Le_Bateleur
One story lit the fuse. One ghost pulled the trigger. Now neither can walk away.
Derek Hale has spent his life chasing the truth, no matter how deep it's buried. As a relentless investigative journalist, he's exposed corruption before-but nothing like this. A single article uncovers a conspiracy of black sites and vanished lives, ringing a bell that cannot be unrung. Now the government wants him silenced.
Stiles Stilinski-codename "Mick"-is their solution. A ghost. A weapon. The Agency's most efficient killer. His assignment is simple: eliminate Derek Hale. But when the mark proves sharper, steadier, and far more captivating than expected, hesitation becomes dangerous.
When the Agency turns on Stiles, both men are caught in a deadly game of betrayal and cover-ups. Framed for treason, hunted by those they once trusted, Derek and Stiles have only one option left: each other.
In a world where secrets are currency and trust is fatal, two men on opposite sides of a kill order must decide if risking everything for the truth-and for love-is worth the price.
When the Bell Rings is a queer romantic thriller of conspiracies, survival, and slow-burn desire-where every choice is dangerous, and love may be the deadliest risk of all.