Fractured Lines

The closer you get to the fire, the harder it is to pretend you're not burning.

Celeste...

The sterile white walls of the private clinic blurred as I sat beside Adrian's bed, fingers curled into my lap. He had been unconscious for two days, his body battling against the damage that bullet had inflicted.

I hated how vulnerable he looked. Hated how much it affected me.

His face was paler than usual, shadows lining his sharp jaw. The ever-present smirk was gone, replaced by stillness. He looked like a man trapped in limbo, teetering between life and death, and I wasn't ready to acknowledge how much that scared me.

Every morning, I found myself here, waiting for him to open his eyes. Every time a nurse walked in, my pulse jumped, hoping—dreading—that it would be the moment he woke. And yet, when he finally did, I wasn't ready.

A low groan rumbled from his throat, barely audible over the beeping monitors. My head snapped up, eyes locking onto his as they fluttered open—dark and unfocused at first before sharpening in recognition.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "You're awake."

Adrian's lips parted slightly, his voice rasping from disuse. "You... stayed?"

A thousand emotions warred within me. I had told myself I was only here to ensure he was still useful, to see if he'd pull through—but deep down, I knew better.

I forced a smirk. "Not for you, obviously. I was making sure you didn't leave unfinished business."

His gaze, still heavy with exhaustion, didn't waver. "Liar."

Before I could react, Dante strode in, relief flashing across his face before his mask returned. "Good to see you're still breathing, boss."

I took that as my cue. My chest felt too tight, my mind too conflicted. Without another word, I turned and walked out, each step feeling heavier than the last.

I drove straight to the FBI's off-the-record headquarters, parking in the underground lot before heading upstairs. The moment I stepped into the dimly lit office, Sienna looked up from behind her desk, her expression unreadable

"You look like hell," she muttered, leaning back in her chair.

"Long couple of days." I tossed my jacket onto the back of a chair, arms crossing tightly. "I need intel. Now."

Sienna arched a brow. "On?"

I exhaled sharply. "First, Adrian's mansion was hit. Then, someone ambushed us when we were supposed to be off the radar. This wasn't coincidence. Someone fed them information."

Her fingers danced over the keyboard, pulling up files and encrypted feeds. "You think it's internal? One of his men?"

"I don't know yet," I admitted, my stomach twisting. "But someone inside knew exactly where we'd be."

A long silence stretched between us before Sienna sighed. "You realize you're getting too close, right?"

I shot her a sharp look. "This is the job."

"No, Celeste." Her voice softened, but her gaze remained firm. "This is personal. I can hear it in your voice. You were supposed to take him down, not get tangled up in his world."

I clenched my jaw. "I haven't forgotten why I'm here."

She let out a frustrated sigh, leaning forward. "Then act like it. This whole situation stinks, and if someone inside the FBI is leaking intel, you might be next."

The realization settled deep in my bones. "Are you saying someone from our side is working against us?"

Sienna nodded grimly. "It's a possibility. One I plan to confirm."

The room felt colder suddenly. "Then I need names. If I'm walking into a trap, I need to know who set it."

Sienna studied me, skepticism flickering in her eyes. "You sure you're not protecting him?"

"Adrian can take care of himself. I'm taking care of me."

"Then let's find out who wants you both dead," she muttered, cracking her knuckles before turning back to her screen.

I turned away, staring at the glowing city lights through the window. Hadn't I already crossed the line?

"Just find me something," I muttered before leaving the office.

As I stepped into the cold night air, my mind churned.

Something was wrong. And if I didn't figure it out soon, it wouldn't just be Adrian at risk—it would be me, too.