Chapter Eleven: The Breaking Point

Maya's mind raced as the weight of Alex's words settled over her. She was part of some deal he'd made—a price he hadn't been willing to reveal until now. The blood in her veins felt like fire, anger and fear warring for dominance in her chest.

"Start talking," she said, her voice low and trembling.

"Maya…" Alex stepped toward her, his expression pained.

"Don't," she snapped, holding up a hand. "No more excuses. No more 'it's complicated.' I need the truth."

Kara leaned against the wall, clearly entertained by the chaos. "Might as well get it all out now, Alex. She's already in this mess, thanks to you."

"Kara, not now," Alex growled, his eyes narrowing at her.

"Fine. I'll let you two lovebirds have your moment." With a smirk, Kara sheathed her knife and sauntered toward the door. "But make it quick. We're running out of time."

When the door slammed shut behind her, the silence was deafening. Maya crossed her arms, staring at Alex expectantly.

He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "Maya, I never wanted this for you. I thought I could keep you safe, keep you out of it…"

"Out of what?" she pressed.

"I made a deal years ago," he admitted, his voice heavy. "A deal to protect someone I loved. But the terms were… cruel. I didn't know what I was getting into, and by the time I realized, it was too late. I've been trying to fix it ever since."

Maya's chest tightened. "What does that have to do with me?"

Alex hesitated, his jaw clenching. "The deal wasn't just about me. It extended to the people closest to me. And when I let myself get close to you…"

Realization dawned, and Maya's stomach twisted. "You're saying I'm in danger because of you?"

"Yes," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Anger bubbled to the surface, hot and sharp. "You should have told me," she said, her voice trembling. "You should have given me a choice."

"I know," he said, stepping closer. "I know I should have. But, Maya, I couldn't risk losing you. I couldn't…"

"Stop," she said, shaking her head. "You don't get to act like this was noble. You lied to me, Alex."

"I know," he said again, his voice breaking. "And I'd do it again if it meant keeping you safe."

Maya opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. The look in his eyes stopped her—raw, vulnerable, and filled with something she couldn't ignore.

"Damn it, Alex," she whispered, her voice softer now.

He closed the distance between them in two strides, his hands cupping her face with a gentleness that contradicted the storm in his eyes. "I'll fix this," he said, his voice low and rough. "I swear to you, I'll fix it. But right now… I need you to trust me."

Maya's heart pounded as his words hung in the air. She should push him away, demand more answers, demand a plan—but instead, she felt herself leaning into him, drawn to the warmth of his touch and the intensity of his gaze.

"Alex…" she started, but whatever she was going to say was lost as his lips crashed into hers.

The kiss was urgent, almost desperate, as if he was trying to convey everything he couldn't say with words. Maya's hands found their way to his chest, her fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt as heat surged between them.

He pulled her closer, his body pressing against hers as his lips moved with a precision that left her breathless. The tension, the fear, the anger—all of it melted away, replaced by the undeniable pull that had been simmering between them for weeks.

"Tell me to stop," Alex murmured against her lips, his voice strained.

But she didn't. Instead, she tangled her fingers in his hair and kissed him harder, pouring all of her confusion and frustration into the moment.

His hands roamed her back, his touch firm yet tender, as he guided her toward the nearest wall. The cool surface met her back, a stark contrast to the heat radiating from him.

"Are you sure?" he asked, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze.

Maya's breath hitched, her pulse racing. "I'm sure," she whispered, her voice steady despite the chaos in her mind.

That was all the encouragement he needed. His lips found hers again, more demanding this time, as his hands slipped beneath her shirt. Her skin burned under his touch, every nerve ending alive with sensation.

Time seemed to blur as they lost themselves in each other, the weight of the world momentarily forgotten. For the first time in what felt like forever, Maya didn't think about the danger or the secrets—she just felt.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them breathing heavily, Alex rested his forehead against hers. "I won't let anything happen to you," he said softly.

Maya nodded, her fingers still clutching his shirt. "We'll figure it out," she said, though she wasn't entirely sure what "it" was.

But for now, it didn't matter. In that moment, with Alex's arms around her and his promises echoing in her mind, she let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way out of the darkness together.