Blood Ties

Game over?

Before Gabriel could respond, Damien turned on his heel, disappearing into the shadows of the trees, his figure swallowed by the darkness.

Gabriel stood frozen for a moment, his breath catching in his throat. Had he just made the biggest mistake of his life? Or had he done the only thing he could to truly break free from this twisted legacy?

He didn't have time to think about it.

He turned to Eve, who had been watching the entire exchange, her hands still trembling, her eyes haunted by the violence they had just witnessed. Despite the bloodstains, despite everything, there was something unspoken between them. A connection that was undeniable.

Gabriel made his way toward her, the movement slow, painful, but purposeful. When he reached her, he stopped, his eyes softening as he took in the sight of her—brave, strong, and scarred just as much as he was. He reached out, his hand finding hers, and for a brief moment, everything else fell away.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his voice a whisper of raw vulnerability.

Eve nodded, her lips pressed tight, but she couldn't hide the faint tremor in her hands. "I think we'll be okay," she said, but there was a sadness in her eyes. "But there's more to this, isn't there? This isn't over. Damien isn't just going to walk away."

Gabriel sighed, his gaze drifting to the trees where his brother had disappeared. He didn't know what would happen next, didn't know if Damien would return, but one thing was certain—this was far from finished.

"No," Gabriel said, his voice steady now, his grip tightening on her hand. "It's not over. Not by a long shot. But we survived. And that's more than I ever thought we'd have."

Eve's lips curled into a half-smile, her fingers tightening around his hand in return. "Then we fight together. Like we always should have."

Gabriel looked down at her, the weight of the moment settling around them. He had lost so much—his family, his past, his brother. But in that moment, with Eve standing by his side, he realized something. There was still hope.

They might be running from their past, but for the first time, they were running together.