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I quickly hung up the phone so that Alexander wouldn't be able to catch the lie that slipped from my mouth, still having at least ten more minutes before I arrived to the set destination.

Our conversation was starting to shatter the carefully constructed mask I created to meet Efren once again and I couldn't let that happen.

Five minutes away from my destination, I parked my car into any empty space on the side of the road. Realizing that I still had the dog tag around my neck and the wedding band around my finger, I quickly removed them and stowed them away in the glove department of the car. As I looked at my empty left hand, I saw a faint imprint of the ring and I couldn't help but smile at the bittersweet memories as I felt a feeling of tightness at my throat.

Come on. For their safety.

With a deep breath and taking my burner phone with me, I stepped out of the car and into the brisk air. Even knowing that they would probably disarm me as soon I see them, I still safely tucked my handgun into the waistband of my jeans. The weapon pressed firmly against the middle of my back became my only sense of comfort.

I started jogging to the meeting point. Before I left, I checked up on where I was supposed to be meeting Efren and realized that it was an abandoned three-floor apartment complex sandwiched between other buildings so old that people have abandoned the area a long time ago. It has been taken by the gangs and made into somewhat their hideout. There were so many of them that the cops don't even tend to drive around this area and any criminal activity that tend to happen here, law authorities tend to turn a blind eye.

As soon as I got closer, I felt everyone staring at me as I approached the main entry to the abandoned apartment building. A man was sitting relaxed on a chair shirtless in front of the door I needed to get through. Scrawny with a sleeve of tattoos and a burning cigarette in his hands, he smirked at me and scanned my body from top to bottom. Since I was simply wearing a pair of jeans and a thick black hoodie, there wasn't really much for him to look at to make me feel vulnerable, but his disgusting smirk gave me the creeps and made my skin crawl. Keeping my face impassive, I stepped forward to walk past him but he quickly caught my left wrist.

"Girlie, do you- "He was croaking through his sentence when I cut him off icily.

"If you don't let my arm go, I will rip yours clean out of your sockets." I maintained eye contact with him until he was the one to turn away first.

He yanked his hand away from my wrist as if I had burned him and almost began blubbering.

Rolling my eyes, I walked in and headed straight for the stairs. Apparently, I was meeting Efren Carter in room 204. On my way, I had the urge to plug my nose. It smelled absolutely disgusting here. A mix of stale alcohol, smoke, and vomit.

Calculating where room 204 would be, I taped on my device right underneath when no one was looking. My only negotiation strategy since I didn't trust Efren with the safety of my parents.

Immediately as I got near the staircase, there was already someone on waiting there, standing stiffly. Compared to the only other man I've seen at this apartment building so far, he was much better dressed and a lot more hygienic. Without saying anything, he simply eyed me carefully as I made my way past him to walk up the narrow set of stairs. I paid him little attention as I walked up, but was aware enough that I would know if he made a move against me.

As soon as I was at the top the stairs, I attuned my senses to any movement, hyper aware of my surroundings as I approached the room 204. The moment I stood in front of the door, something felt off. It was absolutely too quiet. Lifting my hoodie slightly, I tugged out my gun and held it pointing forwards with my right hand as I opened the door with my left, ready to shoot if necessary.

Opening the door, I saw him again.

Efren Carter was sitting on a chair that faced the door with a smug smile on his crooked face and leisurely held a gun pointed towards me. He was dressed in a brown suit with his black hair slicked back. Next to him on each side stood men wearing classic black clothing that were very similar to the ones who kidnapped me a few weeks ago. There were three more men in the room, meaning there was a total of six of them with me in this room. Except Efren, all were wearing a complete black outfit with their guns pointed towards me.

"Well, isn't this just welcoming, Efren." My voice lacked emotion and I kept my face impassive.

"Of course, Ice, or should I say Vita Simmons?"

All of us had code names during our missions and the name Ice was what Efren knew me as before. He must have recently found out my real name because I never told him.

"Where are they?" I asked briskly as I stood very still, keeping my gun pointed towards Efren.

He smirked at me as if he had all the world in his hands. "We agreed two for two. You brought the USB, didn't you?"

"Perhaps." My answer to his question must have flipped off his relaxed switch because his eye twitched slightly from annoyance.

"Must I remind you that you are not in a position to make demands?"

