Dangerous Attention

Chapter 14: The Calm Before the Storm

The car’s engine purred steadily as they sped down the highway, the city lights fading into the distance behind them. The weight of the night’s events pressed heavily on both Daou and Offroad as they sat in silence, the only sound the hum of the tires on the road. Offroad’s chest still heaved from the adrenaline, his mind struggling to process everything that had just happened. They had barely escaped the warehouse with their lives, and now they were carrying the very evidence that could bring Daou’s uncle down.

Daou drove in silence, his expression hardened, his jaw set in a tight line. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white, his focus never wavering from the road ahead. But Offroad could sense the turmoil beneath his calm exterior. Daou was trying to stay composed, but the tension in his posture gave away the storm brewing inside him.

“You okay?” Offroad finally asked, his voice soft but filled with concern.

Daou didn’t respond right away. His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, scanning the road behind them for any signs of pursuit. When he was satisfied that they were in the clear, he spoke, his voice low and gravelly. “We’re not safe yet.”

Offroad swallowed hard. He had expected as much, but hearing it from Daou made it feel more real. “What’s the plan?”

Daou glanced at him, his eyes sharp and determined. “We lay low for a few days. Figure out who we can trust to get this information into the right hands.”

Offroad nodded, but a sense of dread settled in his stomach. They were playing a dangerous game, and every move they made could cost them their lives. He couldn’t shake the image of Daou’s uncle’s cold, calculating eyes, the way he had looked at Daou like he was nothing more than a loose end to be tied up.

“What if he finds us?” Offroad asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Daou’s jaw clenched. “He won’t. Not if we’re careful.”

But even as he said it, Offroad could tell that Daou didn’t entirely believe his own words. They were dealing with a man who had built an empire on fear, power, and ruthlessness. His uncle wouldn’t stop until Daou was either dead or brought back under his control.

The weight of that realization settled heavily on Offroad’s shoulders. He had known from the start that getting involved with Daou would come with risks, but now those risks felt more real than ever. Still, he had made his choice. He wasn’t going to back down now.

They drove in silence for a few more miles before Daou finally pulled off the main road, guiding the car down a narrow, winding path that led to a small, secluded safe house nestled in the woods. It was a modest cabin, nothing fancy, but it was well-hidden and far away from prying eyes.

Daou parked the car and turned off the engine, the silence of the night settling around them like a heavy blanket. He stepped out of the car and motioned for Offroad to follow. They both moved quickly, entering the cabin and locking the door behind them.

Inside, the cabin was sparse but functional. A small living area, a kitchen, and two bedrooms were all that it had to offer. But it was enough. It was safe.

Daou immediately went to the small table in the living room, spreading out the documents they had stolen from his uncle’s office. Offroad hovered nearby, watching as Daou’s eyes scanned over the papers with an intensity that made his heart race.

“These are shipping routes,” Daou muttered, more to himself than to Offroad. “Weapons, drugs…everything he’s been moving in and out of the docks for years.”

Offroad felt a chill run down his spine. “How do we even begin to take this down?”

Daou’s eyes darkened. “We get this to someone who can use it. A journalist, a cop we can trust—someone who can blow the whole thing wide open.”

“But who?” Offroad asked, his voice filled with doubt. “Who do we trust?”

Daou’s silence was answer enough. In their world, trust was a rare commodity. Betrayal could come from anyone, anywhere. And the stakes were higher than ever.

Just then, the weight of everything that had happened hit Offroad like a freight train. The danger, the uncertainty, the sheer impossibility of their situation. His chest tightened, and for the first time that night, he let out a shaky breath. “Daou…what if we don’t make it out of this?”

Daou finally looked up from the papers, his eyes softening just a fraction as he met Offroad’s gaze. He stepped toward him, closing the distance between them. “We will,” Daou said firmly, his voice a low, steady promise. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Offroad’s heart clenched at Daou’s words, and before he could stop himself, he reached out and grabbed Daou’s hand. “Promise me,” Offroad whispered, his voice almost breaking. “Promise me we’ll get through this.”

Daou’s fingers tightened around Offroad’s hand, his eyes filled with an intensity that made Offroad’s breath catch. “I promise,” Daou said softly, his voice carrying the weight of a thousand unsaid things.

For a moment, the world outside disappeared, and it was just the two of them. In that quiet, intimate space, the fear and the danger faded into the background, leaving only the raw connection between them.

Daou gently pulled Offroad closer, his arms wrapping around him in a protective embrace. Offroad melted into the warmth of Daou’s body, his face pressed against his chest as he closed his eyes and let the tension drain from him. Daou’s steady heartbeat was a reassuring rhythm, a silent reminder that they were still here, still fighting.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Offroad knew that whatever happened next, they would face it together. The storm was coming, and it would be brutal. But in this moment, they had each other. And for now, that was enough.