Chapter 17: The Fight for Survival
Gunfire erupted across the airstrip as Mark and Ruth charged into the fray. FBI agents engaged Phis's men in a chaotic battle, bullets ricocheting off metal containers. The night was alive with flashes of gunfire and the sharp sounds of combat.
Mark took down two gunmen in quick succession, his movements precise and deadly. "Stay close!" he shouted at Ruth, but she was already moving.
Ruth ducked behind a crate, her heart pounding. She aimed carefully and fired, hitting a man in the shoulder. He collapsed with a grunt.
Saris, crouched behind a pile of barrels, smirked. "Not bad, little sis!"
Ryan was snapping photos between gunshots, capturing evidence of Phis's illegal operation. "We need to get to the plane!" he called out. "If Phis escapes, we lose everything!"
Mark nodded. "Move in!"
They pushed forward, weaving through the hail of bullets. But Phis was already moving toward the plane, his wounded arm barely slowing him down.
Then, as Ruth reached the runway, something hard slammed into her from the side.
She hit the ground with a gasp, looking up to see one of Phis's men towering over her. He raised his gun—
A shot rang out.
The man staggered back, falling lifelessly to the ground.
Mark stood behind him, gun smoking. His eyes locked onto Ruth's. "I told you to stay close!"
Ruth swallowed hard. "I—I'm fine."
Mark exhaled sharply, pulling her to her feet. "We need to end this."
Phis's Last Stand
Near the plane, Phis stood with a small group of his men, watching the battle unfold.
He turned to one of them. "Time for Plan B."
The man nodded and reached for a detonator.
Before he could press the button, a single gunshot rang out.
The detonator fell from his hand as he collapsed.
Phis spun around to see Saris lowering her gun with a triumphant smirk. "Oops," she said. "Was that important?"
Phis's expression darkened. "Enough of this." He grabbed a gun from one of his fallen men and pointed it at Ruth.
"Come any closer, and she dies."
Mark froze. His grip on his gun tightened. "Let her go, Phis."
Phis chuckled. "You really think I'd make it that easy?"
For a long moment, no one moved.
Then Ruth, eyes burning with determination, took a deep breath—
And elbowed Phis in the ribs.
Caught off guard, he stumbled back. That was all the opening Mark needed.
A single, precise shot hit Phis in the leg, sending him to his knees. His gun clattered to the ground.
FBI agents swarmed in, securing the scene.
It was over.
The Aftermath
As the dust settled, Ruth stood over her uncle, her emotions a storm inside her.
"You were supposed to be family," she whispered.
Phis smirked, despite his pain. "Family is just another word for leverage, my dear."
Mark pulled Ruth away before she could say anything else. "He's not worth it."
The FBI agents hauled Phis to his feet. "You'll pay for this," he snarled.
Mark smirked. "Yeah? Tell it to the judge."
As Phis was dragged away, Ruth finally let out the breath she had been holding. It was over.
Mark turned to her, his expression softening. "You okay?"
Ruth met his gaze and, for the first time in a long time, allowed herself to smile. "Yeah. I think I am."
Mark grinned. "Good. Because after all this, you owe me a proper dinner."
Ruth laughed. "Are you seriously asking me out after a gunfight?"
Mark shrugged. "Timing's never been my strong suit."
Saris walked past them, smirking. "Oh, just kiss already."
Ruth and Mark looked at each other.
Maybe, just maybe, they would.
Chapter 18: A New Beginning
The aftermath of the airstrip operation had left the team exhausted but victorious. Phis was behind bars, his network crumbling. Yet, even as Ruth and Mark stood together on the quiet rooftop of their safe house, the weight of the battle still lingered.
Ruth leaned against the railing, her gaze lost in the city lights. Despite everything that had happened, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite finished yet.
Mark stood beside her, his usual bravado replaced by a quiet intensity. "You look lost in thought," he said, his voice softer than usual.
Ruth turned to him, a faint smile on her lips. "Just thinking about how far we've come. How much we've lost."
