Vancouverâs vibrant cityscape unfolded before us as Leon and I strolled down the busy street, hand in hand. The sun cast a warm glow over the city, making the day feel as perfect as Iâd imagined. Leon had been so sweet, planning this lunch date, and I was looking forward to spending some quality time with him, away from the bustle of our usual routines.We arrived at a quaint little bistro tucked away in a quieter part of downtown. The aroma of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee wafted through the air as we entered. Leon held the door open for me, and I couldnât help but smile at the small gestureâhe was always so considerate. âThis place is perfect,â I said, taking in the cozy ambiance. The walls were adorned with local art, and the large windows let in just the right amount of sunlight, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.âI thought youâd like it,â Leon replied, his voice soft and affectionate. He guided me to a corner table by the window, where we had a lovely view of the st
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the waterfront around us transformed into a breathtaking spectacle of vibrant pinks and purples, as if the heavens themselves were painting a portrait of our evening. The earlier tension that had lingered between Leon and me evaporated, replaced by a deep, comforting connection that seemed to grow with each step we took. The rhythmic sound of the waves kissing the shore and the cool breeze carrying the briny scent of the ocean created a serene backdrop, one that wrapped us in a peaceful cocoon of shared silence.Leonâs fingers intertwined with mine, his touch warm and reassuring. When I glanced up at him, I found his gaze already on me, his eyes filled with a tender softness that made my heart flutter."Remember when we first met?" he asked, his voice tinged with nostalgia, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.I nodded, a playful smile of my own forming as the memory rushed back. "How could I forget? You were the grumpiest patient Iâd ever ha
The phone slipped from my hand, clattering to the floor as the words from Aunt Lou echoed in my mind. Hector was dead. The shock left me paralyzed, my body heavy with disbelief and despair.I couldnât move, couldnât think. All I could do was stare at the phone lying on the floor, the device that had delivered the news that shattered everything I had fought for.Leon, who had been sitting beside me, was already reaching for the phone. His expression shifted from concern to alarm as he picked it up. âAunt Lou, what happened? What did you say to Margarette?â His voice was tight, anxiety lacing his words. He listened intently, his face hardening as the conversation continued.I watched him, trying to read the emotions flickering across his face, but all I could see was the mask of tension settling in. When he finally ended the call, he turned to me, his expression unreadable, but I knew the news had hit him just as hard. He didnât need to say anything. The confirmation was in his eyes
As we sped away, my mind raced with possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. The fear that Justin might already be one step ahead gnawed at me, but Leonâs unwavering determination was my anchor. âWhere to next?â I asked, my voice betraying the anxiety bubbling just below the surface.Leon didnât hesitate. âWeâll go to my contact. Heâs a private investigator, one of the best in the state. If anyone can find Hectorâs wife, itâs him.âThe drive to the investigatorâs office felt like it took an eternity, though in reality, it was only about twenty minutes. The streets of Anacortes blurred past, the townâs familiar sights taking on a more sinister tone in the dark. Every shadow felt like it was hiding somethingâor someone.Finally, we pulled up in front of a small, nondescript building on a quiet side street. The sign on the door read *Bennett Investigations* in faded gold letters. Leon was out of the car before it fully stopped, his urgency contagious. I followed closely, m
âI know Hector would have done the same thing if he is still alive, so for the sake of providing Justice for my husband, I will testify for you, miss Margarette.â Alexa finally replied, lighting up what I thought my dead hope for Justice.Leon and I took Alexa with us to make sure that Justin wouldnât be able to lay a finger and harm Alexa any longer.THE FOLLOWING DAY, The rain tapped lightly against the window as we sat in the cozy sitting room of Leonâs secluded property. Alexa Turner sat across from me, her hands folded tightly in her lap, her eyes distant as if lost in thought.Leon was standing near the door, talking quietly with his secretary, giving last-minute instructions. I could tell he was trying to make sure everything was perfect, that Alexa would be comfortable and safe. But even his calm demeanor couldnât hide the undercurrent of urgency beneath the surface.When Leon finally turned back to us, he gave me a reassuring nod. "Everythingâs set. Alexa, youâll be safe here
The drive back to our house was quiet, but the air between Leon and me was charged with unspoken thoughts. We were so close to achieving what we had set out to doâbringing justice for Hector and ending Justinâs reign of terror. But with every step forward, I couldnât shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong.When we arrived home, the house was eerily silent. The faint sound of the night outside was the only noise that filled the space. Leon parked the car, and we both stepped out, the weight of the day still heavy on our shoulders. As we walked towards the door, I noticed how the shadows seemed to cling to the corners of the house, darker than usual. A chill ran down my spine, and I instinctively moved closer to Leon.He must have sensed my unease because he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. âItâs just the nerves, Margarette. Everythingâs all right, okay? Thereâs nothing to worry.â he reassured me, his voice a comforting anchor in the dark
