Conrad hurried out, his voice hurried and sharp, "There's an urgent situation with the team. My wife, I need to go," not even bothering to grab his jacket before rushing out.
I turned and headed upstairs, opening the surveillance footage from the back door.
What Conrad didn’t know was that before we even moved into this house, I’d had a full set of surveillance cameras installed.
That was the standard of an intelligence analyst.
But Conrad, the captain of the special forces team, had left his professionalism behind.
As soon as he got in the car, his face darkened, his cold eyes locking onto Artemis.
She didn’t say a word. She simply leaned down.
The sound of her movements echoed, low and lewd and Conrad’s expression shifted from cold to enjoyment, then to an uncontrollable passion.
A short while later, he lifted Artemis from the front seat and placed her in the back.
He climbed in after her, not even bothering to close the car door.
From the way the car shook, it was clear how intense their actions had become.
Almost an hour later, the car finally grew silent.
Conrad stepped out, looking impeccably dressed, as always.
He casually changed his shoes by the door while I received a message from Artemis.
"He’s so cruel. It's so big, I couldn’t even handle it."
"He insisted on not using a condom today, saying he wanted me to carry his baby. It’s unbearable, too intense to stand."
"He doesn’t love you at all! He told me I’m the one he wants to build a life with."
"You’d better know your place and leave. Got it?"
***
As Conrad rushed into the bathroom after returning home, I switched off my phone.
Alright, Artemis.
I would leave.
But I couldn’t help wondering after I left, would Conrad marry you, or would he be the one to bury you?
On the day of the operation, Conrad reluctantly bid me farewell.
He kissed my forehead with such care. "Wife, after today, I’ll be free. Wait for me."
His car sped off and I turned toward the rooftop.
Once in the helicopter, the person beside me shifted, almost pressing against me in the confined space.
"It’s not too late to regret now."
I leaned back, closing my eyes to rest.
"Stop nagging."
He chuckled softly, fastening my seatbelt for me.
His tone shifted to serious. "The decapitation operation is critical. If successful, we’ll dismantle the underground forces in the southwest. The director specifically requested that you be in charge on the front lines."
I nodded, strapping on my gear and preparing for the parachute jump.
But as soon as I entered the designated outdoor command post, a nagging feeling crept in; I sensed something was wrong.
The third operator at the door was acting suspiciously.
I spun around to flee, but before I could make it, a sharp sting hit my neck.
As darkness began to creep in, I barely heard the words, "We finally got you, the all-powerful intelligence analyst. Hurry up and inform the boss; we’ve got her!"
The coordinates finally stopped moving and the entire special forces team took up their positions, guns drawn.
Conrad seemed caught off guard. "The coordinates are that precise? Didn’t all the informants we planted before end up dead?"
The captain’s voice rang out, steady and forceful. "It’s the intelligence analyst. She infiltrated their system and risked everything to send the signal."
"Today's mission is to take down the enemy’s stronghold and rescue the intelligence analyst. This comes from the director’s orders... and also... my personal request."
Conrad chuckled, his voice laced with amusement. "It seems this analyst holds quite a special place for you, Captain."
"Yes, she’s invaluable to me. I believe there’s someone just as irreplaceable to you, Captain," came the reply, sharp but knowing.
Conrad’s laughter deepened, tinged with longing. "Yes, my wife, she’s my greatest treasure."
Artemis sneered, her disdain cutting through the air. "That analyst? Always hiding, always in the rear. Now there’s a big reward for this mission and she finally steps out to steal the spotlight, huh?"
Before the captain could voice his anger, Conrad spoke first, his voice sharp and commanding. "Enough! What do you know? Without her, we wouldn’t have made it through a single mission. You wouldn’t even be standing here now!"
Artemis fell silent, sulking, her lips pressed tightly together.
The group advanced swiftly through the night, their steps swift and sure. The perimeter attack was seamless and when Conrad and his team rushed into the warehouse, they found the leader barely alive, sitting slumped on the second floor with a long-haired woman tied beside him.
The dim lighting made it impossible to see her face, but an unfamiliar sensation stirred within him, a vague sense of recognition he couldn’t place.
Before he could ponder further, Artemis’s groans broke the moment.
"It hurts! My leg... it’s killing me!"
Amidst the chaos and gunfire, Conrad’s hands were gentle as he cradled Artemis in his arms, his expression softening as he held her close.
His voice was steady, but the urgency was clear. "I can see the bone. The injury is severe. We can’t afford to wait."
Artemis whimpered, her voice trembling with fear. "Just blow them all up, Conrad. If we wait any longer, I’ll lose my leg... I can’t... I’m scared."
"No," came the captain’s firm reply. "We need the leader alive. And the analyst is still in there."
Artemis’s cries of pain drowned out the rest of the voices.
"Conrad, save me! Am I not more important than that analyst?"
Conrad finally turned toward the leader, his gaze lingering. The analyst had been invaluable to him, helping him succeed time and time again.
But Artemis… her agony was undeniable and his heart twisted at the sight.
The gunfire outside the warehouse continued to ring in his ears.
Analyst… Oh, the gratitude he felt couldn’t compare to the silent bond he shared with Artemis in moments of intimacy.
With a heavy heart, Conrad made his choice.
He grabbed his subordinate by the collar, his voice low but sharp.
"Perimeter’s secure. No need to wait any longer. Throw a bomb in and make it look like the bandits did it. Move, don’t drag your feet."
Bending down, Conrad scooped Artemis into his arms and turned, leaving the warehouse behind.
The instant the bomb was hurled, the enemy leader burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
Conrad glanced back, eyes narrowing.
The explosion lit up the night, illuminating the figure of the bound woman.
I met his gaze, offering a sad, resigned smile.
Conrad’s eyes widened in disbelief.
