Zee's POV
The plan had been in motion for days now, each of us in our roles, coordinating quietly with the teams we'd gathered. Joong and I had worked seamlessly together, each taking the lead where the other lacked. His strategic mind was sharp, always thinking several steps ahead. I admired him for that, though I didn't let it show. I couldn't afford to get distractedânot now.
Today was the day we were going to push forward and gather the final pieces of intel. The warehouse operation had already been confirmed, but we needed moreâa layout of the inner workings, the routes the money took, and any security weaknesses.
I checked in with the team, ensuring everything was ready. The location was covered, and the backup plans were in place. Joong was already suited up, ready for action, his usual calm demeanor still present despite the mounting pressure.
"Ready?" I asked, my voice low but firm.
Joong nodded, his focus unwavering. "Ready. Let's get this done."
We had it planned out perfectly. We'd go in, get the information, and get out. The warehouse was heavily guarded, but we had the right contacts. We were in and out before anyone had time to react. Or so we thought.
The first phase went smoothly, too smoothly. Joong worked like clockworkâhis movements fluid, precise. I was impressed at how well he blended in with the team, a master at his craft. We got in and out, all the while gathering the intel we needed.
But then the last phase of the operation turned sour.
I'd known something was off the moment the alarm went off. A backup plan had been triggered prematurely, and suddenly we were swarmed. There was shouting, the sound of boots hitting concrete, and the unmistakable threat of being caught.
"We've got to move, Zee!" Joong shouted over the chaos, his voice cutting through the noise.
I nodded, adrenaline pumping through me. We needed to get to the exit, and fast. But as we sprinted toward the back of the warehouse, I heard a loud crash. My heart stopped when I saw Joong go down, tackled by one of the guards.
"Joong!" My voice was a shout of pure panic, my body moving before my mind could fully process what was happening.
I rushed toward him, throwing myself into the fray. My focus narrowed to one thing and one thing onlyâgetting Joong out of there. My thoughts raced, but everything felt like it was happening in slow motion.
The guard who had knocked Joong down was preparing to take him out, but I couldn't let that happen. I tackled him from behind, knocking him to the ground and using all my strength to pin him. The sound of punches and the crack of bones made my heart race faster, but I wasn't focused on the fightâI was focused on Joong.
"Get up, Joong," I ordered as I turned to check on him. He was still on the ground, breathing heavily but conscious.
"I'm good," Joong grunted, pushing himself up with one hand. His face was bruised, but his eyes were sharp. "Just need a second."
I couldn't breathe properly until I saw him move, saw that he was still okay. In that moment, everything elseâthe mission, the team, the intelâfaded away. It was just Joong.
"Come on," I urged, pulling him to his feet. "We need to get out of here."
I kept an arm around him, helping him move toward the exit. Every second felt like an eternity. As we neared the door, I could hear more guards closing in on us, their footsteps quickening. We were running out of time.
We reached the escape point, and just as I was about to usher Joong out, a figure stepped into my path. A guard, blocking the way.
I instinctively stepped in front of Joong, ready to fight. My heart was pounding, but there was no fearânot anymore. I couldn't lose him.
"Zee, don't," Joong said, his voice low, but I could hear the urgency in it. He was trying to pull me back, trying to protect me, and that's when I realizedâhe was worried about me.
"Get back!" the guard shouted, brandishing a gun.
Everything happened in a flash after that. I grabbed Joong's arm and pulled him down, just as the guard fired. The shot missed, but it was too close for comfort.
I pushed Joong ahead of me, leading him out of the warehouse and into the night. The sound of footsteps and shouts echoed behind us, but we didn't stop. We couldn't.
By the time we reached the safe house, both of us were battered and bruised, but we had the intel. More importantly, we were alive.
Joong collapsed onto the couch, breathing heavily. I stood by the door, looking over the case files one last time. The mission was successfulâbarelyâbut the adrenaline was still coursing through me.
"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice hoarse.
Joong glanced up at me, a wry smile on his face. "I should be asking you that. I've seen you take a lot of hits, but that was... something else."
I couldn't help but chuckle, though the concern in my chest was still there. "I'm fine. Just glad we made it out."
But then Joong's expression changed. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes scanning me as if trying to find the right words.
"Zee... I'm glad you're here," he said softly.
I froze, not sure if I'd heard him right. "What?"
Joong's voice lowered even further, the tone softer than I had ever heard it. "I mean it. Iâ" He stopped himself, looking away for a moment. "I'm glad you're here with me. You could've left me behind, but you didn't. You kept me safe."