Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

HOPE

A n Abandoned Airstrip in

The French Alps

The sharp mountain air of the French Alps cut through Hope's lungs like shards of glass as she crouched behind a stack of crates, her heart pounding in her chest. The Cerberus team had moved in under the cover of darkness, their objective clear: take down the Cobra and stop the Obsidian Cartel's deadly plan from coming to fruition. The stakes had never been higher, and every nerve in Hope's body was on high alert.

She glanced over at Seth, who was positioned across from her, his eyes scanning the dimly lit airstrip where the cargo plane sat, engines idling. The Sarin gas was on that plane, ready to be dispersed into the water supplies of four major US cities. The thought of the devastation it could cause—millions of innocent lives lost—made Hope's blood run cold. But there was no time for fear. They had a mission to complete, and failure was not an option.

Seth caught her eye, giving her a quick nod. They were in this together. Their love and trust in each other had been forged in the fires of the mission, and tonight would be no different. They were a team, and they would see this through.

Fitz's Scottish brogue crackled in her earpiece, bringing her back to the present. "We've got eyes on the cargo. Prepare to move on my mark."

Hope gripped her weapon tighter, her muscles coiled and ready. The Cerberus team had meticulously planned this strike, waiting for the right moment to hit the cartel where it hurt the most. But plans could go awry in an instant, and they all knew it.

"Three… two… one… move!"

The team sprang into action, a blur of motion as they surged toward the plane. Hope's boots pounded against the tarmac as she raced forward, Seth just a few steps ahead of her. Gunfire erupted, the sharp crack of shots ringing out as the team engaged the Cobra's guards. Hope ducked behind a nearby vehicle, returning fire with precision. Each shot found its mark; the cartel operatives were dropping one by one, but no one seemed to be calling the shots.

But there was no time to celebrate. The Cobra was still out there, orchestrating this entire operation, and they had to find him before he could slip away. Hope's gaze swept the airstrip, searching for any sign of the elusive villain.

"Seth, cover me!" she shouted, breaking from cover and sprinting toward the plane. They needed to secure the Sarin first and make sure it didn't get airborne. The ramp leading into the cargo hold was still down, and Hope didn't hesitate as she bounded up it, her weapon raised.

Inside the plane, the air was thick with the smell of fuel and sweat. A quick scan revealed several crates secured to the floor, each marked with biohazard symbols. This was it—the deadly cargo they'd been hunting. Hope moved quickly, securing the crates while Seth covered the entrance, his eyes never leaving the shadows outside.

"We've got it," Hope said into her comm, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Cargo secured."

"Good work," Fitz replied. "But the Cobra is still out there. We need to?—"

A sudden movement caught Hope's eye, a flash of shadow darting toward the hangars at the far end of the airstrip. One of the cartel's men making a run for it. And if her instincts were right, it was more than just a low-level operative.

"Cobra's on the move!" Hope shouted, already in pursuit.

"Hope, wait!" Seth's voice crackled in her ear, but she was already running, her focus zeroed in on the figure ahead. She couldn't let him escape—not now, not when they were so close.

The man disappeared into an abandoned hangar, the metal doors creaking as they swung shut behind him. Hope didn't slow down, slamming into the doors with her shoulder and forcing them open. The interior was dark, the only light coming from the gaps in the walls and roof where the moonlight streamed through. The space was vast, filled with rusting machinery and forgotten tools, all of which kind of resembled an army of monsters who needed to be stopped.

Hope moved cautiously, her weapon raised, every sense on high alert. She could hear the faint sound of footsteps echoing through the hangar, the scrape of boots on concrete. He was close.

A shadow flickered to her right, and she spun, firing a shot that went wide as the figure ducked behind a stack of crates. The sound of her own breathing filled her ears as she advanced, determined to flush him out. But as she rounded the corner, she was met with empty space—the man had vanished again.

"Come out and face me, Cobra!" she shouted, her voice bouncing off the walls. "It's over. You've lost."

A low, mocking laugh echoed from the darkness, sending a chill down her spine. "I'm afraid you're mistaken, Agent Pearson," a voice drawled, smooth and confident. "The game is far from over."