âNO!!!!!!!!!!!â I screamed, my hand stretching out as though I was reaching out for something while I gasped for air.The nightmare clung to me, even as I jolted awake, my screams echoing in the car's confined space. My chest heaved, my heart racing as the terror from the dream spilled into reality. I barely registered that Leon had pulled the car to the side of the road, his concerned voice breaking through the fog of fear that clouded my mind.âHey, what happened? Are you okay, my love?â Leonâs voice was laced with anxiety, his hand gently shaking my shoulder as I clung to him, trembling uncontrollably. I buried my face in his chest, seeking comfort in the steady beat of his heart. "IâĶI had a nightmare," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "It was about Justin... he was chasing us, trying to kill us. I was so scared, Leon."Leonâs arms tightened around me, his hand cradling the back of my head as he pulled me closer. "ShhhâĶitâs okay, itâs okay," he murmured against my ha
The afternoon stretched into evening, the tension growing with each passing hour. I jumped at every sound, my nerves on edge as the shadows outside lengthened. Finally, just as the sun began to set, I heard the sound of a car pulling up the driveway. My heart leaped into my throat as I hurried to the window, praying that it was Leon. When I saw his familiar figure stepping out of the car, relief washed over me. I rushed to the door, throwing it open just as he reached the steps.âYouâre back,â I breathed, throwing my arms around him. âI was so worriedâĶâHe held me tightly, his warmth chasing away the last of my fears. âIâm back,â he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. âAnd I have good news.âI pulled back slightly, looking up at him. âWhat is it?ââWeâve got something,â Leon said, his eyes lighting up with a spark of hope. âItâs not much, but itâs a start. My contacts found a leadâsomething that could tie Justin to some of his more illegal dealings and even his m
The rain was falling again.It always did on days like thisâdays that felt like endings.I stood on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the stormy waters of Anacortes, my coat pulled tightly around me, the hood shielding my face from the wind that carried the scent of salt and something olderâsomething like goodbye.Leon stood behind me. I didnât have to turn around to feel him there. His presence was familiar now, carved into my skin like muscle memory. Heâd been my gravity, my storm, my salvation, and my ruinâsometimes all at once.âItâs really over, isnât it?â I whispered, more to the wind than to him.He didnât answer right away. His silence was as heavy as the stormclouds above us.âI wanted to fix everything for you,â he said finally, his voice hoarse, like it had been dragged across a battlefield. âI wanted to give you a life that didnât hurt.âI closed my eyes. The ache in my chest pulsed with every beat of my heart. âYou did,â I said. âFor a while, you did.âI heard the crunch
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. âIâm not the same person I was before,â I said, my voice firm, unwavering. âAnd Iâm not walking away this time.âThe manâs eyes flickered with a moment of doubt, just enough for me to catch. And then, before I could even register what had happened, Leon moved.Faster than I could blink, Leon was in front of me, his hand grabbing the gun and twisting it out of the manâs grasp. The force of it sent the man stumbling back, but he didnât go down easily. His bodyguards rushed in, but Leon was already a step ahead, disarming one of them with a swift, calculated move.I stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what I was witnessing. Leonâalways so calm, always so carefulâwas ruthless. He was like a force of nature, determined to protect me at all costs.But the fight wasnât over yet. The man recovered, his eyes burning with rage. âYou really think youâve won?â he spat, his voice dripping with venom. âYouâre nothing but a pawn in a game you canât ev
The sound of boots drew closer, pounding the floor with an urgency that echoed through the cavernous halls of the estate. My heart raced as the reality of what I had just heard crashed into me like a tidal wave. The man who had once been a part of my lifeâmy familyâs betrayer, the one who had orchestrated their deathsâstood there, calmly, as if this was just another night for him.Leonâs grip on my hand tightened, but I didnât let him pull me away. I could feel the air thickening with tension, the walls pressing in as everything I thought I knew began to crumble.The intruders were only moments away.The manâheâsmirked, watching us. âYou think this will end well? Youâve no idea what youâre up against. My people are everywhere.âI took a step forward, ignoring Leonâs silent plea to retreat. âYou killed them. And you thought I would be the next one to fall in line?â My voice was a whisper, but it held a power I hadnât realized I had. âYou were wrong.âThe manâs face faltered, just for a
