Chapter 43

(Tony's POV)

I had always prided myself on being able to read people-on seeing past the masks they wore and into their true selves. But tonight, standing in the dimly lit warehouse, there was a sinking feeling in my gut that I couldn't shake. Something wasn't right.

We had just wrapped up a successful mission, or so we thought. The usual banter filled the air as we gathered around, preparing to head out. But as I glanced around, I noticed the strange tension. It was subtle but present-people whispering, stealing glances, avoiding eye contact. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it didn't sit right with me.

And then, in the middle of the conversation, it happened. A gunshot.

My heart skipped a beat as I spun toward the sound, my breath catching in my throat. I saw Julian drop to the floor, clutching his chest. His face was twisted in confusion and betrayal.

My eyes went to the shooter, and my stomach dropped. It was someone from our own team-someone I had known for years.

"What the hell?" I whispered, stepping back, shocked.

The gunman didn't even flinch. He simply lowered the weapon, his face unreadable, detached. "Orders," he said, his voice flat.

My mind raced. Who gave him those orders? And why?

I knelt beside Julian, my hands trembling as I tried to stop the bleeding. But I knew it was too late. His eyes were dull, lifeless, his body limp beneath my hands. The man who had been my trusted ally-my friend-was gone.

"Who did this?" I demanded, my voice harsh, desperate. I turned to the others. My team. My family. But no one spoke. No one met my gaze. The silence was deafening, and I could feel the walls closing in on me.

"Tell me. Now." I wasn't going to let this slide. I needed answers.

Finally, Robison, the veteran who'd been with us the longest, stepped forward. His face was grim, and he looked like he hadn't slept in days. "It wasn't supposed to be like this, Tony. We were ordered to do it."

Ordered? My mind whirled. They had orders to kill Julian-one of us? The thought made my blood run cold.

"I don't care about your orders!" I snapped, my voice raw. "I want names. Now."

Robison's eyes shifted nervously to the others before he whispered, barely audible, "It's the Syndicate. They've infiltrated us. The higher-ups are compromised."

I could feel my heart race. The Syndicate? How had they gotten this deep? Why had they targeted us? This wasn't just a random betrayal. It was planned, calculated, and it made no sense. But it was happening.

My stomach twisted as I tried to wrap my mind around the implications of what Robison had just said. The Syndicate was everywhere, and now they were in our own ranks. I couldn't trust anyone. Not anymore.

I stormed into the briefing room, my thoughts a storm of anger and confusion. My head was pounding, my fists clenched tight by my sides. I had always been loyal-loyal to my team, to my cause. But this this was something else entirely.

"I want the full story. Now!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the tension in the room. My words felt like a demand, a challenge. But it didn't matter. I needed answers.

Vinah, one of the senior agents who had always been quiet but reliable, stood up. Her face was pale, her expression unreadable. She'd been silent until now, and I could see the weight of something heavy on her shoulders. She took a deep breath, as if gathering courage, then looked me in the eyes.

"Tony, it's not what you think," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shook my head. "What is it, then?" I snapped, frustration leaking into my voice. My patience was hanging by a thread. "Tell me what's going on."

Vinah closed her eyes briefly, like she was preparing herself for something. Finally, she spoke. "The Syndicate planted a mole inside our ranks a long time ago. They've been feeding us false intel, controlling our every move. Julian was a liability."

I felt my stomach drop, the words hitting me like a punch to the gut. The Syndicate had been inside us for how long? They had known everything. They had been pulling strings from the shadows, and I had been blind to it.

My fist slammed onto the table, the impact loud in the silent room. "You knew about this and didn't say anything?" I demanded, my voice cracking with rage.

Vinah's eyes flickered with pain, but she didn't back down. "We didn't have a choice." Her voice was barely audible, but the weight of her words was undeniable. "They threatened our families, Tony. They made it clear that if we didn't follow their orders, we'd lose everything. Our families. Our lives."

My thoughts spiraled. My family was my team. My loyalty had always been with them. But now now everything had been poisoned. The Syndicate had us in their grasp, and we were all compromised.

I couldn't trust anyone. Not anymore.

The world I had built, the life I had known, had just shattered. And I didn't know who I was anymore.

But one thing was clear-I had to make a choice. A choice that would determine everything from here on out. And there was no turning back.