Lovers Against Fate

The cold air bit at Evelyn's skin as she and Luca stood on the rooftop of an abandoned high-rise, looking down at the city that had shaped them—broken them, burned them, and somehow, bound them together.

Below, the neon lights flickered, and the streets pulsed with the life of people who had no idea what was coming. A storm was brewing.

Evelyn turned to Luca, her heartbeat steady despite the chaos swirling around them. "We need to find Dante before Killian does."

Luca exhaled, his jaw tight. "Dante doesn't just let people find him. If Killian wants him dead, he's already in hiding."

Evelyn smirked. "Good thing I know someone who owes me a favor."

Luca raised an eyebrow. "You've been holding out on me?"

She shrugged. "You never asked."

Luca shook his head, a small smile creeping onto his lips. Even now, when their world was falling apart, she still made him feel alive.

—

They met Evelyn's contact in a dimly lit jazz bar on the east side of the city. Ava Mercer—a hacker with a reputation for making people disappear.

She leaned back in her seat, sipping a glass of whiskey as she regarded Evelyn with amusement. "You never come to me unless you're desperate."

Evelyn crossed her arms. "I wouldn't call it desperate. Just... urgent."

Ava chuckled. "That's the same thing." She turned to Luca. "And who's your pretty boy?"

Luca's lips twitched. "Not in the mood for games, Mercer."

Ava smirked. "Shame. You'd be fun to play with."

Evelyn shot her a look. "Focus."

Ava sighed, pulling out a sleek laptop. "Fine. You're looking for Dante Vasquez. Word is, he's off-grid. No phone, no bank transactions, no movement. That usually means he's either dead... or waiting for something."

Luca tensed. "Where would he run?"

Ava typed furiously, then turned the screen toward them. A remote cabin in the mountains.

Evelyn met Luca's gaze. "We need to leave. Now."

Luca nodded, but deep down, he knew—this was a trap.

And they were walking straight into it.

—

Next Chapter: The Fire in Their Blood