HEART BOUND

THE BLAST

(Season 1)

CHAPTER 35

Zach’s voice cut through the night.

“Drop your guns!”

Michael’s men froze. One second they had the upper hand. The next, Kalen’s men poured out of the shadows, rifles trained.

Sophie didn’t flinch. She kept her gun pointed right at Michael’s head.

Michael let out a low chuckle. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth where she’d slapped him.

“What did he offer you?” he asked, curious. Amused.

“Enough,” Sophie said, and smirked. “Does that answer your question?”

She thought of what Kalen told her a month ago: _“Michael is intelligent. But he’s a fool.”_

He really was.

Michael and his men were surrounded. Outnumbered. Outplayed.

Zach stood a few feet away, jaw locked, eyes burning. He refused to look at Michael. If he did, he’d put a bullet in him.

He was furious. Not at Michael. At Kalen.

Kalen had used Liora as bait. He’d known she was in danger and let it happen. _“It’s the only way,”_ he’d said.

For a second Zach had almost respected him for it.

Now he just wanted to shoot him too.

Michael was forced to his knees. Still smiling.

“You remember what I told you last night?” he said quietly to Sophie.

She frowned. He’d rambled for hours about ruling New York. Nothing worth remembering.

“Michael. Shut up and save your strength,” she snapped.

“I never give up,” he said. Soft. Almost fond. “I’d rather die trying. Remember that?”

The words clicked.

Her eyes dropped to his hand.

A small black remote.

Her blood went cold. She followed his gaze to the warehouse. To where Kalen had walked in minutes ago.

“No,” she whispered.

The detonator beeped. Once. Twice.

“No!!!”

The world went white.

---

The blast ripped through the night. Fire and concrete shot into the sky. The shockwave threw everyone to the ground.

Comms screamed. Men shouted. Smoke choked the air.

“Status!” Zach roared, but his voice was lost in the ringing.

Sophie was on her knees, hands over her mouth. Tears cut clean lines through the soot on her face. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

_Kalen. Where was Kalen?_

Through the haze, Kalen’s men searched the rubble. No answer.

Zach didn’t move. He just stared at the burning building, like if he looked hard enough, Kalen would walk out of it.

Across the yard, Michael hadn’t moved. He was still on his knees. Still smiling. Laughing now.

“I did it,” he whispered to no one. “I killed the great KALEN VEX.”

Sophie couldn’t look at him.

---

*FLASHBACK - ONE MONTH AGO*

Kalen’s office. Cold. Quiet.

Sophie sat across from him, trying to keep her hands steady. Liora was by the window, pretending she wasn’t listening.

“The deal’s off,” Kalen said flatly.

Sophie’s mask cracked. “Kalen, you can’t be serious! Our families have worked together for years. This is everything to my father!”

Kalen didn’t blink. “You’ve been playing games. I let it slide. This is where it ends.”

“Caius. Escort Miss Jones out.”

Sophie stood, fury flashing in her eyes. On her way out she shot Liora a look that said _this is your fault._

The door closed. Kalen finally looked at Liora.

“Stay here. And stay away from my things.”

Liora rolled her eyes and sat down.

---

Two days later. Kalen’s private bar.

Sophie slid into the booth with a grin. “So? How was my acting?”

Kalen didn’t smile. “Not bad.”

Her eyes lit up. A compliment from Kalen Vex was rare.

“I told you I’m more than a pretty face.”

“I might’ve underestimated you,” he said, and for a second his voice was almost warm.

He slid a folder across the table.

“These are the files we talked about. Fake weaknesses. Fake business details. You know what to do.”

Sophie’s grin faded. “You think Michael will buy it? He’s a monster, Kalen.”

“Michael is intelligent,” Kalen said. “But he’s a fool.”

He leaned forward. “If it goes south, you pull out. If something goes wrong at the last minute, you do NOT come for me. Understood?”

Sophie swallowed. “And Liora? You’re really using her as bait?”

“I won’t let anything happen to her,” Kalen said. “And even if I don’t use her, Mrs. Brown will. She works with Michael. The kidnapping was inevitable.”

“So stop it.”

Kalen’s mouth quirked. Not quite a smile.

“That’s why you’re there.”

Sophie stared at him. No way to tell if he was serious.

---

*PRESENT*

Smoke still rose from the warehouse.

Sophie kept staring at it while Zach’s men tore through the debris, calling for Kalen. Calling for Liora.

According to the plan, this wasn’t supposed to happen.

According to the plan, Kalen was supposed to walk out.

*TBC*