An Unforgiving Love

Chapter 13- Deep Turn

As they stepped outside the charred remains of the restaurant, Lucas approached Bella, his expression a mixture of concern and regret. The chaos around them had begun to settle, but the tension still lingered in the air.

“Bella,” he said softly, catching her attention. “I wanted to surprise you. I had some time off coming up, and I thought we could take a trip—maybe a weekend away together. Just the two of us.”

She looked up at him, her heart warming at the thought. “Lucas, that sounds amazing. But with everything happening, I—”

“I know, I know,” he interrupted, running a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “We were all caught up in this mess. I had hoped for a break from all the chaos, but it seems like every time we try to find normalcy, something pulls us back in.”

Bella’s gaze drifted away, her thoughts swirling around the day’s events. “We have to focus on the investigation and finding out what happened to the major. We can’t ignore that.”

“I get it,” Lucas said, his voice low. “But I was just thinking… maybe after all this is over, we could still have that time together. I just wanted you to know you’re a priority for me.”

She smiled faintly, appreciating his sentiment despite the heaviness of their situation. “You know I care about you too. But right now, we need to stay focused.”

“I know. Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself in all this,” Lucas said, a hint of worry in his eyes. “You’re not just a brilliant forensic scientist; you’re also the woman I care about.”

Bella felt her heart swell at his words, but she also felt the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her. “I will. Just… let’s get through this first.”

As they turned to rejoin Leo and the captured man, Bella caught a glimpse of Lucas’s hopeful smile, and she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of optimism. Maybe, after all this turmoil, they could find a way to reclaim those moments they both longed for.

But for now, they had work to do, and the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty.

As Bella and Lucas approached the man, who was still wincing and icing his cheek from Bella's swift kick, she offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that. But I had to make sure you couldn’t get away.”

The man grunted, clearly annoyed but surprisingly willing to talk. “I don’t have time for your games,” he spat, his voice strained. “You really think you can intimidate me? I’m not the one you want.”

Lucas stepped closer, his presence authoritative. “Then help us understand why you were running. Who hired you?”

The man hesitated, glancing back toward the chaos of the burning building. “Look, I was just doing a job. They didn’t tell me it would end up like this,” he said, his voice trembling slightly.

Bella leaned in, her interest piqued. “Who hired you? What was the job?”

His eyes darted between them, calculating. “It was a hit. The major was going to expose some shady dealings. They wanted him out of the picture before he could talk.”

“Who? Who gave you the order?” Lucas pressed, his tone firm but calm.

“His name is Victor Reyes. Runs a gang, deep in the underground scene. He was worried the major would spill everything, and he didn’t want anyone poking around.” The man’s voice was shaky, and the fear in his eyes was palpable.

Bella exchanged a glance with Lucas, realizing they were getting closer to the truth. “And how did you find out about this?”

“I overheard a conversation. They didn’t think I was listening,” the man admitted, his voice lowering. “I thought I could make a quick buck, but it was all going sideways. I didn’t sign up for any of this.”