SCARRED HEARTS

CHAPTER 27: BETWEEN US

The days were getting heavier, the weight of everything pressing down harder with each passing hour. Sebastian had grown more distant, though he remained ever watchful of Lila, as if her every move was under his surveillance. But no matter how close he tried to keep her, she felt the distance between them growing—an invisible wall built on unspoken words, secrets, and lies.

It was like living in a storm that had yet to fully break, the tension so thick it was suffocating. She wanted to understand, to dive deeper into the mystery that surrounded him, but every time she asked, the walls grew higher. Every time she reached out, he pulled back. And yet, despite it all, the pull between them remained undeniable.

Lila sat on the balcony, gazing out at the skyline. The city was alive beneath her, vibrant and chaotic, but it felt so far away. She could hear the distant hum of traffic, the sporadic sound of a car horn or a siren in the background, but none of it mattered. Her mind was elsewhere.

She was trying, desperately, to make sense of it all—the warnings, the threats, the danger that was so close now. But the truth was slipping through her fingers like sand.

She leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment to steady herself, trying to regain control of her racing thoughts. That's when she heard it—footsteps.

Her heart skipped. It wasn't Sebastian. She knew his footsteps too well. These were slower, quieter. Like someone was trying to sneak up on her.

Lila's eyes snapped open, her senses on high alert. But before she could react, the door behind her opened, and a figure stepped into the room. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw him—Gabriel.

The same Gabriel who had warned her to stay close to Sebastian. The same Gabriel who had refused to tell her the full truth.

His eyes locked with hers, filled with an unreadable expression. "Lila," he said, his voice low. "We need to talk. Now."

Her heart pounded. "What's going on, Gabriel? What aren't you telling me?"

Gabriel stepped forward, his face tight. "There's no time to explain fully. I'm not here to put you at risk, but the truth—everything you're trying to understand—it's more dangerous than you think."

Lila stood up, taking a step toward him. "What do you mean? Who is behind this?"

Gabriel's gaze flickered to the side, and for the briefest moment, she saw a flash of uncertainty in his eyes. "I can't tell you yet. But you're not the only one in danger. It's not just Sebastian you need to worry about anymore."

Lila's stomach twisted. "What does that mean?"

Gabriel paused, and then, in a rare moment of hesitation, his voice dropped to a whisper. "It's someone you least expect."

Before she could ask any more questions, the sharp sound of a phone vibrating in Gabriel's pocket interrupted them. He pulled it out, his face hardening as he read the message. His eyes flickered toward Lila, and the calm, controlled expression he'd worn up until now seemed to crack.

"Dammit," he muttered under his breath, as if cursing himself. "We've been found."

Lila's breath caught in her throat. "Found? What do you mean?"

Gabriel turned toward her, his face grim. "Someone just made a move. And it's worse than I thought."

He moved quickly, grabbing Lila by the arm. "We need to go. Now. There's no time to waste."

Lila didn't protest. She didn't need to ask questions. His urgency was enough to know that whatever was happening, it was happening now. She could feel the panic rising in her chest as Gabriel pulled her toward the door.