Safe House – The Night Before
The glow of the laptop screen cast sharp shadows across the dimly lit room. Papers were scattered across the table, maps covered in inked-out routes, contingency plans scribbled in the margins.
Evelyn sat cross-legged on the couch, twirling one of the earrings between her fingers. Tomorrow, everything would change.
Across from her, Theo leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her. "You're still thinking about it."
Evelyn smirked. "Obviously. It's a risky plan."
Theo scoffed. "Risky is an understatement."
She met his gaze. "You don't think it'll work?"
Theo was quiet for a moment. Then, he sighed. "I think you're brilliant enough to pull it off. I just don't trust Elias not to see through it."
Evelyn studied him. The usual sharpness in his tone was laced with something else tonight. Something… deeper.
"You're worried."
Theo exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Of course, I'm worried. You're walking into a lion's den with a hidden camera as your only weapon."
Evelyn smiled, soft but determined. "I know what I'm doing, Theo."
His jaw tensed. "You always say that."
She tilted her head. "And have I ever been wrong?"
Theo's lips pressed together. "That's not the point."
Evelyn leaned forward. "Then what is?"
Silence.
Then, quietly, Theo said, "You."
Her breath caught.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Theo shook his head, his expression unreadable. "Let's go over the plan one last time."
Evelyn forced herself to breathe. Focus.
"Alright," she said, pulling up the file. " we do it and you."
Theo narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me?"
She leaned back. "While I'm keeping Elias occupied, you'll be nearby. If anything goes wrong—"
"I get you out," Theo finished.
Evelyn nodded.
Theo exhaled sharply. "I hate this."
Evelyn grinned. "I know."
Theo rubbed his temples. "Alright. One more thing—how are we going to drop the recordings without Elias tracing them back to us?"
Evelyn clicked on another file, showing a list of anonymous news networks, private investigators, and law enforcement contacts.
"We're not sending it from our devices," she said. "Kade helped set up an anonymous relay system. The footage will go through five different untraceable sources before it reaches the press."
Theo's expression darkened at the mention of Kade, but he didn't comment.
Instead, he exhaled. "So we trap Elias in his own words, expose him, and watch his world collapse."
Evelyn's eyes gleamed. "Exactly."
Theo studied her for a moment. Then, finally, he said, "This better work."
Evelyn smiled. "It will."
---
A Moment Before the Storm
The weight of the plan settled between them. Tomorrow, there would be no turning back.
Evelyn stood up, stretching. "We should rest. Big day ahead."
Theo didn't move. He just watched her, something unreadable in his expression.
Then, softly, he said, "Evelyn."
She turned. "Yeah?"
A long pause.
Then, quietly, he said, "Be careful."
Evelyn's heart skipped.
She gave him a small, lopsided smile. "Always."
For a second, it almost felt like he wanted to say more.
But he didn't.
Instead, he nodded. "Goodnight, Evelyn."
She hesitated.
Then, just before she turned away, she murmured, "Goodnight, Theo."
And just like that—
The countdown began.
---
End of Chapter 45