Rain poured heavily across the city, turning the streets into rivers of blurred lights and restless shadows. Amelia stood beside the large office window of Steel Corporation, staring blankly at the storm outside while her reflection stared back at her.
Six months.
It had already been six months since Kale died.
Yet some nights it still felt fresh enough to split her chest open.
She could still hear the gunshot.
Still remember the warmth of his blood staining her hands while he struggled to breathe.
Still hear his final words telling her to run.
Amelia closed her eyes tightly.
If she had reacted faster…
If she had noticed the sniper sooner…
Maybe he would still be alive.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Beth stepped into the executive office carrying two coffee cups and several thick files tucked beneath her arm. Her usually composed face looked exhausted.
Unlike Amelia, Beth did not work at Steel Corporation. She worked at one of the biggest law firms in the city, but after the federal investigation expanded, her firm had been assigned as legal representatives connected to the case involving the mafia organization and the Steel family. Since Amelia worked directly under Steel Corporation, Beth had been visiting frequently to coordinate legal evidence and prepare for the upcoming hearings.
"You are thinking about him again," Beth said quietly.
Amelia accepted the coffee with a weak smile. "Am I that obvious?"
"Yes."
Beth sat across from her on the leather couch and sighed softly.
"Kale made his choice, Amelia."
"He died because of me."
"He died protecting someone he cared about."
Amelia looked away immediately, her throat tightening painfully.
"That does not make it easier."
"No," Beth admitted. "But drowning in guilt will not bring him back either."
The room fell silent except for the sound of rain battering the windows.
Finally Beth straightened slightly and placed the files on the table.
"We got confirmation from the federal task force this morning."
Amelia's attention snapped back instantly.
"What kind of confirmation?"
Beth's expression darkened.
"They recovered the hidden evidence archive."
Amelia froze completely.
For months the government had been working secretly alongside Beth, federal investigators, and trusted agents to uncover the truth behind the mafia network tied to both the Winters and Steel families.
Every lead had seemed impossible.
Witnesses disappeared.
Records vanished.
People were bribed into silence.
But now…
"They found everything?" Amelia whispered.
Beth nodded slowly.
"Financial records. Names. Federal communications. Surveillance reports." She exhaled heavily. "And recordings from your parents."
Amelia's breath caught painfully.
Her parents.
After all these years.
Her fingers trembled slightly as Beth slid one file toward her.
Inside were photographs and official documents stamped with federal clearance markings.
Amelia read each page carefully, her heartbeat growing louder with every sentence.
The truth unfolded piece by piece.
Years ago, Amelia's parents had discovered the mafia organization was trafficking weapons through political and corporate channels. After secretly gathering evidence against them, they became federal informants under government protection.
But before the operation could fully expose the organization, the mafia discovered the betrayal.
And that was when everything spiraled into bloodshed.
Amelia's eyes burned as she kept reading.
Another document revealed something she already suspected but never managed to prove.
Xavier's parents had tried helping her parents escape.
Not because of business.
Not because of guilt.
Because they wanted out too.
The Steel family had been trapped inside the organization for years, desperately trying to separate themselves from the violence surrounding them.
And for helping Amelia's parents…
They were murdered too.
Amelia stared silently at the pages for a long moment.
All this time she carried anger toward Xavier's family.
All this time she thought they stood beside the monsters.
But the truth was far more complicated.
They had been victims too.
A tear slipped quietly down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away.
Beth watched her carefully.
"You knew part of this already," Beth said softly. "But now we finally have proof."
Amelia nodded slowly.
"And the government?"
"They are moving forward with multiple federal charges against the surviving members of the organization."
A bitter laugh escaped Amelia.
"After all these years."
"Justice takes time."
"Justice should not take dead parents and ruined lives."
Beth had no answer for that.
The office door suddenly opened without warning.
Xavier stepped inside.
The second his eyes landed on Amelia, his entire expression shifted with concern.
"You did not answer your phone."
"I was busy."
"You disappear for hours and call that busy?"
Beth rolled her eyes immediately. "Good evening to you too, Xavier."
He ignored her completely, walking straight toward Amelia instead.
His dark shirt clung slightly from the rain outside, droplets still visible along his jawline. Amelia hated how unfairly attractive he looked even while stressing her out.
Xavier stopped directly in front of her.
"You okay?"
Such a simple question.
Yet the gentleness in his voice nearly broke her.
Amelia held up the file silently.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the federal markings.
"You found it."
"We found everything," she whispered.
For a moment Xavier said nothing.
Then he slowly sat beside her and took the documents carefully from her hands.
Amelia watched his expression tighten while reading about his parents.
Pain flickered across his face so briefly most people would miss it.
But she noticed.
She always noticed him.
"They really tried to save them," Amelia murmured quietly.
Xavier swallowed hard before nodding once.
"My mother wanted us all gone before the organization retaliated." His jaw tightened painfully. "She said nobody innocent survives that world forever."
Silence settled heavily around them.
