ing in the dark. For a second, she thought maybe she was dreaming, but then

apartment was locked. Her alarm system armed. But worries s

d the door and looked

as A

is hair was a mess from scrape up his fingers through it too much. He just stood there, no

ened t

h stayed

lt heavier tha

finally spoke up,

er voice steady. "For what, Adrian? To ask q

hat I'm doing. But I can't sleep."I can't think. All I see is you. And

. "You as

alone. Said it was before my time.

pered. "Because of me."

ility. That he got too close to

I am now? A liability?" "No," Adrian quickly said, stepping into he

, her eyes tired

at people think they know. I didn't choose my last name. But I chose this life. T

nished quietly. "Catch

intense, but it wasn't just about anger or fear. It was

u should go. Before we bo

ian did

said, "Do yo

t answer.

ay I look at you. I regret nothing about that night on t

ard, voice brea

special

y, his phone

blocke

st turned it off,

ropped. "You're

kno

u still

was soft.

a breath. "Y

ntly. "For yo

ble thread that had kept them from falli

too many unsaid truths. His hands buried in her hair, hers clutched his shirt like he was th

quietly."Not until

er cheek, gently

hesi

quietly, but wi

family. He was close to uncovering something... and then he was discredited. Ruined. My mother l

red back like

er was the one who l

she said. "He

confusion, filled with questions t

"You really thi

t Blackwell who's actually thought about what

at her,

think m

hing to do with it."Then said

me bring

shock. "What

dad, your dad, the foundation, the company ,all of it. I don't care what it takes. I need t

s for words.Coul

dr

t's built on ruins. And if I lose everything

fell bet

have something. Something my dad left b

Together."She glanced at him as if she w

e bill

the

o burn his world to th

in her apartment flicke

pitch

way. The heater cut off. The l

ly turned to

ting there across the street

s a whisper. "Th

er close. "Then

rough the apartment do

a vi

a fr

ee

pa

n a

ard the bedroom. "Do

t pounding like

knock.

hed for

sig

his jacket. "

on't have

, his eyes full

knock di

tea

r handl

th realized

the other sid

ndle c

droom. His heart was shaking and he could feel every feeling kicking in.Th

have a key?"

Only the landlord. And..

ho

ther. He paid for this place after Dad

w. That was a lie.The f

avy. Delibera

ulling open the bedr

N

ay

hiding. N

as old. Worn. From years of pretending not to notice the way th

. "Then we fight."The b

dressed in black, and their faces were hidden by shadows and hoods. But the shin

a wa

ess

rian Blackwell. You should've s

flinch. "Too l

epped forward. "She'

aised her c

htly to shield her.

the first man aske

it at us? Call

.If you really knew me, you'd realize

beat of si

here for

thing at Adrian's feet.

didn'

hat side you're on. Because after

the folder like

n't?" Adrian

door. "Then she disappea

walke

Just the kind of threat t

front door shut, the sound ringing throug

hat is that?"He bent down to grab it, his hands shaking

pene

ade the blood dra

th people Adrian had never seen before, but recognized

the v

le doc

a's fathe

tial Witness Agr

voice was

our father wasn

a bl

ecause he tried