A Dangerous Game

The night air was thick with tension as Emily stared at the computer screen, the words flashing in front of her like some kind of warning she couldn't unsee.

He isn't who he claims to be.

Ethan's name was there, tied to hidden files, classified reports, things that didn't make sense. Part of her wanted to shut the laptop and just pretend she hadn't seen it. But she couldn't.

Because if there was even an iota of truth in that message… she had let the wrong man in.

She turned, her gaze landing on Ethan, still sleeping on her couch. His chest rose and fell steadily, the soft glow from the streetlamp outside casting shadows across his face. He looked peaceful. Trustworthy.

But wasn't that the problem?

Emily fisted her hands then made herself breathe. It wasn't time for paranoia; she needed proof.

But before she could decide on her next course of action, her phone buzzed. A message flashed across the screen.

Warehouse. Midnight. Come alone. Or more people die.

A cold shiver ran down her spine.

It wasn't from an unknown number.

It was from Nathan.

Emily arrived at the abandoned warehouse in gaspingbreath, her gun clutched tightly and concealed under her jacket. The city was in a strange, dead silence.

Nathan was inside, hands in his pockets, impassive.

"You shouldn't have come alone," he said-the closest to regret she had ever heard.

"I don't take orders from you," Emily fired back; her anger rose. "Why am I here?"

Nathan huffed suddenly. "Because you need to know what you're dealing with."

He tossed a folder onto a rusted metal table.

Emily hesitated a moment, then flipped it open. Black-and-white surveillance pictures. Reports. And then—

A picture of Ethan.

She clamped her teeth together. "What the hell is this?"

Nathan's eyes went cold as he leaned in. "Ethan Knight isn't just some agent helping you out on this case. He's connected. Much deeper than you think. He's been playing both sides.

Emily's stomach clenched. "You really expect me to believe you?"

Nathan regarded her, his features softer than before. "You want to trust him. I get it. But unless you finally open your eyes, Emily, it's going to cost you everything."

She wanted to say, Go to hell.

But she couldn't still the voice inside her head.

The one that whispered: What if he is?

A noise outside turned them both into statues.

Nathan cursed. "You were followed."

Before Emily could take a breath, gunfire exploded from the darkness of the night air.

She clambered for the ground with the bullets pounding around them and Nathan dove cover beside her to grab his gun.

"Get out of here!" he said.

Emily knew this wasn't a random incident. Someone had not wanted her to know that truth.

The only person that had known exactly where she'd be tonight--

Was Ethan.

Emily didn't go home that night.

She drove aimlessly, her hands clenching onto the wheel, her mind spiraling. She wanted answers. But she didn't know who to ask.

By morning, exhaustion pulled at her, but she pushed through it, arriving at the office early.

Ethan was already there.

He looked up the second she walked in, his sharp eyes scanning her like he could see the storm raging inside her.

"You didn't come back last night," he said evenly.

She made herself shrug. "Had things to do."

Ethan regarded her a long beat then rose, covering the distance between them. "You don't trust me, do you?"

Emily's breath caught. He was too close. She could smell his cologne, the heat of him.

"Should I?" she whispered.

For an instant something flickered over his face-something raw, almost vulnerable.

"Yes," he growled.

She so wanted to believe him.

But trust was unsafe.

So rather than reply, she did what came out best for her- deflection.

"We need to focus on the case," she muttered, stepping back.

Ethan's jaw clenched, but he didn't pursue the issue.

Not now, anyway.

The case unraveled at an alarming pace. Leads crumbled into dust. Suspects disappeared. The harder they searched, the uglier it all became.

Yet amidst all the chaos, this one tension persisted between them:.

It was in the instinctive reach of Ethan's hand for hers whenever danger was close. The hitch in Emily's breath whenever their fingers brushed. The not talking about what was really going on between them.

Until one night, when everything cracked open.

They had barely escaped an ambush that night-morning, the latest failed attempt on their lives.

Emily was shaking, her body still coursing with adrenaline as they burst into her apartment. Ethan slammed the door shut behind them, his eyes dark with something unreadable.

"You could have been killed," he ground out.

She let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, well, that seems to be the theme lately."

Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I need you to be careful, Emily."

His voice came low, almost desperate.

She fully faced him now. "I don't need you protecting me, Ethan."

He took another step closer. "Yeah, you do."

The roar of her pulse was deafening.

Too close.

And then—

There was a shift in the air.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she closed the distance, her lips crashing against his.

Ethan didn't hesitate.

He pulled her in, deepening the kiss, his hands tangling into her waist like he'd been waiting for this as long as she had.

It was urgent. Desperate. Years of frustration, fear, and something deeper all spilling out in one breathless moment.

When they finally pulled away, they were both breathing hard.

Ethan rested his forehead against hers. "Tell me to stop," he murmured.

Emily swallowed hard.

She should.

She really should.

But instead, she whispered, "Don't."

The attack came hours later.

Emily barely had time to react before the door exploded inward.

Gunfire. Shadows. Chaos.

Ethan was on her in an instant, knocking her to the ground, shielding her with his body.

"Stay down!" he barked, returning fire.

But there were too many of them.

Emily's heart pounded as she reached for her own gun, firing blindly. She felt the burn of a bullet grazing her shoulder, but she didn't stop.

Then—Ethan was pulling her up, his grip firm, unyielding. "We need to go. Now!

They burst through the emergency exit, out into the night.

They didn't stop running.

Not until they were miles away.

Not until they were safe.

And when they finally collapsed in an abandoned motel room, breathing heavy, blood staining their clothes, Emily realized-

She didn't care if trusting Ethan was dangerous.

Because without him, she wouldn't survive this game.

Neither of them would.

Ethan's gaze seared into hers as he reached out, his fingers grazing her cheek.

"You're bleeding," he murmured.

"So are you," she whispered.

Neither of them moved away.

And this time, when his lips found hers, there was no hesitation.

That night, in the middle of danger, with the world hunting them down—

They chose each other.

No more running.

No more denying.

Even if it destroyed them.

Cliffhanger: The attack on Emily's life wasn't random. Someone wants her gone. And Ethan isn't willing to lose her—no matter the cost