The street below was no longer empty.
Black cars lined the road like silent predators.
One by one, men stepped out, their movements calm and organized. No panic. No rush. Just quiet certainty.
They weren't here to search.
They already knew.
Liora's fingers tightened against the edge of the window.
"They found us again…" she whispered.
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
His eyes scanned the scene below, sharp and calculating.
Then—
His gaze stopped.
At the center of the street.
A car door opened.
And someone stepped out.
Unlike the others, he didn't look around.
He didn't need to.
He already knew where to look.
Up.
Straight at them.
Liora felt her breath catch.
Even from this distance, there was something about him.
Calm.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
"Who is that…?" she asked quietly.
Adrian's expression hardened in a way she hadn't seen before.
Not just cold.
Not just focused.
But something deeper.
Something personal.
"…That's him."
"Who?"
Adrian's voice dropped.
"The one in charge of my unit."
Liora's heart pounded.
"The one who gave the order?"
"Yes."
Rain dripped down the window between them and the man outside.
Blurring his figure.
But not his presence.
He raised his hand slowly.
And gave a small, almost casual wave.
As if greeting an old friend.
Liora's stomach twisted.
"He's insane."
"No," Adrian said quietly.
"He's worse."
The man outside lowered his hand.
Then he spoke.
Not loudly.
But somehow…
The sound carried.
Even through the rain.
"Raven."
Liora froze.
He used the codename.
Adrian didn't move.
"You always were difficult," the man continued.
His voice was smooth.
Almost polite.
"Running, hiding… dragging civilians into your mess."
Liora felt her chest tighten.
Adrian stepped slightly forward.
Positioning himself between her and the window.
"Leave," Adrian said coldly.
The man tilted his head slightly.
"That's not how this ends."
Adrian's jaw clenched.
"You came all this way just to talk?"
A faint smile appeared on the man's lips.
"I came to give you a choice."
Liora's brows furrowed.
"A choice?"
The man took a step forward.
Rain soaked through his dark coat, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Come back."
Silence.
The words hung in the air like a trap.
Liora looked at Adrian.
His expression didn't change.
But she could feel the tension in him.
"You're still valuable," the man continued.
"One of the best we ever had."
Adrian's voice was sharp.
"I'm not coming back."
The man sighed softly.
"That's disappointing."
Then—
His gaze shifted slightly.
Past Adrian.
Toward Liora.
Even though she stood behind him, it felt like he could see her clearly.
Liora instinctively stepped back.
"Ah," the man said softly.
"There she is."
Adrian's entire body tensed.
"Don't."
The warning was low.
Dangerous.
But the man only smiled.
"She's the reason, isn't she?"
"No."
"You've never disobeyed orders before."
His voice softened slightly.
"Not until now."
Liora's heart pounded.
Adrian didn't respond.
But the silence confirmed it.
The man chuckled quietly.
"How interesting."
Then his expression changed.
The warmth disappeared.
Leaving only cold calculation.
"Here's your choice, Raven."
The air seemed to freeze.
"You come with me."
His voice was calm.
Deadly.
"And she lives."
Liora's breath hitched.
Adrian's eyes darkened instantly.
"And if I refuse?" he asked.
The man's gaze sharpened.
"Then she dies."
Silence.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
The rain outside felt louder now.
Like it was pressing against the walls.
Liora shook her head.
"No," she whispered.
Adrian didn't look at her.
His attention remained locked on the man outside.
"You don't have to do this," Liora said, her voice trembling slightly.
Still—
He didn't turn.
The man below spread his arms slightly.
"I'm being generous."
"You don't deserve that."
Adrian's voice was ice.
The man smiled again.
"Time is running out."
He glanced at his watch.
"I'll give you… thirty seconds."
Liora stepped forward.
"Adrian—"
"Stay back," he said quietly.
Her chest tightened.
"Don't you dare—"
"I told you," he interrupted softly.
"There's no turning back."
The words from earlier echoed in her mind.
"You said we'd face this together!"
His hand clenched slightly.
"That was before."
"Before what?!"
"Before they came for you."
Liora's vision blurred slightly.
"No. You don't get to decide this alone."
For the first time—
Adrian turned to look at her.
His eyes softened.
Just for a moment.
"This was never your fight."
"It is now."
Silence.
The man outside spoke again.
"Ten seconds."
Liora grabbed Adrian's arm.
"Don't go."
Her voice broke slightly.
"Please."
Adrian looked down at her hand.
Then back at her face.
There was something in his eyes now.
Something she hadn't seen before.
Conflict.
Real.
Painful.
"You'll die," he said quietly.
"Then we'll find another way."
"There is no other way."
The man outside smiled faintly.
"Five."
Liora shook her head.
"There's always a way."
Adrian exhaled slowly.
Then—
He made his decision.
He gently removed her hand from his arm.
"I'm ending this," he said.
And started walking toward the door.
Liora's heart dropped.
"No—!"
But before he could take another step—
She moved.
Fast.
Grabbing his wrist again.
This time tighter.
"I'm not letting you sacrifice yourself."
Her voice was firm now.
No hesitation.
Adrian froze.
"Liora—"
"You said I don't leave your side."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"So I'm not."
The words hit him harder than anything else.
Outside—
The man's voice echoed again.
"Time's up."
The air shifted instantly.
Weapons were raised.
Men moved into position.
The decision had been made.
And now—
There was no more talking.
Only what came next.
Adrian's gaze hardened once more.
He turned toward the window.
Then back to Liora.
"Stay behind me."
Her grip tightened.
"Not happening."
A faint, almost helpless smile flickered on his lips.
Then disappeared.
"Then don't slow me down."
The first gunshot rang out.
And everything exploded into chaos.