Betrayed During a Live Operation

My girlfriend Lillian's entire family was taken hostage, and as SWAT team members, we headed out together for the rescue.

During the firefight, I took a bullet while covering Lillian.

Just as I was relieved that I was wearing a bulletproof vest, I noticed blood seeping through where I'd been shot.

Upon inspection, I discovered that the bulletproof vest Lillian had given me was actually just a cotton vest.

Faced with my pained and confused gaze, Lillian said coldly, "I swapped your vest and gave it to Carmen. He's a rookiehis reflexes aren't as sharp as yours. He needs to wear two vests to be safe."

Clutching my wound, I demanded furiously, "Didn't you think I could die from getting shot?"

Lillian's face filled with anger after hearing this. "How can you be so inconsiderate of a rookie? It's just one bulletproof vest, isn't it?"

"Besides, it didn't even hit anything vital. What are you screaming about?"

I knew arguing was pointless. After bandaging my wound, I sent a message to my dad, Chief Johnson, asking for backup:

"I've been shot and need rescue. Also, this rescue mission needs to be temporarily canceled."

Soon after, Lillian, as team captain, received orders from the chief to cancel the mission.

She grabbed me by the collar, her eyes blazing. "You're the one who filed that report, aren't you?"

"Don't you realize my family is in the terrorists' hands right now? Every second we delay puts them in more danger."

"You actually requested to cancel the missionare you trying to get them killed?"

When she yanked me like that, my freshly bandaged wound tore open again, blood spilling onto the ground.

I pressed hard against the wound on my ribs, enduring the pain as I responded, "We were ambushed midway, which proves the enemy was prepared. Going to rescue them now would be walking into a trap."

"And I've been shotis there something wrong with requesting backup?"

Before Lillian could respond, Carmen cut in with a sarcastic tone. "Jones, I hate to say it, but you're part of the SWAT team. You want to retreat over a little flesh wound?"

"I'm embarrassed for you!"

"Besides, the hostages we're rescuing are Captain Lillian's familyyour future family too. You think you can just decide not to save them?"

"Are you just a coward, or does Lillian not mean enough to you?"

With his instigation, the other team members started criticizing me too.

"Jones, if your skills aren't up to par, you need more training. Running away will only make everyone look down on you more!"

"We have a tradition of light wounds not leaving the front line. You want backup for a little scrape? The other teams will laugh at us."

The searing pain was unbearable, and my teammates' mockery pushed me over the edge.

I released the pressure on my wound and pointed at the blood gushing from it. "Are you all blind, or have you lost your conscience? You call this a flesh wound?"

The other team members fell silent after seeing my injury, except for Carmen, who still wore a mocking, disdainful expression.

"Are you proud you got shot? Showing it off like some kind of honor display."

Lillian walked up with a look of contempt.

"Why is everyone else fine except you got shot?"

"It's because you slack off during training, so you're useless in real combat. And you have the nerve to complain?"

I wanted to defend myself, but the piercing pain made me not want to say another word.

As I continued losing blood, my vision grew increasingly blurry, everything before me swaying.

Fortunately, I had sent out that distress signal in time, or the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Just when I thought Lillian would order a retreat, I heard her command everyone to keep moving forward.

"Everyone, move out. While the terrorists aren't on alert yet, let's take down their hideout in one strike and rescue the hostages."

I struggled to my feet, gritting through the pain. "You... you want to disobey orders?"

The corner of Lillian's mouth curled as she said coldly:

"I'm the field commander for this operation. I have final say!"

"I won't let some coward interfere with the smooth execution of this rescue!"

Seeing her crazed state, I knew arguing was pointless and stopped trying.

"Lillian, I understand you're desperate to save them, but I've been shot. I can't keep moving with you all. I can only wait here for rescue."

"No way!"

Before Lillian could give orders, Carmen spoke up first.

He looked at me sinisterly. "If we leave him here, he'll definitely tell the chief that Captain Lillian deliberately disobeyed orders."

"To clear herself of that charge, we have to take him with us!"

"If he dares talk nonsense, we'll pin the whole disobeying orders thing on him!"

The other team members, intimidated by Lillian and Carmen's authority, echoed their agreement.

I looked at the ice-cold Lillian and said emotionally, "Lillian, counting today, I've saved you four times."

"The first time was four years ago. I dug you out of a pile of corpses and carried you for three days and nights to get out of the desert."

"You were so moved you cried, saying you'd spend your life repaying me, vowing to never betray me."

"I know I don't matter to you anymore, but I hope you can give me one chance to escape, for the sake of how many times I've saved you."

