Chapter Eight

The city was eerily quiet at dawn. A mist rolled in from the bay, curling around the car as Ethan pulled into an abandoned warehouse lot near the docks. The tension inside the vehicle was suffocating, thick with unspoken words and barely restrained emotions.

Mia clenched her fists. "I'm coming with you."

Ethan didn't look at her. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. "No."

Mia turned in her seat, her voice sharp. "I'm not letting you do this alone."

Ethan's jaw ticked. "It's not up for debate."

A humorless laugh slipped from her lips. "You think I'll just sit back and wait while my son" She stopped herself, biting her lip.

Ethan's gaze snapped to her, his eyes unreadable. "He's my son, Mia."

A beat of silence.

Mia exhaled shakily. "He may not be mine by blood, but I love him." Her voice cracked. "I won't let them hurt him."

Ethan's expression softened for the briefest moment before the steel returned. "It's too dangerous."

Mia squared her shoulders. "That's never stopped me before."

They stared at each other, tension thick between them. Then Ethan exhaled and reached into the glove compartment, pulling out a small pistol.

Mia frowned. "What's that for?"

"If you're coming, you need to be armed."

She hesitated only a second before taking the weapon, its weight foreign yet oddly comforting in her palm.

Ethan studied her. "Have you ever used one?"

Mia met his gaze evenly. "You'd be surprised what I know how to do."

Something flickered in his eyes, admiration and curiosity but he quickly masked it. "Stay close to me."

Mia nodded. "Always."

At the Docks

The ocean lapped against the wooden pier, waves crashing softly in the distance. Fog clung to the air, thick and humid, carrying the scent of salt and something metallic.

Ethan and Mia stepped onto the dock, their footsteps echoing ominously.

A black SUV was already parked ahead, its headlights off. A shadowy figure leaned against the hood.

Mia's breath caught when the figure stepped forward, revealing a familiar smirk.

Nicholas.

Alive.

Her stomach lurched.

"You're supposed to be dead," Ethan said coldly.

Nicholas chuckled. "What can I say? I'm hard to kill."

Mia's gaze flickered to the side, her heart clenched at the sight of Oliver standing stiffly between two armed guards. His small face was pale, eyes wide with fear.

"Oliver," she whispered.

The boy's gaze locked onto hers, his lips trembling. "Mom?"

Mia took a step forward, but Ethan's arm shot out, blocking her path.

Nicholas tsked. "Ah-ah. Not so fast." He motioned to the guards, who tightened their grip on Oliver's shoulders. "Let's not get emotional."

Ethan's voice was like ice. "Let him go."

Nicholas smirked. "I will. But first, let's talk."

Ethan's fingers twitched at his sides. "I didn't come to negotiate."

"No?" Nicholas cocked his head. "Then you might not like what I have to say."

Mia's heartbeat pounded. She could feel Ethan's tension radiating off him, his body a coiled wire ready to snap.

Then Nicholas's smile turned razor-sharp.

"Did Ethan tell you he's the reason your parents died?"

Mia's breath left her in a rush.

Ethan went completely still.

The world tilted.

Mia turned slowly, her eyes locking onto Ethan's. "What?"

Ethan didn't answer.

Nicholas's grin widened. "Oh, he didn't, did he?" He let out a mocking sigh. "Poor Mia. So many secrets, so little time."

Mia took a step back. The ground beneath her feet felt unstable, as if the very foundation of her world had cracked.

She turned to Ethan again, her voice barely a whisper. "Tell me it's not true."

Ethan's expression was unreadable, but the flicker of pain in his eyes was answer enough.

Mia's stomach twisted.

Nicholas's chuckle was low, triumphant. "Ah, Mia, I'd love to give you all the details, but right now, I'm more interested in this exchange." He gestured at Ethan. "Your life, for the boy."

Ethan's stance was rigid. "Let Oliver go first."

Nicholas sighed. "You're in no position to make demands."

A gust of wind swept through the docks, sending a shiver down Mia's spine.

Then something caught her eye, a glint on a nearby rooftop.

Her breath hitched.

Sniper.

She barely had time to react before a shot rang out.

Ethan moved instantly, shoving her to the ground.

The bullet missed by inches.

Mia's pulse thundered as she realized Ethan was on top of her, his body shielding hers. His breath was warm against her cheek, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

For a split second, the rest of the world disappeared.

Ethan's lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but then….

Nicholas clapped his hands. "Oh, this just got fun."

Ethan rolled off Mia in a fluid motion, his gaze darting to the rooftop. The sniper was repositioning.

Nicholas's smirk widened. "Now, how about we finish what we started?"

Mia's heart pounded as she pushed herself up, her mind racing. She still had the gun Ethan had given her.

She glanced at Oliver, his little face pale with terror.

This had to end.

Ethan's voice was sharp. "Mia, get behind me."

But she didn't.

Instead, she raised the gun and aimed it directly at Nicholas.

His smirk faltered. "Oh?"

Her grip tightened. "Let. Him. Go."

Nicholas chuckled. "Do you even know how to use that thing, sweetheart?"

Mia's gaze was steady. "Try me."

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

Then…

A sudden commotion.

One of Nicholas's men staggered, a bullet lodged in his shoulder.

A second later, chaos erupted.

Ethan lunged for Oliver.

Mia dove for cover.

Gunfire exploded around them, shouts and curses filling the air.

Nicholas swore as he retreated behind his men. "Kill them!"

Mia ducked behind a crate, her pulse a frantic drumbeat.

Ethan shielded Oliver with his body, pulling him behind a stack of wooden pallets. "Stay down, buddy."

Oliver nodded, his tiny hands shaking.

Mia's hands trembled around the gun, but she forced herself to breathe. She peeked around the crate, eyes locking onto Nicholas.

He was slipping away, disappearing into the fog.

Mia clenched her jaw. No. Not this time.

She bolted from her cover.

"Mia!" Ethan shouted.

But she didn't stop.

She ran after Nicholas, her heart hammering, her hands gripping the gun.

This time, she wasn't running away.

She was running toward the truth.