Darkness has a way of revealing truth.
Not the kind people speak about in soft voices or write in pretty words.
The real kind.
The kind that strips everything down to instinct—survive, or lose everything.
And right now?
I was done playing defense.
---
The moment her hand slipped from mine, something inside me snapped.
Cold.
Controlled.
Deadly.
"Valentina!" My voice cut through the darkness, sharp and commanding.
No response.
Just silence… and the echo of retreating footsteps.
Wrong move.
I moved fast, pushing forward into the black, ignoring the throbbing pain in my side. My eyes adjusted quickly—years of training kicking in, mapping the room, tracking sound, breath, movement.
Think like the enemy.
He didn't run far.
Men like Adrian Voss didn't run.
They staged.
They controlled.
They waited.
A faint sound to my right.
I turned—
Gun raised—
And fired.
A body dropped.
Not him.
Too easy.
"Impatient," Adrian's voice echoed, calm, amused.
Closer than before.
"Show yourself," I said coldly.
A low chuckle.
"Why? You already know how this ends."
"No," I replied, stepping forward slowly. "I don't."
"Then let me enlighten you."
A light flickered—
Then snapped on.
Blinding.
I didn't flinch.
Didn't blink.
Because I saw him.
Standing across the room.
And Valentina—
Held tightly against him, one arm locked around her waist, a gun pressed to her head.
My grip on my weapon tightened.
"Let her go."
Adrian smiled. "And ruin all the fun?"
Valentina didn't look at him.
Her eyes were on me.
Steady.
Sharp.
Alive.
Good.
"You're slower than I expected," she said coolly, like she wasn't seconds away from a bullet.
I almost smirked.
"Traffic," I replied.
Adrian laughed softly. "You two are interesting."
"Let her go," I repeated.
His expression shifted slightly.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Interest.
"You're not in a position to give orders," he said.
"Neither are you."
Silence stretched.
Tight.
Then—
Valentina moved.
Fast.
She drove her heel down hard against his foot, twisting sharply as she slammed her elbow back into his ribs.
Adrian cursed, his grip loosening—
That was all I needed.
I fired.
The bullet clipped his shoulder, forcing him back.
Valentina broke free instantly, moving toward me without hesitation.
Smart.
Very smart.
She reached me just as I grabbed her arm, pulling her behind me.
"Stay there," I said.
"I had it handled," she shot back.
"You almost got shot."
"I didn't."
"Yet."
Adrian straightened slowly, blood seeping through his shirt, his smile returning like nothing had happened.
"Beautiful," he murmured, eyes flicking between us. "Absolutely beautiful."
"Next shot won't miss," I warned.
He tilted his head slightly.
"You're good," he admitted. "Better than the others."
"They're dead," I said.
"Yes," he replied calmly. "They are."
Something about the way he said it—
Too calm.
Too certain.
I didn't like it.
Not one bit.
"Why are you really here?" I asked.
His gaze shifted to Valentina again.
Softened.
Obsessed.
"I told you," he said quietly. "For what belongs to me."
Her expression turned to ice.
"I was never yours."
His smile faltered.
Just for a second.
Then it came back.
Sharper.
"Not yet."
My finger tightened on the trigger.
"That's your last warning."
He sighed.
"Such hostility."
And then—
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
He fired—
I shoved Valentina down as the bullet tore through the space where she'd been standing.
I returned fire immediately.
Missed.
Damn it.
He disappeared behind a pillar, using the shadows again.
Smart.
Annoying.
"Stay down," I ordered.
"I hate this," she muttered.
"Noted."
Another shot rang out.
Closer this time.
He was circling.
Trying to separate us again.
Not happening.
I shifted position, keeping her behind me, tracking every sound, every movement.
"Dante," she said quietly.
"What?"
"There's a second exit behind him."
I frowned slightly. "You're sure?"
"Yes."
Of course there was.
Which meant—
"He's not trying to kill us," I muttered.
Her eyes narrowed. "He's trying to escape."
"With you," I corrected.
Her jaw clenched.
"Over my dead body."
"Let's avoid that."
Another shot.
This one hit.
Pain exploded through my shoulder as the bullet grazed deep enough to matter.
I staggered slightly.
"Dante—"
"I'm fine."
Lie.
Didn't matter.
Focus.
End it.
Now.
I moved.
Fast.
Ignoring the pain, closing the distance, forcing him out of cover.
Adrian stepped back, firing again—but this time, I was ready.
I dodged, closing in—
Too close for guns.
Perfect.
I slammed into him, knocking the weapon from his hand as we hit the ground hard.
Fist.
Impact.
Bone.
He fought back just as hard—trained, precise, deadly.
But I was faster.
Angrier.
I drove my elbow into his throat, cutting off his breath, then followed with a brutal strike to his jaw.
He staggered back.
I grabbed his collar—
Ready to end it—
"Dante, wait!"
Valentina's voice cut through the moment.
Too late.
Adrian smirked.
And then—
He pressed something in his hand.
A click.
I froze.
"What did you do?" I demanded.
His smile widened.
"Check your surroundings."
I glanced around—
And saw it.
Red lights blinking along the walls.
Explosives.
Everywhere.
Shit.
"You're insane," I snapped.
"Maybe," he said lightly. "But I'm not the one who's about to die."
My mind raced.
Distance.
Timing.
Options.
Too many variables.
Too little time.
"You can't make it out," I said.
"Watch me."
He moved again—toward the exit.
I aimed—
But Valentina grabbed my arm.
"Don't," she said sharply.
"He'll get away."
"He'll blow us up if you shoot."
She was right.
I hated that.
Adrian reached the doorway, pausing just long enough to look back.
"At least now," he said softly, "you understand."
"Understand what?" I growled.
His gaze flicked to Valentina.
Then back to me.
"She's not just a target."
A beat.
"She's the key."
And then—
He was gone.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Locking.
Sealing.
The red lights blinked faster.
Louder.
Deadlier.
Valentina's grip on my arm tightened.
"Tell me you can stop that," she said.
I stared at the explosives.
At the countdown already ticking in my head.
Then at the only exit—
Sealed.
No time.
No options.
Just one choice.
"…Run," I said.
"What?"
"Run!"
The first explosion hit.
And everything went up in flames.