Arkan froze, his blood turning to ice. The world tilted. The betrayal wasn't just from the PMC. It was from Riley. His trusted friend. His comrade. The man who had just died for him.
"You... you weren't with us," Arkan whispered, the realization hitting him like a physical blow. "You were always with them."
Riley didn't answer. His finger tightened on the trigger. The mission was complete. The asset was secured. The cold, impassive mask had fully settled back onto his face, erasing any trace of the man Arkan had fought alongside, the man who had bled for him.
"It was the only way," Riley finally said, his voice flat, devoid of any emotion that might betray him. "They activated me on The Azure. My orders were clear: ensure your survival, ensure your arrival at the bunker. The 'accident'
