The Devil In Disguise

A Interrupted Romance

Gianina smoothed her dress, heart fluttering as she glanced out the window, watching Marcus standing outside the house with a relaxed smile that made her pulse race. After everything they'd been through, tonight felt like a lifeline—a few hours to forget about the constant danger and just be with him. He opened the car door for her, giving her a playful wink as she slipped inside.

"Ready for a night away from the chaos?" he asked, his hand finding hers as they drove.

She squeezed his hand, nodding with a soft smile. "More than ready."

The drive was peaceful, the city lights glittering in the distance as they made their way to a small, secluded restaurant Marcus had discovered. Its warm glow and intimate setting were worlds apart from the tension-filled atmosphere they had been living in. As they entered, Gianina felt herself relax for the first time in what seemed like ages. The restaurant was cozy and candlelit, with soft jazz playing in the background.

Marcus pulled out her chair, his gaze warm and intent as he took his seat across from her. He poured them both glasses of wine, his movements deliberate, his eyes never leaving hers.

"To us," he murmured, raising his glass. "To taking back some of what these past two months have taken from us."

"To us," she echoed, her heart swelling with gratitude as their glasses clinked. For the first time in weeks, it felt like the weight of everything they'd been through could be put aside, if only for tonight.

As they talked, their conversation drifted from light-hearted memories to deeper moments they hadn't shared before. She found herself laughing at stories of his childhood, losing herself in the familiar ease they shared. He reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers in a way that sent a thrill through her.

But just as she was settling into the warmth of his presence, her phone buzzed against the table, breaking the moment.

Her heart sank as she saw the notification. Unknown Number.

Marcus noticed her tension and raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," she lied, forcing a smile. She slid the phone back into her purse, ignoring the text. "It's nothing. Just...a Instagram notification."

He nodded, accepting the explanation, but she could feel his gaze lingering. She returned to their conversation, but her heart wasn't in it. The text gnawed at her, a dark reminder that their world wasn't as safe as it seemed.

Moments later, her phone buzzed again. And again.

She swallowed, pulling it out to glance at the screen.

Unknown Number: Jealous, GG? All dressed up for another man?

Her stomach turned as she read the words, her pulse spiking as a sickening wave of fear washed over her. She felt Marcus watching her, his expression tinged with concern.

"Do you need to get that?" he asked softly, his eyes searching hers.

"No," she replied quickly, forcing a smile. She powered off the phone, hoping to quiet the anxiety bubbling inside her. She was here with Marcus, safe, and she wasn't about to let the killer ruin this night.

Marcus reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "Whatever's on your mind, leave it for now. Tonight's about us, okay?"

She nodded, her heart settling as she held his gaze. The killer's words faded, replaced by the warmth in Marcus's eyes. For the rest of the dinner, she kept her phone out of sight, letting herself sink back into the comfort of his presence.