"Really?" With my left hand, the one that I wasn't using to hold my gun, I reached into my pocket and got out my detonator. It was just slightly larger than an average rectangular eraser.

Efren eyed the remote in my hand very carefully. "What is that?"

"This?" The corner of my lips turned upwards into a small smirk. "It's something called a detonator. You know what that means right?"

His eyes narrowed fiercely at me, then burst out laughing. "You wouldn't dare."

"Are you sure? There's one thing you value more than your ambitions and revenge."

"And what is that?"

"Your own life." I paused as I saw a slight flinch, making a feeling of satisfaction flood through my veins. "However, I won't be living long anyways. What does it matter to me if I die a little earlier? Though, dying with a boom would certainly leave a big impression wouldn't it? Taking you all with me?"

Efren paled just slightly as he realized how serious I was. "You are fu*king insane."

I gave a sardonic chuckle. "After what I've went through, I can't say I've remained a hundred percent sane. Maybe I'll just..." I trailed off as I pressed the button.

The room burst into chaos as Efren tripped over his own feet trying to get out of this room. Two of his minions were already out the door.

It was just so amusing that I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"What the hell is going on?!" Efren's face was red with rage.

"Guess we can really see who's loyal to you. Don't worry Efren, you're not dying yet. It's a dead man's switch. The moment I let go..." I trailed off to let them guess.

"You crazy b*tch!" Efren threw profanities at me, but it only made me happier. "Watch your threats because with one call, your parents are dead."

"Well, the moment you do, I'll be dragging you down to hell with me. So, Efren Carter, I'll ask again. Where are they?"

Efren hesitated. "The moment your parents are safe, how can I guarantee you won't blow us all up anyways?"

"You have my word," I replied through gritted teeth.

"I don't trust you."

"You really don't have a choice right now, Carter. I don't know if you noticed or not, but I don't really care too much about my life. Choose."

He must have understood that I meant the truth because he took a moment to pause and decide. "Give me your gun. Then I'll trust you."

I knew that there was no other way for me to get out of this so I tossed him my gun and he caught it with a look of surprise on his face. "If you want to check if I'm lying about the bomb, you can always send someone downstairs to check. But, make sure he doesn't touch it because it's very sensitive and will probably auto detonate."

Efren eyed one of his men and that guy promptly left the room. A few moments later, he came back and nodded towards Efren.

"So?" I demanded an answer, because I couldn't drag this on any longer.

"They're still back at our base, guarded by two of my men." Efren gritted out the words unwillingly.

"Get the two men and make them take both agents to the closest hospital. Drop the two agents off at the emergency entrance, then we will wait for the hospital to call Alexander's phone."

Efren opened his mouth to say something, but promptly closed it and pulled out his phone. Clicking a few times, he held the phone to his ear. "Take them to the nearest hospital."

Whoever was on the other side of the line must have been confused because they talked back.

"Did you not understand me? Take them to the nearest hospital." Efren shut his phone off and lifted both arms in a surrendering sign. "Done."

"Now we wait." I pulled out my phone and tapped into Alexander's. I am now able to hear every conversation that passes through Alexander's phone.

Suddenly, I heard the floorboards start creaking from behind me and I shook the detonator in my hand to show Efren. "Tell your man from behind me to stop moving. I will let go."

Efren immediately narrowed his eyes at the man that was moving towards me and signaled him to back off. All the men obediently remained still, not daring to make another move towards me. It was at least fifteen minutes later that Alexander received a call and my heart started to beat a little faster in anticipation.

"Hello, may I speak to Alexander Blades?" I heard a women's voice through my phone.

"Speaking." Alexander's baritone voice answered back and hearing his voice again caused an odd feeling to surface from within me, but I quickly snuffed it out.

"You were listed as the emergency contact of Luke and Sophie Simmons, correct?"

"Yes."

"They were rushed into emergency not too long ago- "The feeling of relief rushed through me as I realized that Efren did as he was told.

"Which hospital."

"St. Marie Hospital."

"I'll be there soon."

"Great, we'll be expecting you." The call quickly ended and I knew that I succeed the task that I came here to do.

"Well?" Efren eyed the detonator being looking back at me.

"Now, I suggest we get out of this building while my finger is still on the switch." I told all of them as I shoved my phone back into my pocket.

