Chapter 91

MAX POV.

I froze, my body tensing as I adjusted the bouquet on my lap, pretending to be occupied. But my eyes stayed locked on the mirror, watching the faint shadow lingering just out of sight.

“Max?” Nadia’s voice cut through my focus. “What is it?”

“Shh,” I said sharply, raising a hand to silence her.

I shifted slightly, angling the mirror to get a better view. The parking lot wasn’t crowded, but there were enough people milling about to mask a potential eavesdropper.

The shadow was small and quick, disappearing as soon as it appeared.

“Is someone there?” Nadia whispered, her tone laced with unease.

“Maybe,” I muttered. “Stay quiet.”

I leaned forward, peering through the windshield. Nothing seemed out of place…just a few shoppers heading to their cars, some loading groceries into trunks. But my instincts told me otherwise.

I glanced at the other side mirror, scanning the opposite direction. Still nothing.

“Nadia, stay in the car,” I said, my voice low but firm.

“What are you going to do?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“I’m going to find out who’s been watching us,” I replied.

I opened the car door slowly, stepping out with deliberate caution. My eyes darted around the parking lot, taking in every detail.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the asphalt, making it harder to pinpoint where the movement had come from.

I walked around the car, keeping my movements casual but purposeful. If someone was watching us, they were either very bold or very desperate. Either way, they wouldn’t get away easily.

My gaze then move to the rearview mirror, then back to the side mirror. The shadow had disappeared, but the uneasy feeling remained.

“Max?” Nadia called softly from inside the car. “Do you see anyone?”

“Not yet,” I replied, my tone clipped.

I crouched slightly, peering under the neighboring vehicles. A pair of feet shuffled behind a trash can a few feet away. My lips curled into a sly smile. Got you.

I straightened, pretending to lose interest as I walked toward the trash can. The person hiding behind it wouldn’t see me coming until it was too late.

My mind raced as I considered my options. If it was a harmless bystander, I’d let them go with a warning. But if it was someone who knew too much…someone who had overheard our conversation…then things would get complicated.

As I neared the trash can, I heard a faint rustling sound, followed by a sharp intake of breath. Whoever it was, they were trying to stay hidden, but their nervousness betrayed them.

I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves as I prepared to confront them. This was a critical moment, and I couldn’t afford to make a mistake.

“Come out,” I said, my voice calm but commanding. “I know you’re there.”

There was a moment of silence, followed by a hesitant shuffle. The shadow shifted slightly, but the person remained hidden.

“I won’t ask again,” I said, my tone sharper this time. “Step out, or I’ll make you.”

The rustling stopped, and for a brief moment, everything was still. My heart beats so hard in my chest as I wait, my mind racing with possibilities.

Whoever was behind that trash can, they had better have a good reason for being there. Because if they didn’t, they wouldn’t like what happened next.

MAX POV.

“Max,” Nadia hissed from the car, her voice barely audible but sharp enough to cut through the tension. “What is it? Did you see someone?”

I didn’t answer immediately. My eyes scanned the area around the car, my focus unwavering. I crouched lower, peering beneath the vehicles parked nearby, but the space was empty…'' Just shadows that reflected the late afternoon sun.'' I lied to her.

“No one,” I muttered under my breath, though the unease in my chest lingered.

“What do you mean, ‘no one’?” Nadia pressed, her tone growing impatient. “You were sure someone was there.”

I straightened slowly, keeping my steps measured as I circled the car. “I thought there was,” I said, my voice steady but low enough that only she could hear. “I saw something…or someone…but now they’re gone.”

Nadia leaned toward the passenger side window, her dark eyes scanning the lot with suspicion. “Are you sure? You looked like you were ready to pounce on someone.”

“I don’t make mistakes like this,” I replied, slipping back into the driver’s seat and closing the door with deliberate calm. “Something…or someone…was out there.”

She tilted her head, her lips curling into a smirk. “You’re paranoid, Max. Maybe it was just a shadow. Or a bird. You’re acting like the whole world is out to get you.”

I shot her a cold glance, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. “Paranoia keeps people like me alive, Nadia. You’d do well to remember that.”

Her smirk faded slightly, though she didn’t drop her defiant gaze. “Fine. So what now? Do we just sit here and wait for your invisible stalker to show themselves?”

“No,” I said, turning the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life, and I shifted into gear. “We move. If someone was listening, they won’t get anything more from us.”

As I pulled out of the parking space, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d missed something.

The mirrors showed nothing but empty pavement and distant figures going about their business. Still, the sensation of being watched clung to me like a second skin.

Nadia leaned back in her seat, her arms crossed. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

“What question?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the road as we left the lot.

“Who do you think it was?” she said, her voice softer now, almost curious. “You don’t strike me as the type to jump at shadows, Max. If you thought someone was there, then you must have a suspicion.”

I clenched my jaw, considering her words. “I don’t know,” I admitted after a moment. “But if someone was there, they were either very good at hiding or very lucky.”

Her laughter returned, light and mocking. “Lucky? Against you? Now that’s a story I’d like to hear.”