Mark nodded, his eyes locking with hers. "Yeah. And how much we've gained."
Their eyes held, and for a moment, it felt as though time had stopped. The city, the chaos, the danger—they all faded into the background, leaving only the two of them.
"Mark," Ruth began, her voice quiet. "I don't know what happens next. I don't know if I can just go back to my life after all this."
Mark reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You don't have to. We don't have to go back to anything, Ruth. We've fought too hard for everything we've been through."
Ruth's heart fluttered, the weight of his words sinking in. She had spent so much time fighting against her uncle, against the family she thought she knew, but now... now she was fighting for something new. Something she hadn't expected.
"Are you saying you want to... I mean..." Ruth faltered, unsure of how to express the emotions swirling inside her.
Mark chuckled, his gaze warm. "I'm saying that whatever happens next, I want to be by your side. No more running. No more games."
Ruth's breath caught in her throat. She had always kept her emotions buried, but now, with Mark standing in front of her, it felt as though everything was finally falling into place.
"Mark..."
Before she could finish, he stepped closer, his hand gently cupping her cheek. "Ruth, I..." He hesitated, then kissed her.
It was soft at first, tentative, as though neither of them quite believed it was real. But when Ruth leaned into him, her arms wrapping around his neck, the kiss deepened, becoming something fierce, something undeniable.
They pulled apart, breathless. Ruth rested her forehead against his. "This... this feels right," she whispered.
Mark smiled, his thumb brushing her cheek. "It does."
The Next Day: A Turning Point
The day after the confrontation at the airstrip, the FBI had secured Mr. Phis, and the investigation into his criminal empire was in full swing. Ruth, Mark, and the rest of the team were gathered in a secure location, preparing for the trial that would finally bring an end to Phis's reign of terror.
But despite the victory, Ruth felt a lingering sense of uncertainty. She wasn't just fighting for justice anymore; she was fighting for her own future.
Saris walked in, tossing a magazine onto the table with a playful grin. "So, I hear there was a kiss last night."
Ruth flushed, but Mark merely grinned. "Yeah, you could say that."
Saris raised an eyebrow. "Careful, Ruth. Mark's a dangerous man. He might just steal your heart."
Ruth rolled her eyes. "As if."
Saris winked. "Trust me, I know a thing or two about dangerous men."
The conversation shifted to the trial, but Ruth's mind kept drifting back to Mark. She hadn't expected this—hadn't expected him to become more than just her ally.
But here they were, standing on the edge of something new.
As the day wore on, Mark pulled Ruth aside. "We should talk," he said, his voice serious.
Ruth nodded, her heart pounding. "About what?"
"About us," Mark said, his eyes searching hers. "What happens now? With Phis out of the picture, do we go back to our old lives? Or do we figure out what comes next together?"
Ruth swallowed, her mind racing. She had never imagined this moment, never imagined that after all the chaos, she'd be standing here with Mark, wondering what their future might look like.
"I don't know," she admitted. "But... maybe that's okay. Maybe we don't need to have all the answers right now."
Mark smiled, a genuine, soft smile that made Ruth's heart flutter. "You're right. We'll figure it out, one step at a time."
He reached for her hand, squeezing it gently.
And for the first time in a long while, Ruth felt a sense of peace.
A New Chapter
The trial of Mr. Phis was a turning point, not just for Ruth and Mark, but for everyone involved. The mafia's grip on the city began to loosen, and with Phis's conviction, the Cardwell family found a sense of closure.
But Ruth's journey was far from over. She wasn't just surviving anymore. She was living—living for herself, living for Mark, and living for the future they would build together.
As the weeks passed, Ruth and Mark grew closer. The city was changing, and so were they.
One evening, as they sat on the rooftop together, watching the sunset, Mark leaned in, his voice soft. "I can't imagine my life without you, Ruth."
Ruth smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "And I can't imagine mine without you."
It was a simple truth, one that neither of them had expected, but both of them embraced.
In that moment, surrounded by the quiet hum of the city, Ruth knew one thing for certain: her story wasn't over. It had only just begun.