A Dangerous Proposition

Jenny’s body trembled as she crouched behind the broken pew. The sound of footsteps echoed through the church, slow and deliberate. She could feel Ethan’s grip tighten on her wrist, his breath warm against her ear.

Whoever had entered was searching for them.

Her heart pounded so hard that she feared it would give them away.

The steps moved closer.

Ethan pressed his lips near her ear. “Stay quiet,” he whispered.

Jenny barely nodded.

The silence stretched, thick with tension. Then, just as suddenly as they had entered, the footsteps retreated. The heavy church doors creaked shut, leaving behind an eerie stillness.

Ethan exhaled, his grip loosening. “We need to get out of here.”

Jenny was still frozen in fear. “What if Noah sent them?”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Then you are in even more danger than I thought.”

He stood and pulled her to her feet. “We cannot stay here.”

Jenny hesitated. “Where will we go?”

Ethan’s gaze was firm. “Somewhere safe.”

They moved through the dark streets, staying close to the shadows. The city felt different at night, quieter, more dangerous. Jenny pulled the shawl tighter around her shoulders, the cold biting into her skin.

Ethan led her through an alley and into an abandoned building. Inside, the air smelled of dust and old wood. A single lamp flickered in the corner, casting dim light across the small room.

Jenny looked around. “Where are we?”

Ethan locked the door behind them. “A safe house.”

She turned to him, frustration bubbling up. “Ethan, what is going on? Why did you come back now?”

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I left because I had no choice, Jenny. But I never stopped watching over you.”

Jenny shook her head. “That does not make sense.”

Ethan stepped closer. “I know things about Noah. Things that could destroy him.”

Jenny’s breath caught. “What do you mean?”

Ethan hesitated before reaching into his coat and pulling out a small flash drive. “This holds evidence of his crimes. Money laundering, illegal deals, even murders.”

Jenny’s hands trembled as she took it. “How did you get this?”

Ethan looked away. “I worked for him once.”

Jenny’s stomach twisted. “You...”

“I did not know what he really was,” Ethan said quickly. “By the time I found out, it was too late. If I had stayed, he would have killed me.”

Jenny swallowed hard. Everything she thought she knew was crumbling around her.

Ethan’s voice softened. “Jenny, with this, we can finally bring him down.”

She stared at the flash drive, a war raging inside her. She wanted to believe it was possible. But Noah was powerful. He controlled everything.

“He will kill us before we can use this,” she whispered.

Ethan cupped her face gently. “Not if we are smart.”

Jenny’s breath hitched at the warmth of his touch. It had been so long since anyone had touched her like this with care.

Ethan’s eyes searched hers. “Do you still trust me?”

Jenny’s chest ached. “I want to.”

Ethan’s fingers brushed against her cheek. “Then let me prove it.”

Before she could respond, he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a desperate kiss.

Jenny froze for a second, her mind screaming at her to pull away. But her body betrayed her. She melted into the kiss, her hands gripping his coat as heat spread through her.

For a moment, she forgot everything about Noah, the danger, the fear. There was only Ethan.

But reality crashed back when the sound of a phone vibrating cut through the silence.

Ethan pulled away, his breathing heavy. Jenny’s lips tingle from the intensity of the kiss.

She reached into her pocket, dread pooling in her stomach as she saw the name on the screen.

Noah!

Her fingers trembled as she answered. “Hello?”

His voice was calm, too calm. “Where are you, Jenny?”

Jenny swallowed. “In my room.”

A pause. Then,

“Liar.” Noah said.

Ice filled her veins.

Ethan grabbed her arm. “We have to go. Now.”

Jenny did not hesitate. She slipped the flash drive into her pocket and followed him out the door, her heart racing.

Noah knew.

And he was coming for her.

Jenny’s legs burned as she ran through the dark streets, her breath coming in brief, determined gasps. Ethan’s grip on her wrist became a corporation, pulling her forward as they weaved through alleys and facet streets. The sound of tires screeching in the distance despatched chills down her spine.  

Noah was seeking out her.  

Her telephone buzzed again in her pocket, and she or he already knew who it was. She overlooked it. There turned into no speaking her way out of this. He had stuck her in a lie.  

“Keep moving,” Ethan advised, his voice low but urgent.  

Jenny pressured herself to recognition. They needed to get someplace safe. If Noah’s guys located them, there could be no getaway.  

They grew to become a nook and slipped into a deserted car parking zone, hiding behind an old dumpster. Jenny leaned against the cold metal, suffering to seize her breath.  

Ethan crouched beside her. “We want to go away from the metropolis. Tonight.”  

Jenny shook her head. “He will locate us no matter where we pass.”  

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Not if we are clever about it.”  

Jenny’s hands trembled as she reached into her pocket, feeling the flash force Ethan had given her. It held evidence of Noah’s crimes that might subsequently set her unfastened.  

But the usage of it would imply warfare.  

Her cell phone buzzed again. This time, she made the error of searching at the display.  

Noah: Come domestic now, or you will regret it. 

Her stomach twisted.  

Ethan peeked over the edge of the dumpster. His frame tensed. “We are not by myself.”  

Jenny’s breath caught. “What?”  

Ethan grabbed her hand. “Run.”  

The sound of trainers slamming towards the pavement dispatched Jenny into movement. They dashed closer to the exit of the parking zone, but headlights flooded the distance, blinding them.  

A black automobile screeched to a stop in front of them. The doorways swung open.  

Two of Noah’s guys stepped out.  

Jenny skidded to a halt, her pulse roaring in her ears.  

Ethan positioned himself in front of her. “Get returned.”  

The large of the two guys, a bald guy with a scar throughout his cheek, smirked. “Mr. Hernandez desires you domesticate, Jenny.”  

Ethan’s fists clenched. “She isn't going with you.”  

The second guy laughed. “You do not have a desire.”  

Jenny’s heart pounded. She was in this role earlier than trapped, powerless. But no longer this time.  

She reached for Ethan’s arm. “We cannot combat them. We should ”  

The bald man moved first, lunging at Ethan with surprising speed. Ethan dodged the primary punch, but the 2nd landed rectangular in his ribs. He grunted, stumbling lower back.  

Jenny’s scream stuck in her throat as the second man grabbed her.  

“Let me pass!” she shouted, suffering towards his grip.  

“Enough,” a cold voice stated.  

The combat stopped instantly.  

Jenny froze.