Chapter 29

Chapter 29 – A Deceptive Calm

The night felt colder than usual. Ariana sat in the car driven by Nathan, staring out the window with a vacant expression. The events of earlier still played vividly in her mind—Daniel finally captured, the lingering threat in the air, and the relief that felt almost unreal.

Richard sat beside her, silent and brooding. Samantha, seated in the back, let out a long sigh, trying to steady herself after everything they had been through.

"Where are we going now?" Ariana finally spoke, her voice weary.

Nathan glanced at her through the rearview mirror. "I have a safe place for us. At least until we figure out our next move."

Ariana nodded, not asking any further questions. She just wanted to rest.

---

They arrived at a secluded villa on the outskirts of the city. The building was large, surrounded by high fences and dense trees. Nathan made sure they weren’t being followed before finally driving through the gates.

As soon as they stepped inside, Ariana sank onto the couch, slipping off her shoes and covering her face with her hands.

Richard poured a glass of water and handed it to her. "Drink this."

Ariana took it and sipped slowly. "Thank you."

Samantha sat across from them, her expression heavy with worry. "Even though Daniel has been caught, I feel like this isn’t over."

Nathan nodded. "Daniel isn’t the type to give up easily. Even from behind bars, he could still be pulling strings."

Richard clenched his fists. "So what do we do? Hide forever?"

Nathan shot him a sharp look. "No. We find a way to make sure he can’t do anything ever again."

Ariana let out a deep breath. "I just want a normal life. I’m tired of constantly running from danger."

Richard turned to her, his gaze softening. "I promise, I won’t let anyone hurt you again."

Ariana looked into his eyes, feeling the warmth in his words. But deep down, she knew this wasn’t truly over.

---

As the night deepened, one by one, they retreated to their rooms to rest.

Ariana sat on the edge of her bed, but sleep refused to come. Her mind was restless, plagued by all the worst possibilities.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock at her door.

"Ariana, are you still awake?" Richard’s voice.

Ariana stood and opened the door. Richard stood there in a simple t-shirt and sweatpants, exhaustion evident on his face.

"I can’t sleep," he admitted quietly.

Ariana nodded. "Me neither."

Richard hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can I come in?"

She stepped aside, letting him enter.

Richard sat in a chair near the window, staring out. "I keep thinking about all of this. It still doesn’t feel like we’re truly safe."

Ariana curled her legs up onto the bed. "I feel the same way."

A silence stretched between them before Richard finally spoke again. "I won’t leave you alone anymore. I lost you once, and I won’t lose you again."

Ariana’s chest tightened. "You didn’t lose me, Richard. I just… I don’t know if I can get through this."

Richard stood up, walking closer to her, his gaze intense. "You can. We can. I’ll always be here for you."

Ariana remained silent. His eyes held a depth of sincerity she hadn’t realized she missed so much.

Slowly, Richard reached out, cupping her cheek gently. She didn’t pull away.

"Can I…?" Richard whispered.

Ariana closed her eyes briefly before nodding slightly.

Richard leaned down, pressing his lips softly against hers. The kiss was slow, but filled with emotion. Ariana responded, allowing herself to sink into the warmth she had been denying for so long.

But before the kiss could deepen, a loud knock on the door startled them.

They pulled apart instantly, turning toward the door with alertness.

Nathan stood in the doorway, his expression grim. "We have a problem."

---

In the living room, Samantha was already waiting, her face tense.

"What’s going on?" Richard asked.

Nathan tossed a phone onto the table. "I just got a call. Someone on the inside tipped me off—there’s an order to transfer Daniel to a high-security prison tomorrow morning."

Ariana frowned. "Isn’t that a good thing?"

Samantha shook her head. "No, it’s a setup. If Daniel is being moved, that means he’s already planned his escape."

Richard cursed under his breath. "So he still has connections out there."

Nathan nodded. "And if he gets free, he won’t stop. We have to act before that happens."

Ariana felt her heart pound harder. "What do we do?"

Nathan looked at each of them before answering.

"We stop the transfer. Before it’s too late."