Lena’s POV


    hummed with tension


    neon flickering on rain-slicked streets, the distant wail of a siren, the low hum of danger threading through the quiet.


    Kai was still inside. Watching her.


    She could feel it.


    Like heat trailing her spine, like a whisper against her throat.


    She pulled her coat tighter, quickening her steps.


    Then she could think. Then she could breathe.


    Then—


    The sharp crack of gunfire split the night.


    slammed into the wall beside her, splintering brick and mortar


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Dropping. Rolling. Moving.


    Another shot. Closer.


    She hit the ground, heart hammering, instincts snapping into place.


    The door behind her burst open.


    Kai.


    He didn’t hesitate.  He moved like , eyes already locked on the direction of the shots.


    The air smelled like gunpowder and rain.


    “Lena.” His voice was sharp, low, dangerous.


    Another bullet.


    A flash of heat, a blur of movement, then his hand was on her arm, yanking her into the alley.


    She hit the wall hard, breath punching out of her lungs.


    Whoever was shooting wasn’t just aiming to scare.


    They wanted her dead.


    She forced her pulse to steady, her mind to sharpen. Focus.


    Kai pressed against the wall beside her, gun already in his hand.


    Like they weren’t standing in the same storm.


    “You good?”


    Lena let out a slow breath.


    His eyes flashed.


    a shadow moved across the street.


    There.


    She didn’t think. Didn’t hesitate.


    dropped to one knee, hand already reaching under her coat, fingers closing around the blade strapped to her thigh.


    Kai saw. And for a single, brief second,


    Recognition. A memory. A past that refused to stay dead.


    But now wasn’t the time.


    whipped the knife, throwing it with precision.


    The figure staggered, a sharp cry splitting the night.


    Kai was already moving.


    Gun raised, he fired.


    The man dropped.


    The silence that followed was deafening.


    The world shrank. Just the two of them. Just the scent of blood and rain and something else—something raw.


    Lena wiped her blade against her coat.


    Kai exhaled sharply.


    Then—


    “Who the hell still wants you dead?”


    His voice was a blade, cutting through the quiet.


    finally looked at him.


    And for the first time that night,