Trisha Next Day - Kuala Lumpur
TRISHA
Next Day - Kuala Lumpur
My heart pounded violently as I slipped through the dilapidated doorway of Max’s compound. I was walking straight into the viper’s den, alone and unarmed, except for the tracking chip embedded beneath my skin. One wrong move, and it could blow this whole operation sky high.
But we were out of options to find Ron. Using me as bait to draw out Max and then trail him to his brother was our last gambit.
Krish had been vehemently against it at first until Ayaan talked him around.
I knew Krish was terrified of me being captured again.
But I was determined to see this through, no matter the risk.
Creeping down the dim hallway, my senses were on high alert for any sign of movement. Finally, I reached what appeared to be Max’s makeshift office area. Taking a steadying breath, I stepped into the open doorway, pistol raised.
“Don’t move,” I barked as Max turned, startled, from where he stood at his desk. “Hands where I can see them.”
His eyes widened in shock before narrowing menacingly. “Well, well. It seems the little spy has a death wish.”
“The only one dying today is you,” I spat. “After the stunt you pulled sending Daniel and Marco to kill me in Singapore, you’re lucky I didn’t put a bullet in you right here.”
“Is that so?” Max’s tone dripped with disdain. “If you had the guts to do it, you would’ve done it already instead of talking to me.”
He was right—I had no intention of actually pulling the trigger. Not yet anyway. I had to stretch this out, make him think I’d come here to take revenge, and then get overpowered by his men on purpose, until Max took me right to Ron.
“You’re not worth getting blood on my shoes,” I sneered. “I’ve been ordered to arrest you alive. Although, I’ll enjoy watching the light leave your eyes.”
Right on cue, two of Max’s henchmen burst into the room, drawn by the commotion.
They rushed me from behind, grappling for the gun.
The pistol went skittering across the floor as they wrestled me down, slamming my face into the dirty concrete.
White-hot pain flared in my cheek as one of the bullies pressed my head against the ground with brutal force.
I allowed myself to be overpowered, putting up just enough of a fight to seem convincing.
“Enough!” Max’s sharp command made them back off slightly, allowing me to draw in a ragged breath.
With a nod from their boss, one of the men hauled me up by my hair, the strands ripping from my scalp. I cried out at the sudden agony. My legs threatened to give way, but the grip on my hair kept me upright.
“Well, now,” Max’s smug voice slid over me like oil. “Looks like the spy in you is too overconfident of her abilities, hmm?”
He stepped up, cool fingertips trailing over the burning wound rising on my cheek. I wanted to recoil, but he yanked my head back ruthlessly. Black spots swam in my vision from the shooting pain.
“Did you really think you could waltz in here and try to take me out?” Max chuckled darkly. “You’re even more dumb than I thought. Luckily for you, I’m not gonna kill you just yet, Trisha.”
His hand closed around my throat, and fear shot through me. I hadn’t anticipated how swiftly things could escalate. I still needed to maintain his belief that I had failed and this was not just a ploy.
“Ron has been wanting to meet the spy bitch who made such a fool of me,” Max hissed into my ear, his lips brushing against my lobe. “He’ll want to personally deal with you for getting Marco, our best man, killed before we return the favour.”
Adrenaline spiked through my veins at the thought of being taken to Ron’s lair. This was it—the moment we’d been working towards all along. Now, I just had to survive whatever torment was coming first.
Laughing viciously, Max gripped my hair tighter, forcing my head back painfully. My scalp felt like it was being ripped from my skull.
“But before we hand you over, I get to make up for all those months you played me. You didn’t let me touch you back then… but now… how will you save yourself, Trisha?”
Revulsion churned in my gut at his meaning, his hot breath on my face. I expected him to strike, violate, and hurt me in every way imaginable. Maintaining my cover was one thing, but this...?
A call on Max’s mobile diverted his attention momentarily from me. I took a sigh of relief as he answered, his gaze fixed on me.
“We have caught the spy,” he said into the phone. “I’m bringing her to you soon.”
He must be speaking to Ron, his brother.
Even though the call wasn’t on speaker mode, I could still hear Ron’s voice.
He commanded Max not to waste time and to bring me to him urgently.
Ron was worried that if I was here, my other agents could track me down at any moment and secure this place.
So, he specifically asked Max to start immediately.
However, it gave me some relief knowing that this might deter Max from carrying out his plans of touching me and violating me anymore. Not that I couldn’t handle it. If I could safeguard myself all those months when I pretended to be his woman, I could do anything to protect myself even now.
Max reluctantly agreed with his brother and then disconnected the call, barking at his men to prepare for leaving.
A flicker of movement in my periphery made my blood run cold. Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed one of Max’s thugs holding a scanning device, running it slowly over my body.
No... they couldn’t be looking for...
“Let’s find out if our little spy is wired?” Max’s mocking voice dripped with cruel satisfaction.
My thundering heart felt like it would beat out of my chest. If they found the tracking chip, it was all over. No, I couldn’t let them take this chance.
“You’ll never find anything,” I rasped out defiantly.
Max leaned in so close I could smell his foul breath. “Is that so? Don’t worry; we will find out in no time.”
One rough hand jerked up the sleeve of my shirt while the other gripped my forearm, immobilising me. The thug with the scanner passed it over my bare skin, his eyes focused on his task.
I held my breath, stifling the scream that threatened to escape as the device swept down to my upper arm... right over the embedded chip. Please, no. God, no...
There was a tense pause in the room, everyone frozen in anticipation. My muscles locked, bracing for the worst. Then, the rhythmic beeping of the scanner echoed like a death sentence. My tracking chip was traced!!