BEYOND THE LOVE

CHAPTER 28:

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As we tried to find something to hold the eviscerators at bay, a week went by. Yet, I couldn't shake off the memory of that night when Rein questioned, " Do you have any idea how hard I'm holding back right now?"

"Rein, your coffee is ready," I mentioned, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. But before I could say more, Chriz  began, "Nara, But Rein don–" only to be cut off by Rein asking, "Which one is mine?"
"They're all the same. Pick any," I responded.
I caught a mischievous grin on the Chriz's face. I adjusted my outfit and took a seat side of Rein , draping an arm around him, with Chriz opposite us.

I wish these times could last forever.
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My phone buzzed abruptly. As I glanced at the screen, I narrowed my eyes; the number seemed familiar. Balancing the phone between my ear and shoulder, I continued working on my laptop and answered, "Hello?"

There was silence on the other end. I tried again, "Hello? Who is this?"

A voice finally responded, "Nara... I've learned that you're after the eviscerators, but it won't end there, will it? You'll need us, the Phoenix Syndicate."

I gasped, taken aback by the mention of that name.

"You infiltrated our warehouse, aided the escape of a prisoner, torched the place, and even captured Corvus," the voice continued.

My heart raced, every beat echoing the severity of the situation. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "What do you want?"

There was a pause. "Retribution, Nara. But not just that. We want an alliance. With you hunting the eviscerators and us having the resources, we could be unstoppable together."

I frowned, processing the offer. "And if I refuse?"

Another chilling pause. "Then let's just say that capturing Corvus was only the start of your problems."

I clenched my fist, glancing out the window, wondering what move to make next. The stakes had just gotten higher, and I needed to tread carefully.

I steadied my voice, weighing each word with care. "We are officers, dedicated to upholding the law. Our mission is to take down criminals, and you, the Phoenix Syndicate, fit that description. You expect me to join forces with the very people I've sworn to apprehend? Think again."

The voice on the other end gave a cold, humorless chuckle. "Your bravery is commendable, Nara. But perhaps misguided. Refusing our offer is a choice, one I hoped you wouldn't make. It's unfortunate, really. You could've been an ally, but instead, you've chosen the path of an adversary."

I tightened my grip on the phone. "Your threats don't scare me."

There was a soft sigh from the other end. "It's not a threat, just a simple fact. With us, hunting the eviscerators will be ten times easier, if not impossible. You'll regret missing this chance."

"We'll see about that," I replied defiantly.

I quickly ended the call and headed to the other room where Juan, Suha, Kyoto, and Ji Woon were seated.

"Juan," I inquired, "were you able to trace that call?" He shook his head, "I did everything I could, but I couldn't trace it."

Kyoto looked up, puzzled, "What are you two discussing?"
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Juan ran his fingers through his hair, frustration evident on his face. "It was encrypted, sophisticated. Whoever they are, they've got resources."

Suha,leaned forward. "We need to stay focused. Whether or not we traced the call, the Phoenix Syndicate is making their move."

Ji Woon, looking thoughtful, added, "They've shown their hand. They want Nara on their side. But why? What's so special about the eviscerators?"

I sighed, "It's a bigger picture than we imagined. The eviscerators aren't just another threat; they're a key piece in this intricate puzzle."

Kyoto nodded, "So, do we entertain this alliance? Even if it's just to buy some time?"

I shook my head. "We can't trust them. But we also can't underestimate them. We need a plan."

The room fell silent, each of us lost in our thoughts. The game of cat and mouse with the Phoenix Syndicate had just become more complicated, and the stakes were higher than ever. Whatever decision we made next would shape our fate.
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Over the next few days, our team went through countless strategies, mapping out every potential move, trying to predict the Syndicate's moves and discern their true intentions. It was in one of these strategy sessions that Chief stormed in.

He was a stern man in his late 40s, with salt and pepper hair and sharp black eyes that missed nothing. As head of our department, He was a formidable force and not one to cross. He slammed a file onto the table, his eyes scanning each of us.

It's been five months," he began, his voice seething with impatience. "Five months, and you're still no closer to apprehending the eviscerators. What's the hold-up?"

Juan stood up, attempting to address her concerns, "Chief, it's not that simple. The Phoenix Syndicate approached us with a potential alliance against the eviscerators. They have resources we can't match, making our mission ten times more complicated."

Chief raised an eyebrow. "An alliance? With criminals? Surely, you didn't entertain that idea."

I cleared my throat, stepping forward. "We declined, but they made it clear that without their cooperation, our mission would become almost impossible. They've thrown obstacles in our path at every turn."

She looked me up and down. "So, what's the plan?"

Kyoto spoke up, "We believe there's a mole within our ranks, feeding information to the Syndicate. Our first step is to find and eliminate that leak."

Chief sighed, "A mole? And you've let this go on for five months? What have you been doing all this time?"

Suha, tried to placate her, "We've been gathering intel, trying to track the eviscerators' movements while keeping the Syndicate at bay. It's a delicate balance."

The Chief took a deep breath, trying to keep his anger in check. "Nara, you're leading this operation. I want results. The city is in a state of panic, and every day we delay, the eviscerators grow bolder. I don't care what it takes, but I want them behind bars."

I nodded, determination filled my voice. "Understood, Chief. We won't let you down."

As Chief  exited the room, the weight of the situation became even more apparent. We couldn't afford any more mistakes.