Bloodbound: The Alliance
Chapter 124: Epilogue

Chapter 124: Epilogue

Third POV

Hand-Off Location—Undisclosed.

Katherine stands at the head of her contingent, her guards in full tactical gear, their presence a silent show of force. The darkness is broken only by the distant roar of approaching engines. Moments later, a convoy breaches the gloom, headlights cutting through the black like blades. The vehicles roll to a halt in perfect synchronization, four abreast, doors swinging open in unison. Armed men pour out yet they remain within the glow of their cars—making them seem even more menacing.

From the darkness, Botan emerges. He strides forward, his presence sharpened by the stark contrast of the headlights behind him. Akio lingers just behind, his silhouette a ghost at Botan’s shoulder. The light carves Botan’s frame into something almost inhuman—an omen in the night.

Katherine moves to meet him, her own men flanking her like sentinels.

Botan’s eyes are dark voids that drink in the night. "Where is she?"

"After the attack, Alden was taken into FBI custody. As for Avara and her brothers... they escaped."

Something shifts in Botan, quiet but lethal. He takes a single step forward. The motion alone is enough to send Katherine’s guards into action—rifles snap into position readily. Botan’s men respond in kind, weapons raised.

But Botan is calm. He lifts two fingers in a lazy, dismissive flick, and his men lower their weapons. Across from him, Katherine mirrors the gesture, calling her own soldiers to stand down.

"It seems the GPS tracker has been disabled," she continues, her voice measured, watching him carefully. "She’s gone. And a word of advice—if you love her as much as I know you do... then put her first. Let her go. Try to own the ocean, and all you’ll have is an empty hand."

Avara POV

"How’d you get this number?" Simon demands.

"You gave it to me," I point out.

"Avara," he says breathlessly.

I smile at the disbelief in his voice as I weave past a cluster of people.

"I thought I’d never heard from you again."

"After you gave me up?"

"Never," he says urgently, "It wasn’t about you but the criminals on that dossier."

"Well, Director Katherine has already established a joint, multi-agency manhunt for everyone on there. So I guess everyone got what they wanted."

"What about you?"

My sigh runs down the line. "My brothers are safe. Katherine allowed them to escape with more than enough money to settle comfortably anywhere in the world. As for my father, he’s already in federal custody."

"Restpfully, I wasn’t asking about them."

I pause where I am, tilting my head to the side. "I’m sorry that I shot you. I freaked out."

"Don’t worry about that. It’s nothing."

"You sure, because that sling looks uncomfortably.

"No, it’s not that—wait."

His phone stutters from his ear as he searches the crowd. I end the call, pocketing the phone as I stroll towards him, savouring his search as his eyes dart from face to face. Until finally, his eyes land on mine. He slips his phone away absently, his other arm cradled in a sling.

His eyes look around the interior of the airport. "How did you find me?"

"Spy tech, remember? I put a tracker in your hell cat on the day I met Dylan."

"Bugged me with my bugs?" he says, eyeing me shrewdly before breaking into a grin. "I couldn’t be prouder."

"So, where are we heading to? Japan, Prague—Bali?"

"We?" he repeats as if he’s insulted. "Katherine told me that Botan sought you. I thought you were already his. And if not, I would think you would at least want to be with your brothers."

"Maybe in the future, yes," I say, nodding thoughtfully. "But now, I want to do I want and I think that’s being with the one man that never lied to me or moved me around like a piece on a chessboard. Did you know that Director Katherine worked with Botan all along?"

Shock strikes him, but no deeper than the comprehension that he should have foreseen it. "Well, you don’t get to be untouchable like him without having such insurance policies. Let me guess, a trade agreement for him to feed intel on rival organisations."

I bob my head. "We both did their bidding by sending her everything on that data chip."

Simon mutters a curse, shaking his head resentfully.

"She tracked me with this..." I reel out only a portion of the necklace before I tuck it back. "Don’t worry, I removed the micro-tracker from the clasp. But the necklace will come in handy."

His brow lifts inquisitively. "What do you mean?"

"Let’s call it an early retirement."

He chuckles deeply, looking away for a moment. "We can’t exactly pawn something like that at a local pawn shop."

"I’m sure you know more criminal friends like Dylan who can help us? What do you call them—a fence—black market trader?"

I look back at him expectantly. He nods in mock consideration before his eyes settle on me. I sweep around so I can stand beside his free arm as I begin to walk and that draws him to follow.

"I never thought I would see the day where Saint Avara was willing to make a deal with a black market dealer."

"A one time thing. Besides, that money can do a lot of good—for more than just us—other than sitting in an evidence locker or a glass case in a vault somewhere. I know a lot of programs that will make sure a percentage of that money helps a lot of people. So, do you know anyone or not?"

"I knew a guy... but for it to work. We’ll need to go to Belgium. After that... I think you should choose."

"I’m thinking somewhere Island-ey—oh." I grab onto his elbow in excitement, and only releasing after my recollection. "During my volunteer work abroad, I went to Chile, and it was beautiful. I promised myself I’d go back one day, especially to the Aysén Region."

He confirms with a nod. "Sounds good to me."

"Once we’re settled, we should fly out Kelsey."

I glance back at him with a growing smile. "Yeah, you’re good with that?"

"For a time, of course."

"And the time after?" I ask curiously.

He smirks and lifts his good arm, draping it over my shoulders to reel me closer to him, planting a kiss on my temple. A kiss lands soft and lingering on my temple, bright as a break in the clouds, spills warmth over me—so healing, so golden, my eyes flutter shut to drink it in.

"I really am sorry about shooting you."

He leans back just enough for me to catch the glow of his smile illuminating his face. "So worth it."

THE END