Hope's heart pounded in her chest as she searched for the source of the voice. The Cobra was here, taunting her, playing with her like a predator with its prey. But she wasn't about to back down. She tightened her grip on her weapon, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

"Your little plan has failed," Hope said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "The Sarin is in our custody. It's over."

"You think this is just about the gas?" The Cobra's voice was closer now, the sound reverberating off the walls. "This is much bigger than that. You've only scratched the surface, Pearson. You're out of your depth."

Hope felt a surge of anger at his arrogance, at the way he dismissed her so easily. She wasn't going to let him get away—not this time. "You're the one who's out of time, Cobra," she shot back. "You're done."

Suddenly, a figure lunged at her from the shadows, and Hope barely had time to react. She twisted to the side, the man's knife slicing through the air where she had been standing a moment before. The Cobra's face was a mask of fury as he attacked again, this time aiming for her throat.

Hope blocked the blow with her forearm, the force of the impact jarring her to the bone. She retaliated with a swift kick to his midsection, knocking him back a step. But he recovered quickly, lunging at her with renewed ferocity.

The two of them clashed in a brutal dance of survival, their movements a blur of strikes and counterstrikes. Hope could feel the strain in her muscles, the burn of exertion, but she refused to give in. She had trained for this, prepared for moments just like this one, and she wasn't about to let the Cobra slip through her fingers.

With a grunt of effort, Hope managed to land a solid punch to The Cobra's jaw, sending him staggering back. But before she could press her advantage, he drew a second knife from his belt, the blade glinting in the dim light.

He smiled a feral grin that sent a shiver down her spine. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that," he sneered. "But you're in over your head."

"Funny," Hope replied, her voice tight with determination. "I was about to say the same thing to you."

The Cobra lunged at her again, but this time Hope was ready. She sidestepped his attack, bringing her elbow down hard on his forearm. The knife clattered to the ground, but the Cobra didn't hesitate. He was on her in an instant, his hands closing around her throat as he slammed her against the wall.

Hope gasped for breath, struggling to break free from his iron grip. She could feel the edges of her vision beginning to blur, the strength draining from her limbs. But she wasn't done yet. With the last of her strength, she drove her knee up into his groin, the sudden pain causing him to loosen his grip just enough for her to break free.

She staggered back, drawing in deep, ragged breaths as she regained her footing. The Cobra was still reeling from the blow, but he quickly recovered, his eyes blazing with fury.

"You'll pay for that," he growled, advancing on her again.

But before he could strike, a shot rang out, the sound echoing through the hangar like a thunderclap. The Cobra froze, his eyes widening in shock as he looked down at the blood blossoming on his chest. He staggered, turning to face Seth, who stood at the entrance of the hangar, his gun still raised.

Seth's eyes were cold, his expression unreadable as he watched the Cobra fall to his knees, his strength finally failing him. "It's over," Seth said, his voice steady and final.

The Cobra's gaze flicked to Hope, a twisted smile curling his lips even as the life drained out of him. "You think… you've won?" he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. "You have no idea… what's coming."

With that, The Cobra collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud. Hope stared down at him, her chest heaving as she tried to process what had just happened. The man who had orchestrated so much death and destruction was finally dead, but his final words lingered in her mind like a dark cloud.

Seth crossed the distance between them in a few quick strides, pulling Hope into his arms. She melted against him, the adrenaline of the fight giving way to a bone-deep exhaustion. But there was relief too—relief that it was over, that they had survived.

"Are you okay?" Seth asked, his voice laced with concern as he tilted her chin up to meet his gaze.

Hope nodded, her hands clutching the fabric of his jacket as if afraid to let go. "Yeah… I'm okay."

He kissed her forehead, his hold on her tightening. "You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"

Hope let out a shaky laugh, resting her head against his chest. "I guess we're even then."

The sound of approaching footsteps reminded them that the op wasn't over yet. Fitz and the rest of the team entered the hangar, their weapons still drawn, but it was clear from their expressions that the immediate threat had been neutralized.