Then Amelia said the one thing sitting painfully in her chest.
"I am still suing you."
Beth looked up sharply.
Xavier, however, barely reacted.
Instead he leaned back slowly and looked directly at her.
"I know."
"You do not seem angry."
"I would deserve it."
Amelia frowned instantly. "You did not kill anyone."
"No," he admitted quietly. "But my family name still became part of what destroyed yours."
Something about the sadness in his eyes made her chest ache again.
The atmosphere between them shifted quietly, heavy with emotions neither fully understood.
Beth noticed immediately.
Her gaze moved from Amelia to Xavier before she slowly stood up.
"I should go," she said casually while gathering the files she no longer needed.
Amelia blinked. "You are leaving already?"
Beth smirked slightly. "Unlike you two, I actually know when people need privacy."
Amelia's face heated instantly.
"Beth."
"What?" she asked innocently. "You both look one emotional conversation away from kissing."
Xavier actually laughed softly while Amelia glared at her friend.
"You are impossible."
"And you are welcome." Beth picked up her handbag and walked toward the door before pausing briefly. "Try not to destroy the office. I still need those documents tomorrow."
Then she left.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Silence immediately filled the room.
A dangerous kind of silence.
Amelia suddenly became very aware of how close Xavier was sitting beside her.
Very aware of his scent.
Very aware of his eyes on her.
"You are blushing again," he murmured.
"I am not."
"You definitely are."
She turned away quickly. "Shut up."
A low chuckle escaped him.
God.
That stupid laugh always did something to her.
Amelia walked toward the window, needing distance before her emotions completely betrayed her. Rain hammered against the glass while thunder rumbled softly outside.
Behind her, Xavier moved closer slowly.
"You should not carry this alone," he said quietly.
"I have been carrying it alone my entire life."
His hand gently touched her waist.
Warm.
Steady.
Dangerously comforting.
"You do not have to anymore."
Amelia closed her eyes briefly.
For one reckless second she leaned back slightly into his touch.
Xavier noticed immediately.
His fingers tightened softly against her waist as he stepped closer behind her.
The tension between them thickened instantly.
"You keep doing that," Amelia whispered shakily.
"Doing what?"
"Making me forget why I am angry at you."
A low laugh escaped him near her ear.
"That sounds more like your problem than mine."
She turned halfway toward him with a glare that lacked real heat.
Xavier's eyes dropped briefly to her lips.
The air suddenly felt far too warm.
"You should stop looking at me like that," Amelia muttered.
"Can not."
His hand slowly brushed against her cheek, fingers gentle enough to make her heartbeat stumble.
Amelia hated how much she wanted him.
Even now.
Especially now.
Xavier leaned closer slowly, giving her every chance to stop him.
She did not.
Their lips met softly at first, the kiss filled with exhaustion, grief, longing, and everything neither of them could properly say aloud.
Amelia's fingers gripped his shirt tightly as the kiss deepened.
Xavier pulled her closer carefully, his forehead resting against hers afterward while both struggled to breathe normally.
"You are dangerous," she whispered weakly.
His lips curved slightly.
"So are you."
Across town, another kind of tension filled Beth's apartment.
Jacob had been helping her organize legal documents for nearly two hours, though at some point neither of them had paid attention to the paperwork anymore.
Beth sat on the kitchen counter while Jacob stood between her knees, sleeves rolled up and tie loosened slightly.
"You know," Jacob murmured, "most people thank someone after helping them with work."
Beth smirked lightly. "Thank you."
"That sounded very lawyer like."
"I am a lawyer."
Jacob laughed softly before his hands settled against her waist.
Beth tried maintaining her composure, but the warmth in his eyes made it difficult.
"You have been staring at me for ten minutes," she pointed out.
"I am appreciating beauty."
"That was smooth."
"It worked though."
Beth rolled her eyes, though her cheeks warmed slightly.
Jacob leaned closer slowly, brushing his nose lightly against hers.
"You work too hard," he murmured.
"So do you."
"Maybe." His gaze softened. "But you carry the weight of the world like it is entirely your responsibility."
Beth looked away briefly.
Most people saw her as cold.
Sharp.
Untouchable.
Jacob never did.
That terrified her a little.
His fingers tilted her chin gently back toward him.
"Stop thinking," he whispered.
Then he kissed her.
Slowly.
Deeply.
Beth's breath caught instantly as her hands slid into his hair. The kiss quickly grew hotter, filled with weeks of tension neither bothered hiding anymore.
Jacob smiled lightly against her lips.
"You know," he murmured teasingly, "for someone always yelling at people in court, you get quiet very fast when I kiss you."
Beth's face flushed immediately.
"Shut up."
"No."
She pulled him back down before he could continue talking, kissing him harder this time.
Jacob laughed softly into the kiss while pulling her closer against him.
Outside, storms raged across the city.
Inside, hearts tangled together despite grief, danger, and secrets threatening to destroy everything.
And somewhere beneath all the pain and vengeance, love continued growing stubbornly in the dark.