The Ghost from the Past

Evelyn's breath hitched.

The man standing before her wasn't just another enemy. He was a ghost from her past—a piece of a life she had buried deep, one she had never planned on confronting again.

"Evelyn Carter," the man murmured, his grip tightening around her arm. "It's been a long time."

Theo was beside her in an instant, gun raised, his body shifting instinctively in front of her. "Let. Her. Go."

The man's lips curled into a smirk. "Still relying on others to fight your battles?" His voice held something bitter, something cold.

Evelyn's heart pounded, but she forced herself to keep her voice steady. "Let me go, Daniel."

Daniel.

The name tasted foreign on her tongue now, like it belonged to a different lifetime.

Daniel chuckled, releasing her arm but stepping closer. "You're in deeper than you realize, Evie."

Theo's gun didn't waver. "Step back."

Daniel's gaze flickered to Theo, assessing him. "And who's this? Your new protector?"

Evelyn clenched her fists. "He's none of your concern."

Daniel exhaled, as if disappointed. "It's cute that you think that."

Before Evelyn could react, he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Walk away from this. Before it's too late."

Then, just as quickly as he had appeared, he melted into the darkness.

Theo's eyes remained locked on the spot where Daniel had disappeared, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he lowered his gun. "Who was that?"

Evelyn hesitated.

She didn't know how to answer.

Because Daniel wasn't just from her past.

He was a part of the secret she had vowed never to reveal.

---

The Aftermath

Back at the safe house, the tension between them was thick.

Theo stood near the window, his jaw tight. "Are you going to tell me who he was?"

Evelyn sighed, sitting on the edge of the couch. "It's complicated."

"Try me."

She hesitated, running a hand through her hair. "His name is Daniel Hayes. We—" She swallowed. "We used to be close."

Theo turned to face her. "How close?"

She exhaled. "He was my fiancé."

Silence.

Theo didn't move, but something in his expression shifted. "Your fiancé?"

She nodded. "It was a long time ago."

A beat passed. Then—

"Why did he tell you to walk away?"

Evelyn bit her lip. "Because he knows something we don't."

Theo studied her, his gaze unreadable. "And you trust him?"

Evelyn let out a humorless laugh. "Not even a little."

For the first time that night, Theo seemed satisfied with an answer.

He moved toward her, sitting down on the couch beside her. "Then we keep going. No matter what ghosts come crawling out."

She looked at him, surprised by the quiet certainty in his voice.

"Together?" she asked.

Theo held her gaze. "Always."

And just like that, the weight on her chest felt a little lighter.

---

End of Chapter 16