"We've secured the plane," Nigel reported as he joined them, his tone brisk and efficient. "The Sarin is in our custody. It's over."

Hope looked up at Seth, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, love. They had done it. They had stopped the Cobra, saved countless lives, and survived the ordeal.

But as they made their way out of the hangar, Hope couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end. The Cobra's final words echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder that the fight wasn't over—that something darker still loomed on the horizon.

Baker Street/Cerberus Headquarters

London, England

Back in London, the atmosphere at Baker Street was tense. The debriefing had been thorough, every detail of the mission dissected and analyzed, but there was an undercurrent of unease that no one could quite shake. The victory was bittersweet—the Cobra was dead, the Sarin was secure, but the knowledge that the evacuation orders regarding their op at the Citadel had been compromised by someone within their own ranks had cast a shadow over their success.

It wasn't long before the truth came to light. Sawyer had returned from his mission, storming into the conference room, dragging the man known only as Daedalus—a man who had been with Fitzwallace since their days in the SAS—with him. The betrayal cut deep, not just because of the danger it had posed, but because of the personal connection Fitz had with the traitor.

Daedalus was taken into custody, his fate sealed by the same organization he had betrayed. Fitzwallace had him removed to another part of the world that wouldn't care how he was treated. He also made sure that the intelligence community knew exactly what had happened—that betrayal was met with the harshest consequences. The message was clear: Cerberus would not tolerate treachery, and those who crossed them would pay the price. By ensuring word got around, Fitz also sealed the man's fate. He would not live to betray anyone else.

As the dust settled, Hope found herself standing in the quiet of their room, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on her. She reached up, her fingers brushing the collar around her neck—a symbol of the life they had portrayed while undercover, of the bond she shared with Seth. But now, after everything, she couldn't help but wonder if it was time to let go, to remove the collar and the wedding ring and return to a semblance of normalcy.

After all, it had been a sham, hadn't it?

Removing the wedding ring from her finger, she raised her hand until it hovered over the clasp to the exquisite collar around her neck, uncertainty gnawing at her. But before she could make a decision, Seth's hand covered hers, stilling her movements.

"Don't," he said quietly, his voice firm but gentle. "You remove that collar, and I'll spank you so hard you'll never sit again."

Hope looked up at him, her heart pounding. "Seth, I… I don't think I can keep doing this. I want you to know I won't hold you to what was said in the heat of the moment."

He studied her for a long moment, his expression inscrutable before he shook his head. "That is such bullshit, Hope. I didn't say anything in the heat of the moment, when my cock was buried deep in your pussy, or any other damn time. I meant what I said, and I know you did, too."

Seth watched her, watching him. There was nothing in the way he looked at her or in his body language that said he wasn't absolutely telling her the truth.

She nodded, her heart aching with the weight of it all. "I just… I don't want to lose myself in this."

"You won't," Seth assured her, holding the ring in his hand. "And I'm not asking you to. You're your own person, Hope. You always have been. But I'm asking you to trust me. Trust us."

Hope swallowed hard; her throat tight with emotion. "I do trust you, Seth. But I'm scared."

"So am I," he admitted, his voice soft. "But we'll figure it out together. Together there's nothing we can't do. Hell, we saved the world."

Hope smiled, but let her hand drop from the collar before pressing the ring into his hand, the decision made for now. Seth was right—they needed time, needed to find their footing again after everything they had been through.

Seth lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of it. "For now, let's just focus on us. The rest can wait. I'll keep the ring for now. After all, you deserve a proper proposal…"

Hope laughed; a sense of peace settling over her—a peace that had been hard-won but was all the more precious because of it. "I'm going to hold you to that," she whispered.

"See that you do."

Wrapping her arms around Seth, she rubbed her cheek against his chest. They had faced their demons, fought their battles, and come out the other side stronger together than they had ever been. She'd have to remember to show him the secure text she'd sent her bosses at the FBI:

Terrorist attacks stopped. Sarin secured and stored. Mole at Cerberus uncovered and dealt with. My resignation has been forwarded and is effective immediately. Joining Cerberus.