Hearing this, Lillian seemed slightly moved and was about to speak when Carmen interrupted.

"Lillian, you can't be too soft-hearted."

"Leaving him here will ruin everything!"

"The rescue operation might get canceled because of one word from him."

At this, Lillian's brows furrowed as she looked at me coldly. "Don't try to blackmail me with those things. That's all in the past."

"For this operation, you're the only one familiar with the enemy's terrain. If you don't go, how can we rescue the hostages?"

"That's right! Jones has to go. Don't think you can play dead here!"

Carmen quickly chimed in.

Looking at these two disgusting people, I knew reason wouldn't work, so I played my last card.

"Don't mess around. Police Chief Johnson is actually my dad. If you treat me like this, he won't let you get away with it!"

"Ha ha ha..." Carmen laughed maniacally.

"That's hilarious! Jones, I never thought you'd be such a coward that you'd claim random people as your father just to save your life."

The others mocked me too.

"How could Chief Johnson have a son with a completely different surname?"

Lillian even slapped me hard across the face.

"Jones, I'm ashamed to have a boyfriend like you!"

"If you spout one more word of nonsense, I'll blow your head off!"

With that, she actually pressed her gun to my forehead.

I knew they were determined to take me along, so I stopped explaining but made one request.

"I'll go with you, but you have to make Carmen return that bulletproof vest to me."

"I'm injured and can't move easily..."

"Shut up!"

Before I could finish, Lillian cut me off sharply.

"You're injured, so naturally you have no combat capability. Why waste a bulletproof vest?"

"I'll say it one more timeCarmen is participating in combat for the first time and has no experience. He must have two bulletproof vests to be safe!"

Watching Lillian speak these biased words with such righteousness, I couldn't help feeling heartbroken.

I never imagined that my girlfriend, who once had eyes only for me, would disregard my life and death for another man.

Ever since Carmen joined the team, she'd been acting possessed, her eyes constantly following him.

Before, I thought she just enjoyed looking at handsome guys, just eye candy, nothing more.

After all, we'd survived life and death together many timesshe couldn't possibly betray our years of feelings.

Now it seemed I was terrifyingly stupid.

Seeing I still wasn't moving, Lillian clicked a round into the chamber with a loud snap and pressed it against my forehead.

"Don't think I won't shoot. Get up now. Move!"

Left with no choice, I clutched my wound and struggled to my feet.

"I'll help you, Jones."

Carmen walked over with a fawning expression.

Before I could refuse, he viciously struck my wound with his gun butt, making tears stream down my face from the pain.

I endured the pain and shoved Carmen away hard.

"Get lost!"

Carmen let out an exaggerated cry and fell dramatically to the ground.

Without a word, Lillian came forward and shoved me hard.

"What are you doing? Carmen was trying to help you, and you push him?"

Carmen took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. "I wore Jones's bulletproof vest, so it's normal he's angry. I don't mind taking some abuse if it helps Jones calm down and properly lead us to rescue the hostages."

Hearing this, Lillian's eyes blazed with fury. She came forward and slapped me twice across the face.

"Don't think you can bully him just because Carmen is kind-hearted. I won't allow it!"

"If you dare hurt him, I'll make you pay back double!"

She used all her strength with those slaps, making my ears ring and my face burn, but my heart hurt even more.

I had no energy to explain, nor did I want to.

"I can walk myself. I don't need his help."

"You don't need my helpyou just want to take the chance to run away."

Carmen looked at me maliciously, speaking in a sarcastic tone.

Lillian glanced at me with disgust. "Jones, you keep causing trouble. If you delay my rescue, I definitely won't let you off!"

Then she turned to Carmen. "Watch him. If he makes any suspicious moves, execute him on the spot."

"Anyway, we're in a combat zone right now. Any accident can be explained away."

I knew she said this deliberately for me to hear, and I knew she was capable of it.

These team members were all trained by her. Even if she really did something terrible to me, they would definitely take her side.

A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. I just hoped the rescue team would arrive soon.

After Carmen helped me up, he dragged me forward at a run, completely ignoring that my wound was bleeding more and more.

After a violent sprint, my breathing became increasingly difficult, my vision darkening, as if my heart would stop beating at any second.

Just then, several dark figures flashed through the alley ahead.

Lillian called out in a low voice, "Take cover. Suspicious persons ahead."

Before Lillian finished speaking, Carmen shoved me forward hard, throwing me right into the intersection of two alleys.

At the same time, the clicking sound of a machine gun being loaded came from not far down the alley.

I knew if I hesitated another second, I'd be turned into swiss cheese.

I used what little strength I had left and threw myself toward the wall corner.

