Chapter 046: Breaking Point

Ava's POV 

Tension permeated the night air, and I could feel it as weight on my chest. Having Eli next to me caused both comfort and anxiety. Since I had opened the journal and perused the names, the faces, the secrets... The sensation that everything was about to fall apart had not been able to be overcome.

Eli looked at me, his eyes sharp and seeking. "Ava, right now we have to move gently. Every stride counts.

I nodded while a million questions flew through my head. And if we fail as well? My voice came out softer than I had planned.

"We then lose everything." And I am not just referring to each other. His comments had a weight that caused shivers. It was everyone entangled in this mess, all the individuals Eli had recorded in his notebook, not only the two of us at risk.

I turned down once again and held it to my chest. "There are folks here I thought I could trust," I whispered. Eli, how long have you known? About them all?

His darkening eyes followed his hand through his hair. Longer than I would want to acknowledge. But Ava, I could not tell you. Though it was too dangerous, I wanted to, trust me.

"Too risky?" Unable to control the irritation in my voice, I fired back. Eli, you were hiding truths involving my life as well. You questioned if I deserved to know?

He opened his lips to answer, then closed it, staring away as though he could not accept my charge. That exceeded my expectations in terms of pain. I relied on him and trusted him. Now, though, it seemed as though we were on opposing sides of a border I had not even realized existed.

A shadow suddenly moved across from us in the alley. My heart sprang to my throat, and I pushed Eli back against the wall automatically.

"Did you witness that?" I muttered.

He nodded and stiffened his muscles. We still stood and listened. Soft yet purposeful, footsteps from the darkness echoed back.

He muttered, "Stay here," and turned away from me.

"Eli, no—,"

But he was already disappearing into the darkness, his form merging with the night. I swallowed back the want to call after him by clenching my hands. Though I desired nothing, terror tore at me every second that went by like an age. Our cover was about to be blown.

I inhaled slowly and shakily, then turned to see around the corner from the brink of the building. Eli's silhouette emerged as he neared the man—tall and clearly confident in his posture.

Eli halted several yards away, his voice quiet yet plenty for me to hear. "You're making a mistake just by being here.

The man laughed, and I shivered from something in that chuckle. " Am I? Funny, Eli. I thought you were making all the mistakes. You start first digging where you shouldn't be. Then you carry her into it. His motion in my way caused my heart to skip a beat without even turning to see. He knew I was on here.

Eli remarked, his voice icy, "I had to." "You were never going to quit unless someone pushed you to. She is entitled to know what is occurring.

Oh, she deserves to know, does she? The guy moved forward, his words mocking. And with all that reality, Ava, what are you going to do? Do you think you can manage it?

The question struck me more forcefully than I would have wanted to acknowledge. Might I be able to manage it? I considered what I had observed as well as all Eli had said. Still, I became rebellious as I stood here listening to this stranger taunt me.

I moved on, shockingly even for me. "I doubt that is the choice you will make."

The man turned to study me, a smile flickering on his lips. Older, his face showed lines of experience, his eyes keen and deliberate. Almost pleased, he added, "You're braver than I expected."

"Is that a problem for you?" My voice steadier than I felt, I asked.

Laughing, he Oh, not really at all. Actually, it is exactly what I wanted.

Eli rushed between us, barring him, before I could respond. He went closer. Eli said, his voice fatal, "Stay away from her."

Pretending innocence, the man raised his hands. "Relax, Eli." All I am here for is a chat. Not necessary to make it messy. Still.

Eli stiffened his jaw but stayed still. "What do you seek?"

The man's gaze swung to me then turned back to Eli. "A choice." Really, it's simple. You turn over that notebook—his eyes fixed on the one I hold—and we forget any of this occurred. Nobody suffers injuries.

And if we fail as well? I pushed myself to meet his stare and asked.

His grin felt less like ice than it should. "Well, let's say a lot of people will wish you had."

Silence dense and strained descended upon us. Eli seemed to be thinking over every conceivable consequence, his fingers twitching at his side. I was aware, though, he wouldn't yield. Deeply down, I also knew I couldn't either. Not following all we had unearthed.

"Good," I responded, moving closer to meet the man's gaze. "Come and pick it if you so want."

The challenge was before I could stop myself. Eli's eyes darted to me, his face a mix of astonishment and panic. Still, I resisted. Long enough, this man—whoever he was—had guided our lives. I was done fearing.

He bent his head, looking at me as though he were seeing something unusual. "Brave... or foolish?” He peered between us, something mechanical flashing in his eyes. "We'll find out shortly enough, too."

He retreated into the shadows with that, his form melting into the black. Long after he had left, the alley remained quiet and motionless. Though under it was a nauseating terror that tore at me the longer we stood there, I could still feel the excitement rushing through me.

Eli, what are we going to do? My voice just whispered, I asked.

He let out a leisurely breathed grasp to draw me near. His embraces grounded me, calmed me down. "Ava, we are going to end this. You are not hiding anymore. There is no more running. We call it finished.

His words reverberated through me, sharp and driven. I believed him for the first time in what seemed like eternity. We had gone through too much to turn back now; whomever this man was, whatever he wanted... we would confront him together.

One thing became clear to me as we stood there: this was not finished. Our will was strengthened. Not by a long stretch. And even if that was terrible, I embraced it in some measure. I was not going to be scared this time.