Down the Top

The quiet hum of the safe house filled the air as Evelyn sat on the worn-out couch, her fingers absently tracing the rim of the ceramic mug in her hands. The tea inside had long since gone cold, but she hadn't been drinking it anyway. Across the dimly lit room, Theo stood near the window, his silhouette sharp against the glow of the city beyond.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The weight of Dr. Vance's revelations still lingered between them, unspoken yet heavy.

Evelyn finally broke the silence. "You're too quiet."

Theo didn't turn around. "Just thinking."

"That's dangerous." She tried for a smirk, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "What's on your mind?"

He exhaled, turning to face her. "Everything."

That wasn't an answer, and they both knew it.

Evelyn set her mug down and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "We're in this together, Theo. You don't have to carry it alone."

His eyes met hers, a flicker of something unguarded passing through them before he masked it again. "I know."

A beat of silence. Then—

"You should rest," Theo said, walking over and stopping just in front of her. "You've barely slept."

She huffed. "And you have?"

He didn't respond. That was answer enough.

A small, tired smile touched Evelyn's lips as she reached up and tugged lightly at the sleeve of his coat. "Sit down, Bennett. You're making me nervous."

He sighed but relented, lowering himself onto the couch beside her. The space between them was minimal, and Evelyn could feel the warmth radiating off him.

She glanced sideways at him. "You're brooding again."

"I don't brood."

"You do. It's your default setting."

Theo let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "And you never stop talking."

"It's called conversation, Theo. You should try it sometime."

His lips twitched, but then his expression grew serious. "Evelyn…" He hesitated, his voice quieter now. "You know things will only get worse from here, right?"

She didn't look away. "I know."

"If you want out—"

"I don't."

The finality in her tone silenced whatever argument he had been about to make.

After a moment, Theo leaned back against the couch, letting his head rest against the worn-out fabric. Evelyn watched as the tension in his shoulders lessened—just a fraction—but it was there.

Without thinking, she reached out and placed a hand on his. A simple gesture. Warm, grounding.

Theo's fingers twitched beneath hers, as if surprised, but he didn't pull away.

For the first time in a long while, neither of them felt completely alone.

---

A New Lead

The next morning, they were back in motion.

Dr. Vance's information had given them a name. A location. Another step forward in the tangled mess they were unraveling.

"The docks," Evelyn muttered, staring at the scrawled address in her notebook. "What's waiting for us there?"

"More trouble," Theo said, slipping his gun into his holster.

She rolled her eyes. "You're a ray of sunshine."

"I'm a realist."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

He gave her a look but didn't argue. Instead, he handed her an earpiece, his fingers brushing against hers for the briefest second. Evelyn ignored the way her pulse reacted to it.

She cleared her throat. "So, what's the plan?"

Theo's gaze darkened slightly. "We go in, we observe, and we get out. No unnecessary risks."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Since when do we avoid risks?"

His jaw tightened. "Since things got personal."

She knew what he meant. This wasn't just about uncovering secrets anymore. It was about survival.

And that changed everything.

---

The Docks

By the time they arrived, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the abandoned shipping containers. The air smelled of salt and rust, the distant sound of water sloshing against the wooden piers filling the silence.

Evelyn adjusted her earpiece. "Remind me again why we're sneaking around in the dark?"

Theo's voice crackled through the comm. "Because broad daylight would be too easy."

"Right. How could I forget?"

She moved carefully along the edge of a rusted container, eyes scanning the surroundings. Somewhere ahead, voices drifted through the cool night air.

"…shipment's late."

"The boss won't be happy."

Evelyn exchanged a glance with Theo. These weren't just any men—they were connected to the people they were chasing.

Theo gestured for her to stay low as he moved closer. Evelyn followed, her heart pounding.

They needed to find out what was in that shipment.

And they needed to do it fast.

---

An Unforeseen Complication

Just as they reached a vantage point, a loud *clank* echoed through the air.

Evelyn froze.

Theo cursed under his breath. "That wasn't us."

They weren't alone.

A second later, gunfire erupted.

Evelyn ducked behind a crate as bullets ricocheted off the metal containers. Theo was already returning fire, his movements precise and controlled.

She gritted her teeth. "So much for avoiding risks."

"Stay low!" Theo ordered, his voice sharp.

She didn't argue. Instead, she reached for her own weapon, taking calculated shots between the gaps of the containers.

Then—silence.

The sudden stillness was almost worse than the gunfire.

Evelyn glanced at Theo. "That's… not a good sign, is it?"

Before he could respond, footsteps echoed from the distance. More men.

Theo grabbed her wrist. "We need to move. Now."

She didn't hesitate.

They darted between the crates, weaving through the maze of containers. The docks stretched ahead of them, the dark water glinting under the sparse lighting.

Evelyn's pulse raced. If they got cornered—

A hand suddenly grabbed her arm, yanking her back.

She spun, knife already drawn, but stopped short.

The man gripping her wasn't just another mercenary.

She knew that face.

Her breath caught. "You."

Theo was at her side in an instant, gun raised. "Evelyn?"

She barely heard him.

Because standing before her was the one person she never expected to see again.

The past had finally caught up with her.

And this time, there was no running from it.

---

End of Chapter 15