Chapter 4

"..."

I met his eyes directly.

Shook off his hand.

"Don't fucking touch me."

"You suspect me? Zachary, you've got some nerve calling me a traitor."

"Don't I look enough like your dog already?"

I don't know why, but my anger flared up instantly.

For a moment, even I believed how loyal I was to him.

The person across from me stared at me without blinking, saying nothing.

But I knew clearly what that bulge in his pocket was.

Maybe the next second, if he got pissed off.

He could just pull it out, press it to my forehead, and send me to meet my maker.

In the end, after holding it in for a long while,

All he said to me was one sentence.

"Get out of the car."

Huh?

I didn't react, because the car was still going 80 mph.

He suddenly opened the car door and threw me out.

I came to my senses mid-tumble, and before I could count how many bones I'd broken, I staggered to my feet.

The car had already driven far away. I didn't even get to eat its exhaust.

On the roadside in the middle of nowhere, I kicked a tree trunk.

"Fuck."

I was truly fucking innocent.

Because from beginning to end, I never reported Zachary's retreat route to headquarters.

I understood Zachary too damn well.

This guy would definitely set traps for me.

So much for brotherly love—people like him faced betrayal from those closest to them most easily.

So he was suspicious and cautious.

But there was one thing I couldn't figure out.

If I didn't leak it, then where did headquarters get their information from?

Was Zachary bluffing me?

No, it didn't seem like it.

The way he threw me out of the car without mercy.

At least proved he had enough evidence to identify me as the culprit.

Ten days later, Zachary found me again.

At a fried chicken shop.

I'd been staying here these past few days. The owner charged me 20 bucks a night to crash.

My arm was roughly in a makeshift sling, one leg was limping, and I leaned against the wall watching a bunch of old men play cards.

He wore a Burberry trench coat I could never afford in this lifetime.

Hands in his pockets.

Looking down at me.

Smiling:

"How'd you think to hide here?"

"Know how long I've been looking for you?"

I realized I really was like a dog.

He was the bone—when he turned around, I'd come wagging after him.

I'd practically lost all face.

I really wanted to kick him flying, but I was afraid my other leg would go lame too, so I could only roll my eyes at him.

"How would I dare."

"What brings Master Zachary to find me?"

"What, planning to deal with this 'traitor'? Chop off all four limbs?"

I kindly provided him with suggestions for disposing of me, but he just kept smiling.

Reached out and smoothed my hair.

"Really hold grudges."

"We figured it out. It really wasn't Liam who leaked it."

"Our conversation that day was overheard by the police's actual mole."

"I misjudged you, Liam. But you know, in my line of work, what I fear most is people close to me stabbing me in the back."

He looked down and squeezed my shoulder. I could hear the sincerity in his words.

"Forgive me, okay?"

But my heart sank heavily.

Yes, my suspicion was cleared.

Then.

That police undercover who got caught—who exactly was it...?