𝙱𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟸𝟾: 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚁𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗

---

The peace they had cherished over the last few days felt

like a distant memory as soon as the first message

arrived. Darius was sitting at his desk, scanning through

files when his phone buzzed. Elara, curled up on the

couch with a book, didn't notice his change in demeanor

until the tension in the room became palpable.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice careful, as she set her

book down. She had seen that look on Darius's face too

many times to count-focused, calculating, dangerous.

He didn't answer at first, his eyes fixed on the message

glowing on his screen. His jaw clenched tightly, and

when he finally met her gaze, Elara could already feel

the shift. The peace they had built was beginning to

crumble.

"It's from one of our informants," Darius said, his voice

low and measured. "Vincent's on the move again. He's

not finished with us."

Elara felt the blood drain from her face. "I thought we

had more time," she whispered. The quiet moments they

had shared-the walks, the mornings spent tangled in

each other's arms-all of it suddenly felt like borrowed

time.

"We always knew it was temporary," Darius said, rising

from his chair. "But I didn't expect him to act so soon."

He reached for the bag he kept by the door, checking the

weapons inside with a practiced ease.

Elara stood, her heart pounding. "What's the plan?"

Darius paused for a moment, studying her with that

intensity she had come to know so well. "We can't wait

for him to make the first move this time. He's going to

come after us-after you. We need to strike before he

does."

Her stomach twisted with a mix of fear and

determination. "I'm with you, whatever it takes."

He crossed the room in a few long strides, pulling her

into his arms. His hold was firm, protective, as if he were

trying to shield her from the storm that was fast

approaching. "I won't let anything happen to you,

Elara," he murmured into her hair. "I promise."

But even as he said the words, Elara knew that there

were no guarantees in the world they had found

themselves in. The threat of Vincent had always loomed

over them, and now, it was back-closer than ever.