I was sandwiched between Efren's men as we walked out and as soon as we were out, I let go of the switch and there was a small explosion inside the building near room 204.

"Holy- "Efren jumped up slightly from the shock of the explosion and everyone was distracted by the bomb going off.

I used this chance to slip towards Efren and grab him in a choke hold from behind with my right arm.

Efren's men quickly realized what was happening and yanked out their guns and pointed them towards me.

"Simmons, rethink- "Efren was trying to talk but I immediately cut him off.

"I gave you my word that I wasn't going to blow you up, but I didn't say I was going to go with you willingly," I snarled into his ear and quickly yanked out the switch knife that I carried in here just in case. As I clicked the button, the knife popped out and I quickly aimed it towards Efren's neck.

"If you kill me, they'll immediately kill you." Desperation leaked from Efren's voice and I couldn't help but chuckle sardonically.

"So? At least I'll be taking you with me." I moved my hand to slash his throat when I heard a gun go off from behind me. I felt a bullet graze my right shoulder and my choke hold weakened.

Efren took this chance to break free. I quickly turned around and realized that the man that was guarding the building before was given a gun. His hands were shaking so badly that he could barely hold the gun up straight. I leaped towards him and yanked the gun out of his hands before he could blink. Clipping him right between his eyes, I felt someone else tackle me to the ground and slam my head against the ground. My vision dotted black and everything became fuzzy.

Not giving up at my only chance at killing Efren, I pointed the gun in his direction and fired a few times before the one that tackled me to the ground threw a fist at my face. I took my attention off Efren and fired at the man that just punched me. He fell limply against me as I felt a searing pain on my left thigh. I knew someone must have fired their gun after getting a clear shot at me.

I quickly blinked my eyes, trying to get my vision to clear up, but the world started to spin.

Pointing the gun that I held in my hand towards my own head, I was about to pull the trigger but in my moment of hesitation, someone ripped the gun out of my hands and knocked me out by slamming the butt of my gun against my temple. Immediately, I fell unconscious.

*

I didn't know where the hell I was, but this room was barely lit. 'Room' seems to be too much of a generous word for this square box made fully of metal.

I was forced to stand with my arms tied together above me. My feet were planted flat on the ground, but I was chained to this metal box by my ankles. My shoulder ached and I could still feel the blood trickling down my back and down my leg. It either meant less time passed than I thought or I was injured far worse than I realized.

My head continued to pound from the result of receiving multiple hits towards my head as I gingerly analyzed every nook and cranny of this metal room. Other than my injuries, headache, and feeling like the room was swaying back and forth, I was still alive. I didn't know if I should be happy or regret that I've come this far.

I wasn't lost in my thoughts for long when I heard the only door to this room creak open. When I looked up, it was Efren that walked in with his neck as wrapped in white bandages and his left arm in a sling. I smirked lazily at him when I realized that I was able to do some damage before I was subdued.

Efren saw the smug look on my face and immediately slapped me. My head whipped to the side from the impact and it stung, but it never erased the look of success I had on my face.

Suddenly, he gripped my injured leg, pressing his thumb down on the bullet still lodged in my upper thigh. I immediately gritted my teeth and refused to make a sound as pain erupted, consuming my thoughts.

"Not laughing anymore?" Efren taunted me as he pressed even harder for a few seconds before letting go. "You know, ever since you slaughtered everyone in the compound before you escaped, I always dreamt how I'd torture you when I would finally find you again."

I didn't say anything as he walked a full circle around me before he stood right in front of me again.

"Before we start, I have someone I'd like you to meet." Efren smirked at me, then burst out laughing. "Come on in."

The door to this steel cell opened and in walked someone I thought I'd never see again. I was so shocked that my impassive mask fell and my eyes widened slightly. "C-Caden-"

Just as a feeling of happiness and relief overtook me, it quickly disappeared when I realized what this meant. It suddenly all made sense. She must have been the reason why Efren had so much information.

Fury erupted in my veins and I fought against the metal that chained me in this cell, struggling fiercely to break the bonds so that I could run towards her and take her down.

Her betrayal burned the roots of our deeply founded friendship into ashes. "You. Fu*king. TRAITOR!"

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Hope you enjoyed reading this long awaited chapter back to Vita's POV. (>..0)

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Yours truly,

InvincibleBunny