Evelyn’s Awakening

Evelyn woke to the sound of rain tapping against the window. The soft hum of the city filled the silence, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside her.

Her body ached. Not from injury, but from exhaustion—the kind that settled deep in her bones. Survival took its toll.

She blinked, adjusting to the dim glow of the bedside lamp. A room she didn't recognize. Crisp white sheets. The faint scent of cologne. Luca.

Her heart clenched.

Everything came rushing back. The chase. The gunfire. The moment she'd collapsed, Luca's arms catching her just before everything went black.

She sat up too fast. Pain lanced through her side. Shit.

A door creaked open.

Luca.

He looked like hell—clothes stained, a fresh bruise on his jaw, blood crusted on his knuckles. But his eyes… they softened when they met hers.

"You're awake." His voice was rough, edged with something she couldn't quite name.

She swallowed hard. "Where are we?"

"Safe house." He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "For now."

For now. The words hung between them. Temporary. Fleeting. Like everything in their world.

Evelyn exhaled, trying to steady herself. "How bad is it?"

Luca ran a hand through his hair. "Valerio's men are still out there. They won't stop until they have what they want."

"And what is that?" she asked, though she already knew.

Luca's gaze darkened. "Me."

Her stomach twisted. She wanted to argue, to tell him they'd come for both of them, but the weight in his eyes said he already knew that, too.

A beat of silence stretched between them before he moved closer.

"You scared me," he admitted, voice lower now.

Evelyn's breath hitched. Luca didn't scare easily.

"I'm still here," she whispered.

His jaw tightened, as if the words alone weren't enough. He reached out, fingers ghosting over her wrist before curling into a fist. Holding back.

But Evelyn was tired of pretending.

She reached for him, fingers threading through his. His breath stilled.

"I'm not leaving," she murmured. "No matter what."

Luca closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, like he was memorizing the moment. Then, slowly, he exhaled.

"We need to move soon," he said, voice rough again. "Valerio's men won't wait."

Evelyn nodded, but neither of them let go.

For now, just for now, they let the war outside pause.

Just long enough to remember why they were still fighting.