Dangerous Attention

chapter 10: No Safe Haven

The aftermath of the shootout left a ringing silence in the cabin, only broken by the distant hum of nature outside. Offroad stood in the center of the wrecked room, his breath still shallow as he looked around. Bullet holes marred the walls, and furniture lay scattered across the floor. The cabin, once a safe haven, now felt like a warzone. His heart still raced, but his mind was clearer now, sharper, as the reality of what just happened sunk in.

Daou, ever composed, had already started checking the bodies for identification. He was methodical, moving like a man who had done this far too many times before. Offroad watched him for a moment, taking in the sight of his broad shoulders, the way his muscles tensed as he worked. Despite the chaos that had just unfolded, Daou was a force of calm in the storm.

Finally, Daou turned to Offroad, his eyes scanning him for any sign of injury. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” Offroad muttered, shaking his head, though his body still trembled from the adrenaline. “I’m fine.”

Daou didn’t seem convinced. He crossed the room and reached out to touch Offroad’s arm, his fingers warm and reassuring. Offroad flinched slightly but didn’t pull away. Instead, he met Daou’s gaze, searching for answers.

“Who were they?” Offroad asked, his voice shaky but determined.

“Mercenaries,” Daou replied flatly, his face betraying no emotion. “Sent by Kaveh.”

“Kaveh…” The name felt foreign on Offroad’s tongue, yet now it loomed large in his mind. The man who had haunted Daou’s past, now dangerously close to his present. “How did they find us?”

Daou’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he considered the question. “Someone’s tracking us. It’s possible there’s a mole in the organization—or worse, someone close to me.”

Offroad’s stomach churned. “Close to you? You think one of your men betrayed us?”

Daou’s silence was telling, and that was all Offroad needed to confirm his suspicions. Paranoia twisted in his gut, but he refused to let it show on his face. They couldn’t afford to trust anyone—not even Daou’s closest allies.

“We need to leave,” Daou said after a long moment. “This place is compromised.”

“Where will we go?” Offroad asked, hating the helplessness creeping into his voice. He was sick of running, sick of hiding—but what choice did they have?

Daou’s expression softened, and for a brief moment, Offroad could see the toll this was taking on him. The constant vigilance, the weight of keeping them both alive—it was etched into every line of his face.

“We’ll head to a safe house in the city,” Daou said, stepping back and holstering his gun. “But we need to be careful. Kaveh’s men will be watching for any move we make.”

Offroad nodded, following Daou’s lead as they began packing up the essentials. As Daou methodically stuffed guns and documents into a duffel bag, Offroad felt a strange sense of resolve settle over him. This wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about understanding the full extent of the mess they were in.

As they worked, Daou spoke quietly, almost like he was talking to himself. “Kaveh’s getting desperate. He knows we’re getting closer to exposing him.”

Offroad froze, his hand hovering over a pile of clothes. “Exposing him? For what?”

Daou’s eyes flicked to him, the tension in the room thickening. “Kaveh isn’t just after me for personal reasons. He’s involved in something much bigger—arms deals, drug trafficking, corruption on a global scale. I was part of it once, but when I tried to leave... well, you can see how that’s going.”

Offroad’s breath hitched. This was more than he’d expected, even after everything that had happened. “And you didn’t think to tell me this sooner?”

Daou straightened, his eyes hard but not unkind. “I wanted to protect you.”

Offroad scoffed. “Protect me? By keeping me in the dark? By dragging me into the middle of a warzone without any explanation?”

“I had no choice,” Daou said, his voice low but intense. “The less you knew, the safer you were.”

“But I’m not safe, am I?” Offroad shot back, his voice rising in frustration. “I’m just as much of a target as you are now.”

Daou’s expression softened again, and he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. For a moment, they just stood there, inches apart, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between them. Offroad could feel the heat of Daou’s body, the tension crackling in the air.

“I know I’ve made mistakes,” Daou said quietly. “But I’m trying to make this right. I’m trying to keep you alive.”

Offroad’s chest tightened, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him. He wanted to hate Daou for dragging him into this mess, for keeping so many secrets. But he couldn’t. No matter how angry he was, no matter how scared, he couldn’t deny the connection between them—the way Daou’s presence anchored him, even in the midst of chaos.

Before he could respond, Daou’s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen, his face hardening.

“We need to go. Now.”

Offroad didn’t ask any more questions. He followed Daou out the door and into the cold morning air. The car was parked just outside, hidden under a layer of dirt and leaves. Daou started the engine, and they sped away from the cabin, the tires kicking up gravel as they left behind the only semblance of safety they’d known.

As they drove, Offroad stared out the window, his mind racing. The landscape blurred by, but his thoughts were focused on the danger ahead. Whoever Kaveh was, he wasn’t going to stop until they were both dead.

But Offroad wasn’t the same scared kid he had been when this all started. He was stronger now, more determined. And with Daou by his side, he was ready to fight.

As they entered the outskirts of the city, Daou slowed the car, weaving through the streets until they reached an unmarked building. It was rundown, hidden in a maze of alleyways—exactly the kind of place Offroad would expect from Daou’s “safe house.”

Inside, the air was stale, the furniture old and worn. But it was secure. Daou locked the doors, checking the windows and setting up a perimeter. Offroad sank onto the couch, his body still humming with adrenaline.

Daou moved with purpose, his mind already working a thousand steps ahead, but when he glanced at Offroad, his expression softened again.

“We’ll stay here for a while,” Daou said, sitting down next to him. “At least until we figure out our next move.”

Offroad nodded, but his mind was already spinning with questions. “What’s the plan, Daou? You can’t keep running forever.”

Daou hesitated, his eyes meeting Offroad’s. “I don’t know yet. But I promise you, I’ll find a way to end this.”

Offroad’s chest tightened again, but this time it wasn’t fear—it was something deeper. He knew Daou meant every word. And for the first time in weeks, Offroad allowed himself to trust that.

But as they sat in the quiet of the safe house, both of them too exhausted to say much more, Offroad couldn’t shake the feeling that they were running out of time.