Unexpectedly, when I crashed into it, the wall collapsed with a crash.

As the wall fell, gunfire erupted by my ears.

Fortunately I dodged quickly, or I'd be dead.

Taking advantage of their engagement, I crawled over the collapsed wall and hid in a small dark room.

I used my locator to send another distress signal, hoping the rescue team could find me soon.

The gunfire outside rang out for a while before stopping quickly. Looked like they'd encountered a small force that retreated after exchanging fire.

Hiding in the little dark room, I didn't dare breathe heavily.

My enemies weren't just the terrorists, but also those teammates who wanted me dead.

I stared at that door missing a corner, both hoping the people coming to save me would push through soon, and fearing that whoever came through would be there to harm me.

Just as I was torn with anxiety, the door creaked open.

A tall, thin figure pushed through the door with a sinister smile.

When I fully made out his features, my heart sank.

Damn, it was that bastard Carmen.

I tried to curl myself into as small a ball as possible, praying in my heart he wouldn't see me.

"Stop hiding, Jones. I can see you."

I looked up to find the bastard was already right in front of me.

I forced out what breath I had. "What are you here for?"

Carmen smiled darkly. "To rescue you, of course, my good teammate."

"Get away from me. I'd thank God if you just didn't harm me."

"Don't be so proud. I found a bottle of iodine to disinfect your wound."

With that, he reached out to tear off my bandage.

I tried desperately to push him away, but having lost too much blood, my hands were powerless and couldn't stop him at all.

After he ripped off the gauze, he actually stuck his finger directly into my wound and tore it viciously, ripping my wound into a gaping hole as blood gushed out.

"Ahhh..."

The piercing pain made me scream involuntarily, and then I kicked Carmen flying, sending him crashing into the wall.

That kick used all my remaining strength.

Carmen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, brushed the dust off his backside, and smiled coldly.

"I just performed a little surgery on you. Don't worry, you'll be fine soon."

"I have no grudge against you. Why do you have to harm me..."

"No grudge? You..."

Just then, Lillian burst through the door with others.

Seeing people arrive, Carmen immediately fell backward, clutching his chest and wailing. "Jones, I was just trying to bandage your wound. Why did you kick me?"

Hearing that I'd kicked Carmen, Lillian immediately rushed over to kick me, but Carmen grabbed her.

He probably feared Lillian would see my torn-open wound.

"Forget it, Lillian. I can't blame Jones for being angry at me. If I hadn't worn his bulletproof vest, he wouldn't have been injured. It's normal for him to hate me."

"Carmen, you're just too kind. But you have to choose who deserves kindness. Someone like Jonesno matter how well you treat him, he won't appreciate it."

"Today I'm definitely going to teach this ungrateful bastard a lesson for you!"

With that, she shook off Carmen and charged at me furiously.

Just as she lifted her foot to kick me, her expression suddenly changed and she froze completely.

"You... how are you hurt this badly? You only got shot in the ribshow are your intestines hanging out?"

I used my last bit of strength to point at Carmen. "He... it was him..."

"He means I was the one who bandaged him."

Before I could finish, Carmen interrupted me.

Carmen looked utterly righteous. "When I found Jones, he was already like this. He probably caught his wound on something while escaping and tore it open."

At this point, he looked around slowly and said, "Looking at it now, Jones's injury is beyond saving. It's time we made a decision."

Lillian asked worriedly, "You mean..."

"Exactly. He's in this condition nowwe definitely can't take him with us. If he falls into the terrorists' hands, he'll inevitably reveal our whereabouts."

"Better we end his suffering now. It'll let him go peacefully and prevent the risk of our location being exposed."

Carmen spoke with such righteousness, as if he was doing this entirely for my benefit.

Hearing they wanted to make a move on me, everyone looked hesitant.

Seeing their hesitation, Carmen continued, "If you're not afraid of Jones leaking information and getting everyone killed here, just pretend I didn't say anything."

Hearing this, Lillian finally took a stance. "Let's do as Carmen says. This way we're helping Jones reduce his suffering."

Hearing the captain had spoken, the others could only agree.

Carmen had someone bring over a basin of water and took out some paper towels.

"We each take a paper towel, soak it in water, then press it over his face. In just a few minutes, he'll stop breathing."

"This way we all have a part in it, so no one will dare report us."

Hearing this, everyone lowered their guard and started soaking paper to cover my nose and mouth.

After several sheets were placed over my face, my breathing became increasingly difficult.

Just as I thought I was about to die, suddenly a team burst through the door, the leader shouting sternly, "Stop!"

Everyone froze when they saw who had arrived.