"You thought you were so untouchable."

☆

The bullet ricochets off the barrel of the gun in Chanelle's hand. She drops the gun as it falls to the ground with a clatter.  The suited men reach for their weapons but are not fast enough as three more shots are fired. The men fall like flies as finally the deafening sound of gunfire ceases. 

“That's quite the aim you have there. It's a shame your talents are wasted on the police.” Chanelle straightens her posture. 

“It's over.” Detective Jojo Kim points her weapon at Chanelle. “This ends today.”

Carlos wastes no time in trying to get Rio untied the best he can before Rio returns the action. “Go…. Go save your sister and run.” He utters through clenched teeth. 

“I'm not leaving you. Come with me.” Rio protests, but Carlos ignores the request. “Detective. I'm handing myself in.” He looks at Chanelle, as he takes a step forward, he raises his hands in the air. “We surrender.”

“Rio!” Remi shouts out to her brother. Rio turns to look at his sister, still bound and laying on the ground. 

Rio quickly heads to her and undoes the ropes around her wrists. “Get out of here.” He looks back at Carlos. “I can't leave him. Not now.” 

“What are you talking about?” Remi utters back. “I did what you asked me to. I am here because of you. It won't be for nothing.”

“I didn't ask you to come here.” Rio begins.

“No, but I did anyway, now you listen to me. She is ruthless. Whatever is going on with you and her brother, she doesn't care. Do you think she is really going to let you walk away into the sunset?”

Rio looks back at the man willing to give himself up after all they had been through. “I have to try.” He leans forward, kissing his sister on the head. “I love you, Remi.” He gets up, turning his back to her.

“Rio….” She tries to call him back, but his mind is made up. 

Rio walks up to Carlos, standing beside him. He takes one of his hands, causing it to lower as Carlos turns to look at him. “What are you doing?”

Rio's gaze is fixed on the detective in front of him. “Officer. It didn't start out this way, but things have changed. I choose to stay with him of my own free will. We just want to start a new life together. We just want to get away from the lives we had. Is that a crime?” 

“Oh please.” Chanelle laughs at the confession. “You two are pathetic. You can't even carry out a simple kidnap without it turning into a love story.”

“Enough.” Jojo, once again, tightens the hold on her gun. “Chanelle, your time is up. Just come with me.”

“I'm going nowhere with you.” Chanelle laughs at the detective. “I know you are suspended. You have no power.” 

“Maybe we both have secret weapons, people on the inside.” Jojo replies. “The police are coming. I'm giving you a chance here. You come with me and you let them go and maybe I can get you to a place. A safe place.”

“You've changed your tune. I thought you were all about seeing me behind bars. 

“Both you and I know if the police arrest you, your outcome is a roll of the dice. You may have greased the palms of most of the force and could pay for a top lawyer in court, but the public will have their own opinion. Your reputation. I know you, Chanelle. Your reputation is everything.” Jojo lowers her gun to the ground. She offers out her other hand. “Come with me…. Please.” 

“Remi… what are you doing?” Rio turns to his sister to see a gun in her hand. 

“I want her to know how it feels.” Remi shouts in desperation.

Chanelle turns to Remi. Her face was like thunder. “You dare to threaten me with my own gun? What do you hope to achieve?”

“I just want to know if you are human.” Remi looks at her brother, and Carlos still hand in hand. “What would you do for the one you love?” She lets a tear roll down her face. “Rio. I know we have nothing in common. I know we are treated differently by our parents. I know I say you're a fool, an idiot, but I would still do anything for you.”

Chanelle laughs at the speech, giving a slow round of applause. “Well good for you. Sadly, my brother and I share no such bond. Kill him if you must. That's on your conscience, not mine.” 

“But with her, you do.” Remi looks over to the detective. 

Carlos looks at his sister. The look on her face for once didn't seem as cold as usual at the words spoken.  “Chanelle. Do you know her?” 

Her gaze once again hardens as she looks at her brother. “She is Detective Jojo Kim. That's all she is. A meticulous police officer. She is the thorn in my side. The pain in my ass…” 

“The only one you ever loved.” Remi ends Chanelle's sentence. “The photo in your drawer. It's her, isn't it? The detective. You were lovers, weren't you.” Remi laughs a little hysterically. “You thought you were so untouchable. Getting everyone to believe you are as cold as ice. But someone managed to melt your cold heart. Maybe you should have locked the photo away in that safe instead of this gun.” 

Jojo looks at Chanelle before looking back at Remi. “What is she saying?” 

“She's saying nothing.” Chanelle can feel her fists clench at the thought of someone exposing her vulnerability.

Remi holds the gun a little tighter in her hands. “Let them go, or I will shoot.” 

“Remi…” Rio begins. 

“Stay out of this. I mean it.” Remi repeats, with the gun shaking in her hold. “Let them go, or I'll shoot her.”

The gun now points directly at the detective. Chanelle tries her best to keep her cold facade on show, but her heart is beating double time in response to the situation. “You wouldn't dare. You have a code. A doctor's code, you heal, not hurt.”

“Try me.” The gun clicks into place. “Nothing would heal my soul more than watching you suffer.” 

“Remi… No!… “