Elena sat in complete darkness.
The faint glow of the city lights filtered through the sheer curtains, but she didn't move to switch on the lamp.
She sat curled up on the small couch, her knees pulled tightly to her chest.
Her arms were wrapped around herself, holding on as though she could keep herself from falling apart.
But she already was.
Piece by piece.
Her eyes were swollen from crying, her cheeks damp with the tears she couldn't stop.
Her entire body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and guilt.
Her phone buzzed softly on the table beside her.
She glanced at it once—
Daniel's name flashing on the screen—
But she didn't reach for it.
She couldn't.
Not yet.
Her hands were trembling too violently to even hold it.
Instead, she closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the couch cushion.
Her chest tightened with every shallow breath she took.
She thought of Noah.
Of the look in his eyes when she walked away.
The raw fury. The heartbreak. The betrayal.
And she knew—
Even if she managed to save Daniel—
She had lost Noah forever.
---
Noah's POV
The faint glow of his laptop screen illuminated Noah's face as he sat in his darkened office.
His elbows were braced against the desk, his hands clasped tightly together.
His eyes were hard and merciless, sharp with barely restrained fury.
His jaw clenched violently, his teeth grinding together.
The images in the file folder were seared into his memory.
Elena with Vincent Alvarez.
Multiple meetings.
Multiple exchanges.
He had spent the last two hours analyzing every detail of the surveillance footage.
Every glance. Every word. Every second.
The evidence was clear—
She had been working with the man who wanted him dead.
And yet—
No matter how many times he replayed the footage, he couldn't shake the twisting ache in his chest.
Her eyes in those photos—
They weren't calculating or deceitful.
They were terrified.
But the rational part of him didn't care.
He couldn't afford to care.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples roughly.
His entire body was coiled with tension, his veins pulsing with raw, unrestrained fury.
And then, slowly—
He reached for his phone.
His hand was steady.
Cold.
Emotionless.
He pressed the speed dial without hesitation.
The line rang twice before Xavier's voice came through.
"Boss?"
Noah's voice was low.
Deadly.
Final.
"Do it. Find Daniel. And when you do—"
His fingers tightened around the phone, his knuckles white.
"Bring him to me. Alive."
Xavier was silent for a beat.
But then he spoke, his voice just as cold.
"Understood."
Noah ended the call without another word.
His fingers slowly curled into a fist, his knuckles turning white.
Because this time—
He wasn't going to show mercy.
---
Elena's POV
It was nearly two in the morning when Elena finally dragged herself into the small bathroom.
Her movements were slow, almost robotic, as she turned the faucet on.
She splashed cold water on her face, her hands trembling slightly.
Her reflection stared back at her, pale and hollow-eyed.
She barely recognized herself.
The once lively, confident woman was now a shadow of herself, broken and trembling.
A choked sob rose in her throat, and she quickly pressed a hand over her mouth, stifling the sound.
But it was useless.
Her shoulders shook violently, and she sank to her knees on the cold tile floor.
She squeezed her eyes shut, clutching at the fabric of her shirt.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" she whispered, her voice barely a breath.
But there was no one there to hear it.
---
Xavier's POV
Xavier stood at the edge of the rooftop, his arms crossed over his broad chest.
The city lights stretched out below him, distant and indifferent.
He barely blinked as he listened to the update in his earpiece.
"Target spotted. Building's clear. Moving in."
Xavier's expression remained cold.
Detached.
The voice on the other end continued with clinical precision.
"The boy's alive. No visible injuries. We'll extract him in five minutes."
Xavier's lips barely moved.
His voice was flat, emotionless.
"Make it three."
He ended the call and slowly turned, walking toward the stairwell.
His boots echoed sharply against the concrete.
Because soon—
Daniel would be in their hands.
And when he was—
Noah would have no reason to show Elena mercy.
---
Elena's POV
Her phone suddenly buzzed sharply against the coffee table, making her flinch violently.
Her bloodshot eyes lifted slowly, hesitating for a brief moment.
And then, with trembling hands, she slowly reached for it.
The moment she saw the caller ID, her breath caught in her throat.
Xavier.
Her heart stuttered violently, her hands shaking as she answered.
"Hello?" Her voice was hoarse. Raw.
There was a brief silence.
And then—
"We have him."
Her knees buckled beneath her, and she sagged against the couch.
A broken sob of relief escaped her lips, and she clutched the phone with trembling fingers.
"Is he—? Is he okay?" she choked out.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Xavier's voice was cold.
Flat.
"He's alive. That's all you need to know."
And then—
The line went dead.
Elena stared at her phone, her chest heaving violently.
Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, tears streaming down her cheeks.
But she barely had time to breathe before there was a sharp knock at her door.
Her head snapped up.
Her heart seized violently in her chest.
She slowly stood, her legs unsteady.
Her breath caught in her throat as she walked to the door.
Her hands were trembling as she slowly reached for the knob.
And then—
She slowly pulled the door open.
Her breath hitched violently.
Her eyes widened.
And she stumbled back.
Because standing in the doorway—
Was Noah.
His face was completely blank, his expression devoid of all emotion.
But his eyes—
His eyes were dark and lethal, brimming with icy fury.
Elena's lips parted slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Noah…"
But before she could say another word—
His hand shot out and grabbed her wrist in a brutal grip.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"No—" she gasped, her voice breaking.
But he didn't let her go.
Didn't speak.
Instead, he pulled her sharply into the hallway.
Her back slammed against the wall, and her breath caught painfully in her throat.
And then—
He slowly leaned in, his voice low, gravelly, and deadly cold.
"You lied to me."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
But it cut through her like a blade.
Her eyes filled with tears, and she shook her head violently.
"No… Noah, please—"
But he wasn't listening.
He was done listening.
His grip on her wrist tightened mercilessly, his voice low and lethal.
"Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"
His eyes were ice-cold, his voice trembling with fury.
Elena's lips parted—
But she didn't get the chance to speak.
Because the next words that left his mouth—
" Destroyed her completely."
"You were working with him."
His voice was low and final, heavy with betrayal.
And this time—
There was no mercy in his eyes.
---
See you in next chapter.....