The morning after their kiss, Elena woke up alone.
The side of the bed where Adrian had slept was cold, and the sound of the waves outside carried through the open balcony doors. The scent of his cologne still lingered in the air — subtle, familiar, dangerous.
She sat up slowly, rubbing her temples. Her mind was a mess of guilt and longing.
She had let herself feel something she had sworn to destroy.
On the nightstand lay a folded note in Adrian's handwriting:
> "Had to meet someone early. Breakfast is in the kitchen. Don't disappear on me."
— A.
Elena smiled faintly, then sighed. Don't disappear on me.
If only he knew that disappearing was the one thing she'd mastered.
She got dressed quickly — black jeans, a gray hoodie — and went downstairs. The villa felt quieter than usual, too still. Even the sea breeze felt heavy, like it carried secrets through the walls.
When she entered the kitchen, a soft beeping sound broke the silence.
Her instincts sharpened instantly.
She followed the sound to the living room and saw the source — Adrian's laptop, still open, a message flashing on the screen.
It wasn't hers to read.
But she couldn't help herself.
The message was from someone named Kellan:
> "We traced the infiltrator. Black Xins. Orders?"
Elena's stomach twisted.
Black Xins. Her organization.
The reply, already typed but unsent, froze her heart:
> "Find out who. Don't act until I confirm."
She shut the laptop, her hands trembling. So he knew.
He had been playing the same game all along.
For a second, the world tilted. Maybe she had been the prey all this time.
---
Hours later, Adrian returned. He looked calm, too calm. He walked in wearing a white shirt and black slacks, sleeves rolled up, the kind of effortless confidence that made her heart race and her instincts scream.
"You're quiet," he said, setting a brown bag on the counter. "Coffee?"
"Sure," she replied, forcing a smile.
He poured two cups, the smell of dark roast filling the air.
"Bad dreams again?"
"Something like that," she said, watching him.
For a while, they sat in silence.
Then he said softly, "Elena, I have to ask you something. And I want the truth."
Her chest tightened. "Okay."
Adrian's gaze lifted, locking onto hers. "Who are you really?"
The question sliced through the air.
Her throat felt dry.
"What do you mean?" she managed.
"You know exactly what I mean." His tone was calm but cold, steady like a blade. "You show up out of nowhere, stay after I tell you not to, you ask questions you shouldn't. And last night, someone tried to breach my security system — someone trained."
Elena's fingers dug into her coffee cup. He's testing me.
She forced a nervous laugh. "You think I'm some kind of spy?"
He didn't answer.
He just looked at her, eyes dark, unreadable.
"Tell me, Elena," he said softly. "Should I be afraid of you?"
The silence between them stretched.
Then she stood up, grabbing her cup and walking toward the sink. "You're paranoid," she said, her back turned to him. "Not everyone's out to get you."
But inside, she was breaking. He was closer to the truth than he realized.
---
That night, Adrian didn't join her in bed.
Elena stayed awake, listening to the hum of the ocean outside. The house felt colder, emptier. Her phone buzzed under her pillow.
It was Orion again.
> "Final chance. Kill him before sunrise. Don't make us send someone else."
Her heart thudded painfully.
She got out of bed, slipped her gun from the drawer, and walked down the hallway barefoot. Each step echoed softly on the marble floor.
When she reached Adrian's door, she hesitated. The handle felt cold against her palm.
She could hear him breathing inside — calm, deep, asleep.
It would be easy.
One pull of the trigger, and it would all be over.
But her hand shook. She lowered the gun slowly.
"I can't," she whispered to herself. "Not him."
She turned to leave — and froze.
Adrian was standing in the doorway.
He wasn't asleep.
He wasn't even surprised.
"I knew it," he said quietly. His eyes weren't angry — just tired. "You really were sent for me."
Elena's mouth opened, but no words came.
He took a slow step toward her. "Who sent you?"
"No one—"
"Don't lie to me." His voice hardened, the warmth gone.
"Elena, who are you working for?"
Her shoulders slumped. There was no point pretending anymore.
"The Black Xins," she whispered.
Adrian closed his eyes briefly, jaw tightening. "I thought so."
"Adrian, listen—"
"Why?" he cut in sharply. "What did I ever do to you? To them?"
"You don't understand," she said, voice breaking. "They think you killed their men three months ago. They—"
He let out a bitter laugh. "Their men killed my people first. I just made sure they never came back."
Elena's breath caught. "So it's true… you are part of this."
He looked at her, a storm in his eyes. "I was. Once. Before I walked away."
A long silence fell between them.
Elena lowered the gun, tears burning her eyes. "I didn't know. I swear, I didn't know the truth when I came."
"And now?" he asked quietly. "Do you still plan to kill me?"
She shook her head. "I can't."
Adrian's expression softened, but only slightly. He reached forward, taking the gun gently from her hand. "Then they'll come for both of us."
"I know," she said. "But I don't care."
He stared at her for a long moment. Then he turned and walked to the window, looking out into the darkness. "You should," he said quietly. "Because they're already here."
---
A loud explosion shook the villa.
Glass shattered, alarms blared, and Elena's instincts kicked in immediately. She dove behind the couch as bullets ripped through the walls.
Adrian grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the basement door. "Come on!"
They ran down the stairs as gunfire echoed behind them. Dust and smoke filled the air.
Elena coughed, her heart racing. "How did they find us so fast?"
"They've been tracking you," Adrian said bitterly, punching a code into the wall. A hidden door slid open, revealing a narrow tunnel. "I knew they'd make a move once you failed to report back."
"You knew this would happen?" she shouted.
"I suspected," he said. "That's why I didn't kill you when I had the chance."
Elena stared at him. "You… knew?"
"I saw the mark on your shoulder the night you took off your jacket. The Black Xins tattoo." He looked at her with something between admiration and regret. "I just wanted to see if you'd admit it."
Tears welled in her eyes. "Why didn't you stop me then?"
He smiled faintly. "Because somewhere along the line, I stopped wanting to."
---
The tunnel led them into the woods behind the villa. Flames from the explosion painted the night sky orange. Distant shouts echoed — the Black Xins were still searching.
Elena leaned against a tree, catching her breath. "They won't stop. You know that."
"I know," Adrian said, loading a pistol. "But they'll regret coming here."
He handed her another gun. "Still remember how to shoot?"
She gave him a grim smile. "Better than you."
They fought their way through the forest, side by side. Every shot, every step, felt like a dance between death and devotion. When the last of the attackers fell, the night was silent again — except for the crackle of distant fire and the sound of their heavy breathing.
Adrian turned to her, face smeared with dirt and blood. "You had your chance to kill me. You didn't."
Elena met his gaze. "Neither did you."
He chuckled softly, the tension finally breaking. "We make a terrible assassin duo."
She laughed weakly, wiping a tear from her cheek. "Maybe. But we make a pretty good team."
---
By dawn, they reached an abandoned cabin deep in the woods.
Elena sat by the fireplace, staring at the flames. "They'll send more," she said quietly.
"I know," Adrian replied, sitting beside her. "Then we'll take them all."
She looked at him, eyes tired but determined. "You'd fight your past for me?"
He turned to her, his voice low and certain. "I'd burn it all for you."
She leaned against his shoulder, and for the first time, the silence felt safe.
But somewhere, deep inside, both of them knew — this was only the beginning.