The sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom like a gentle reminder of the comfort surrounding me. I stretched lazily, feeling the lingering warmth of the sheets, but something was missing. Leon wasn’t beside me. The bed felt oddly empty without his reassuring presence, and a sense of unease flickered in my chest before I noticed the scent wafting into the room.The rich, savory aroma of sizzling bacon and eggs slowly coaxed me from the last vestiges of sleep. My stomach responded with an insistent growl, urging me to investigate. I blinked against the morning light, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I sat up. The realization that Leon wasn’t in bed was unsettling, but the smell of breakfast guided me, soothing the initial worry. He must be in the kitchen.Curiosity and hunger combined, prompting me to slip out of bed. The cool wooden floor beneath my feet was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the bed, but it helped to clear the fog from my mind. I pad
The drive to the café had been quiet, filled with the comfortable silence that Leon and I had grown accustomed to. It was a peaceful ride, the kind where I could simply enjoy the company without feeling the need to fill the space with words. Yet, underneath that calm exterior, I could sense something different in Leon—a subtle tension that hadn’t been there earlier. He was focused, more so than usual, and it made me wonder what was on his mind.We arrived at the café, a quaint little place tucked away on the outskirts of town. The sign above the door read "Rafael’s Café," and there was a certain charm about it, as if it held years of stories within its walls. As we stepped inside, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, mingling with the quiet chatter of a few patrons.
As soon as Leon left, I headed straight inside and walked through the sterile hallways. Yet, my mind was still on Leon, on the secrets that seemed to be lurking just beneath the surface. But for now, I had to set those thoughts aside. I had to see and check on my cousin, Lena, besides, there was someone else who needed me now, and it was Aunt Lou.As I head inside the recovery room, where Lena had already been transferred since she was already doing good, I found Aunt Lou inside signing some documents that Uncle George would be mailing today for the company back in Anacortes, her expression softening as she raised her head and saw me. Lena was asleep, her breathing steady, and I could see the relief in Aunt Lou’s eyes. It had been a difficult journey, but there were signs that things were finally starting to improve.“How’s she doing?” I asked softly, stepping into the room.Aunt Lou turned to me after staring at Lena for a moment, a smile tugging at her lips. “Better, much better.
The hours stretched on, each minute crawling by as I sat in the cold, sterile waiting area of the hospital. Midnight had long passed, and still, there was no sign of Leon. My uncle George had come by earlier, offering to take me back to his place so I wouldn’t have to wait alone, but I had refused. I couldn’t leave, not without seeing Leon, not without knowing where he was.“I’ll be fine, Uncle George,” I had insisted, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “He said he’d come back soon, and I want to be here when he does.”He had looked at me with concern, his brows knitting together, but eventually, he nodded and left me to wait. Now, as the hours continued to slip away, that confidence was starting to erode, replaced by a gnawing worry that grew stronger with every tick of the clock.I must have dozed off at some point, because the next thing I knew, I was being gently shaken awake. I blinked, disoriented, and looked up to see Letty standing over me, her face a mix of confusion
The rustle of leaves and the distant hum of city life from the park had always been a solace for me. But today, it felt totally different. The weight of everything that had happened—the betrayal, the confusion, and the overwhelming sadness—had finally caught up with me. I sat on the cold bench, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. But it was no use. I could feel my emotions swirling inside me, a tempest that I couldn’t control. Each memory of Leon—his smile, his touch, his laugh—felt like a knife twisting in my heart. How could someone who meant so much to me cause me so much pain? The thought was unbearable, and I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping that when I opened them, this nightmare would be over. But when I heard the faint sound of a car approaching, reality came crashing back. I knew it was Aunt Lou and Uncle George. They must have been worried sick after I disappeared without a word. I didn’t want them to see me like this
The day passed in a blur, with every minute feeling like an eternity. After Leon left, the emptiness in the house seemed to magnify, each quiet moment amplifying the ache in my chest. I hadn’t heard from him since he walked out, and a part of me dreaded the possibility of never hearing from him again. But I had to push those thoughts aside. I had other responsibilities, other things that required my attention.That evening, I found myself at the hospital, helping Aunt Lou keep an eye on Lena in the recovery room. Lena had been through a rough time, and it was the least I could do to be there for her, as well as Aunt Lou. But despite my best efforts to focus on Lena’s well-being, my thoughts kept drifting back to Leon, to the look on his face when I told him to leave. The anger, the hurt, the regret—they all swirled together in a tangled mess that I couldn’t seem to unravel.Aunt Lou must have sensed my unease. As we sat together by Lena’s bedside, she kept glancing at me with a conc