Next Morning at the Estate Archives. The basement was cold and damp, and the air smelled of mildew and secrets. Old boxes lined the walls, labeled in my fatherâs tidy script. Financial records. Land deeds. Correspondence.Leon sifted through a crate of documents while I dug through another.Then something caught my eye.A faded folder labeled: Project Thornfield.I opened it slowly.Inside were blueprintsâplans for development across coastal land that was supposed to be protected forest. There were signatures from multiple board members, including names I recognized.And then, one I didnât.N. Vallis.Leon leaned over. âYou know that name?âI shook my head. âNo. But look hereâhe signed off on the project two weeks before my parents died.âLeon pulled out his phone. âIâll run a background check.âI kept flipping through the documentsâand found something that made my blood run cold.An aerial photo.Of the cliffside. Our property.With a giant red X drawn over the coordinates where my p
THREE WEEKS LATER...The investigation moved faster than Iâd expected. With the board fully on our side now, the paper trail unraveled like a thread pulled from an old sweaterâeach piece of evidence exposing the next. Shell companies. Forged contracts. Witnesses who had remained silent out of fear but were finally coming forward.Still, no one had seen him since the day of the summit. He had vanished without a trace. No flights. No offshore activity. No messages. It was like heâd disappeared into smoke.But Dorian didnât believe in ghosts. âHeâs hiding,â he said as he handed me a thick folder. âAnd thisâthis will force him out.âI flipped through the documents. Bank records. A property registered under an alias. Hidden deep in the woods outside of Anacortes. I felt my stomach twist.Leon stepped up behind me, his hand grazing my shoulder. âLetâs pay him a visit.âThe cabin was barely more than a shadow tucked between trees. No lights. No car. Just silence and the thrum of insects in t
Sunlight crept cautiously through the cracks in the blinds, casting golden slivers across the hardwood floor of the safe house bedroom. I sat curled up on the edge of the bed, a blanket draped around my shoulders and the journal heavy in my lap. The cover was cracked, worn with age and secrets. My fingers hovered over the first page for what felt like an eternity.Leon was nearbyâhe hadnât slept much, either. He stood at the window with a mug of black coffee, watching the world outside with quiet alertness. When I finally opened the journal, he turned slightly but didnât speak. He knew I needed silence for this.The first entry was dated nearly two decades ago.July 14th. We signed the contract today. Two families, one future. The woman from Delmar Holdings is more cunning than I expected. She knows weâre desperateâand she used it. I told Mariana to trust me. That this was the only way. God help me, I hope Iâm right.My breath hitched. Marianaâthat was my motherâs name.I flipped thro
MARGARETTE'S POVBefore we could react, the door behind us burst open.Three armed men rushed in, dressed in black, their movements precise and rehearsed. Leon shoved me behind him, drawing his gun up in an instant. Dorian, who had been lingering near the entrance, took cover behind a cabinet, gun already out.âEliseâs father wasnât bluffing,â I breathed, my heart hammering. âHe had backup ready.âLeon fired the first shot, catching one of the intruders in the shoulder and sending him crashing to the floor. Chaos erupted. Dorian ducked low and returned fire, narrowly missing another attacker who retaliated with a spray of bullets that shattered the windows.I crouched behind an overturned table, the sound of gunfire drowning out my thoughts. The locket in my palm dug into my skin, its edges sharpâa painful reminder that I couldnât afford to lose control now.âEliseâs father!â I shouted to Leon. âHeâs escaping!âThrough the haze of smoke and broken glass, I saw the man slinking toward
The sound of footsteps pounding in the hallway was the last thing I heard before the door slammed open.I barely had time to react before a rush of armed men poured into the room, their eyes scanning every corner, landing finally on me. There was no mistaking the intent behind their cold stares.âGet down!â Leonâs voice crackled through the earpiece again, but there was no time to obey. I couldnât allow myself to hesitateânot now, not when the truth was within reach.I raised my gun, my hands steady despite the chaos unfolding around me. I wasnât going down without a fight, not after everything I had lost. Not after everything Eliseâs father had taken from me.Before the first man could react, I fired. The sound of the shot echoed in the confined space, the bullet finding its mark in the manâs chest. His body crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud, but the others didnât hesitate. They moved in faster, their guns drawn, but I was ready.I ducked behind the desk, using it as cover
Dawn came in silver slivers through the cracks in the window. I hadnât sleptânot really. My mind was too loud, looping the footage over and over like a broken reel.Leon sat across from me at the table, sipping his coffee like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Neither of us had said much since the footage. We didnât need to. The truth had cut so deep, it didnât leave room for small talk.But I had questions.And I needed answers.âHow long do you think heâs known I survived?â I finally asked, voice hoarse.Leon didnât look away from his mug. âLong enough to start covering his tracks. But he didnât expect the locket to resurface.âMy hand instinctively reached for it. The locket was warm now, like it had absorbed my grief and fury. Inside was a picture of my mother and meâher arm around my tiny shoulders, her smile soft but tired. A photo I hadnât even remembered until last night.âHe killed her,â I whispered. âHe killed my father. For what? A project?ââNot just a project,â