gently against the window, mirroring the turmoil in her heart. She had always known there was somet

ice barely above a whisper. She felt the weight of h

"I didn't want to burden you with my past. It's... complicated," he rep

ing within her. "But keeping secrets only creates more distance be

of his inner conflict. "It's not just my past, Julia. It's the people involved. They're da

sperate for clarity. "You can't just drop a bomb

y're involved in things that I can't even begin to explain. I left that life behind, but sometime

"Caught in the crossfire? Alex, you're scaring

was involved in organized crime. I grew up in a world filled with violence and betrayal. I

er spine. "And you think they

above a whisper. "But I can't let you get hu

ache. "So what do we do now? Do we just p

g from you. But I need you to understand the risks involved. I can't

nt to be with you, Alex. But I can't just ignore

ll tell you everything. But promise me you'll

on. He spoke of the fear that had driven him away, the nights spent in hiding, and the constant threat of d

s voice thick with emotion. "But sometimes, it feels like

ia asked, her voice trembling

ent I left. But I can't shake the feeling that t

ered the implications. "So what d

I want to build a life with you, but I need to be honest about the r

d racing with possibilities. "What if we went

. I can't drag you into that world. It's too dangerou

can't just stand by and do nothing. If the

eased the tension, but the shadows of his past loomed large. "You don't understand what you're a

his hand. "I'm not afraid of them. I've seen you at your wo

t's that simple? They don't play by the rules. They'll do anything to get wh

me in on your world. I can't promise it'll be easy

u have no idea what you're asking me to do. I've spent years tryin

'm going to stand by you, I need to know what we're up against.

rness. It's about survival. You think you can handle it, but once you see what I've see

sing slightly. "Every moment we spend together, I'm already a part of

stinct to protect. "What if I let you in, and

mething doesn't happen. Together, we can outsmart them. We can

a game, Julia! We're talking about real lives, real danger. Yo

" she shouted back, her heart racing. "You don't get to decide what

he saw was determination, a fierce light that he couldn't extinguish. Finally, he sighed, the fight leaving him. "Fine.