A few days passed, and the emptiness within me grew like a shadow, dark and consuming. Every corner of Aunt Lou’s house seemed to echo with memories of Leon, even though I was the one who ended things. I had expected him to show up, to knock on the door and beg me to take him back, to tell me it was all a mistake. But instead, there was nothing—no calls, no messages, no sign of him at all. It was as if he had vanished from my life as easily as a dream fades in the morning light.Frustration bubbled up inside me, an anger I couldn’t quite place. Why wasn’t he trying to win me back? Did he care so little? The questions spun in my head, growing louder with each passing hour.Finally, the pressure became too much, and I let out a scream, sharp and sudden, piercing the quiet of my room. I hadn’t meant to, but the sound was out before I could stop it. I slumped back on the bed, feeling ridiculous and even more alone than before.There was a knock on my door, and I sat up, startled. I had c
The afternoon sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the university campus. The day had been a whirlwind of emotions, a mixture of tension and anticipation that hung thick in the air. As the final debate drew to a close, the auditorium was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the sound of the announcer’s voice.When Letty’s name was declared the winner, the room erupted into applause. I watched as Letty stood there, momentarily stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. Then, slowly, a radiant smile spread across her face, genuine and filled with a sense of accomplishment. As the crowd began to disperse, Letty made her way over to me, still clutching the small, gleaming medal in her hand. Her eyes shimmered with a mixture of happiness and something deeper—relief, perhaps, or maybe even a sense of validation after everything she’d been through.“Margarette,” Letty said, her voice barely above a whisper as she held out the medal toward me. “I... I won. I still ca
Darkness swallowed me whole.For a moment, I thought I was dead. The gunshot still rang in my ears, deafening, all-consuming. But then, pain—sharp and searing—bloomed along my side, pulling me back from the abyss. My breath came in ragged gasps as my knees buckled, and I felt myself falling.Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.“Margarette!” Leon’s voice was raw with panic. His hands pressed against my wound, trying to staunch the bleeding. The warmth of my own blood seeped through my clothes, sticky against my skin. Dorian fired, his shot echoing through the cavernous estate.Elise let out a sharp cry, staggering back. But even as she bled, her cruel smile remained. “Not bad,” she whispered, clutching her shoulder where Dorian’s bullet had struck her. “But not enough.”Leon lifted me, his grip firm but desperate. “We need to move. Now.”“No,” I gritted out, fighting through the pain. “We finish this.”Dorian cursed. “Are you insane? You’re bleeding out!”I forced myself to
Gunfire tore through the air, glass raining down around us as we hit the ground. The sharp sound of bullets striking wood and metal sent my heart into a frantic rhythm. Leon grabbed me, shielding my body as we crawled behind the heavy oak desk.“Dorian?” Leon’s voice was sharp, controlled despite the chaos.“I’m fine,” Dorian called from behind a toppled chair. He moved fast, drawing his gun and firing two precise shots toward the broken windows. A pained grunt told us he had hit his mark.Vincent, the smug bastard, was still in his chair, completely unbothered by the attack.“This is cute,” he mused, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “But you should know by now—I never play fair.”Leon turned his gun on him. “Call them off.”Vincent only smiled.I gritted my teeth. “Damn it, Vincent, this isn’t a game! Who the hell is shooting at us?”The door burst open, and three armed men stormed in.Dorian moved first. He lunged at the closest attacker, his blade flashing in the dim light. The m
The safe house felt suffocating, the air thick with unspoken tension. Every second we wasted gave Vincent more time to prepare. More time to strike.I wasn’t going to let that happen.Leon stood by the table, his hands braced against the surface, muscles tight with frustration. Dorian, despite the pain from his injury, sat nearby, flipping a knife between his fingers—a habit he had when deep in thought.“We need a lead,” Leon finally said, his voice low and controlled. “We can’t storm in blind.”I paced near the window, arms crossed. “We do have a lead. This locket.” I held it up, the metal catching the dim light. “Vincent had it for a reason. He wanted me to see it. Why?”Dorian exhaled sharply. “Because he’s playing with you.”I shook my head. “No. There’s more to it. He wouldn’t go through the trouble of planting something from my past just to taunt me. He wants me to remember something.”Leon’s gaze darkened. “Then let’s start at the beginning. The night of the accident.”My throa
