office in a Brooklyn high-rise was buzzing with action, guys were loading weapons, and techies were hacking into feeds. Teaming up with Alpha was all about playing it smart; HK’s throne was too much for one person, but together, they were a force to be reckoned with. Selina coming back was a nice bonus since her intel on Alpha’s weak spots was super handy.
But Maksim wasn’t blind to what was really going on. Alpha had that look of betrayal during their last meeting. There were little signs, slow replies, and secretive plans. He was definitely plotting to take Maksim out.