The salty night air carried the hum of distant ship engines and the occasional murmur of dock workers. But this wasn’t just a routine shipment—this was a calculated exchange of power, a moment that could unravel everything Elise’s father had hidden for years.I crouched behind a stack of shipping containers with Leon beside me. Dorian’s team was spread out, positioned along the pier, watching, waiting. A dark van was parked near the edge of the dock, its back doors open. Men in suits moved between the van and the cargo, transferring crates that likely held more than just money.Leon’s voice was low in my ear. “Four men on the ground, two near the van. More could be inside.”I nodded, my gaze locked on the crates. “That’s not just cash, Leon. That’s leverage. He wouldn’t move it unless he was running scared.”Dorian’s voice crackled through our earpieces. “We take them now, we risk losing the files. We wait too long, we risk backup showing up.”I made the decision before anyone else co
Dorian smirked. “Relax, lover boy. I’m not saying she’s defenseless—I’m saying we need to be smart about this.”Leon’s glare didn’t waver, but he didn’t argue either. He knew Dorian was right.I exhaled, my fingers tightening around the locket that had started all of this. “So what do we do?”Dorian sighed. “You have two choices: disappear and hope they forget about you… or go after them first.”Leon tensed beside me. “You’re suggesting we take the fight to them?”Dorian shrugged. “Elise’s father had powerful connections. Some of them might scatter now that he’s locked up, but the smart ones? They’ll wait. Watch. See what you do next.”I swallowed hard. “Then we don’t give them time to plan.”Leon turned to me, his expression dark. “You’re sure about this?”I met his gaze. “I didn’t come this far just to hide.”Dorian grinned. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”Alexa shifted uncomfortably. “I wish I had your courage.”I reached for her hand. “You have more than you think.”She gave
The night before our departure, I barely slept. The weight of the locket pressed against my collarbone, a silent reminder that my past was no longer buried—it was clawing its way back to the surface.Leon must have sensed my restlessness because he found me in the kitchen before dawn, staring into my untouched cup of coffee.“You’re thinking too much.”I let out a breathless laugh, shaking my head. “You always say that.”“Because it’s always true.” He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “Second thoughts?”“No,” I said. “Just… doubts. What if I don’t find the answers I’m looking for? What if I’m just chasing ghosts?”Leon studied me for a long moment before stepping closer, his fingers grazing the locket at my neck. “Then we chase them together.”My chest tightened at the quiet intensity in his voice.Before I could respond, Dorian’s voice cut through the stillness. “Time to go.”The drive to the estate was long and silent. Alexa had insisted on coming, despite her injuries. She
The moment Elise’s father whistled, chaos erupted. Gunfire cracked through the air, sending dock workers scattering. Shadows moved between the containers—his men, heavily armed and ready.Leon pulled me behind a stack of crates as bullets ricocheted off the metal. “Dorian, how many?”Dorian’s voice came sharp through the earpiece. “At least eight. They were waiting for you.”I clenched my teeth. Of course, he knew we’d come.Leon checked his ammo. “We need to take them out before he reaches the cargo ship.”I exhaled, steadying my grip on my gun. “Then let’s end this.”Leon moved first, stepping out just long enough to fire three quick shots. A grunt of pain echoed through the night. One down.Dorian’s rifle cracked, taking out another.I kept close to the containers, listening—waiting. A figure rushed toward me. I ducked just as he swung a knife, feeling the blade slice the air above my head.Without hesitation, I drove my elbow into his ribs, twisting his wrist until the knife clatt
The weight of the file in my hands was suffocating. The words blurred together, but the truth was undeniable—my father hadn’t just been a scientist. He had been a test subject. And Elise’s father had orchestrated it all.Leon took the file from me carefully, his jaw tight as he read through the documents. “This wasn’t just research. They were experimenting on people.”Dorian exhaled sharply. “And your father was one of them.”I clenched my fists. “But why? What were they trying to do?”Leon flipped to the last page, scanning the details. His eyes darkened. “Something about genetic resilience. Accelerated healing. They were looking for ways to manipulate biological responses to trauma.”My stomach churned. “You mean… like making people stronger?”“Stronger, faster, immune to certain injuries.” Leon met my gaze, his voice heavy. “Margarette, they weren’t just studying human endurance. They were creating something.”A chill ran down my spine. “Creating what?”Dorian shifted uncomfortably
The room felt heavier now, as if the ghosts of the past had never truly left. My father’s study had once been a place of quiet authority, filled with the scent of polished wood and old books. Now, it was chaos—a graveyard of secrets waiting to be unearthed.Leon and Dorian moved swiftly, sifting through papers, searching for anything that might explain my father’s connection to Elise’s father. But my hands trembled as I flipped through the documents.My father’s handwriting stared back at me in sharp, deliberate strokes.Project Haven—Initiated 20 years agoI frowned. “Project Haven?”Leon peered over my shoulder. “That name mean anything to you?”I shook my head, but something about it felt... familiar. Like a memory I had brushed against in passing but never grasped fully.Dorian pulled a dust-covered filing box from beneath the desk. “We’ve got more.” He popped the latch and revealed stacks of old documents, some stamped with red ink.CONFIDENTIAL.I swallowed hard as I pulled out