Almost

The space between them shrank.

Evelyn wasn't sure who moved first—if it was her, or Theo, or some invisible pull between them that neither could resist.

But suddenly, they were close.

Too close.

Her back pressed against the kitchen counter, Theo standing inches away, his fingers still lingering near her face from where he had just tucked her hair back.

She could feel the warmth of his palm, the way his breathing had subtly shifted.

Her own breath hitched as her gaze flickered to his lips.

He didn't move. Didn't speak.

But he didn't step back either.

And that was the dangerous part.

The tension between them crackled like an impending storm, the kind that sent chills down her spine yet kept her rooted in place.

Theo's eyes darkened, his focus unwavering. His hand, once hovering, lowered slightly, fingers grazing her wrist.

Her pulse jumped.

Evelyn swallowed, heart pounding so loudly she swore he could hear it.

She wasn't sure who leaned in first.

But the moment their noses brushed, the second his breath fanned against her lips—

The door burst open.

"Morning, lovebirds! Hope you weren't—"

Ethan froze.

Theo instantly took a step back, his jaw clenching as if physically forcing himself to regain control. Evelyn, on the other hand, blinked rapidly, her mind scrambling to catch up.

Ethan looked between them, his expression shifting from amused to understanding.

"Oh. Oh," he said, realization dawning on him. Then, after a beat, he grinned. "Did I just walk in on something interesting?"

Evelyn cleared her throat, crossing her arms. "No."

"Absolutely not," Theo added, voice a fraction too sharp.

Ethan raised a brow, clearly not buying it. "Uh-huh. Sure."

Theo shot him a glare, his posture tense. "What do you want, Ethan?"

Ethan smirked, but thankfully, he didn't push it. "Right. Business. We've got a problem."

Theo exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair—a clear sign he was frustrated. "Of course we do."

Evelyn, still trying to shake off the remnants of the moment, nodded. "What is it?"

Ethan leaned against the counter, clearly enjoying their discomfort more than he should. "You remember how we thought Luca's death would buy us some time?"

Theo stiffened. "Yeah."

"Well," Ethan said, dragging out the word. "Turns out, it just made things worse."

Evelyn straightened. "What do you mean?"

Ethan's playful demeanor faded, his expression turning serious. "Someone's already taken his place. And whoever they are, they're moving fast."

---

Tension That Lingers

Evelyn and Theo barely spoke for the next few hours.

Not because they were avoiding each other—at least, not outright. But something had shifted, and neither of them seemed ready to acknowledge it.

Every glance felt loaded. Every brush of their shoulders was followed by an awkward pause.

Ethan, of course, noticed.

And he didn't let it go.

"So," he said casually as they sat in the car, heading toward their next destination. "You two are awfully quiet."

Theo didn't respond.

Evelyn sighed. "Maybe because we're focused?"

Ethan smirked. "Or maybe because you almost—"

"Ethan," Theo cut in, his voice dangerously low.

Ethan held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. No need to get all grumpy."

Evelyn glanced at Theo, who was gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly.

It wasn't like they hadn't been close before.

But this… this had been different.

And the worst part?

She wasn't sure what would've happened if Ethan hadn't interrupted.

Would Theo have kissed her?

Would she have let him?

And why did the thought make her heart race?

---

A Temporary Distraction

They arrived at an abandoned warehouse, where Ethan's contact was waiting.

The man—tall, dressed in all black, with a scar running down his jaw—gave them a once-over before speaking. "You're late."

Theo's mood had clearly not improved. "Traffic."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Just give us the intel."

The man slid a file across the rusted metal table. Evelyn picked it up, flipping through the pages.

What she saw made her stomach drop.

"This can't be right," she muttered.

Theo peered over her shoulder, his expression darkening. "If this is true, we're screwed."

Ethan leaned in. "How bad are we talking?"

Evelyn looked up. "Luca's replacement? He's not just some random player. He's someone who's been waiting for this opportunity for years."

Theo's jaw clenched. "Who is he?"

She exhaled. "Daniel Kade."

Ethan whistled. "Well, that's not ideal."

Kade was ruthless, calculated, and completely unpredictable.

And if he was already making moves, it meant their time was running out.

---

Unspoken Words

That night, as they returned to the safe house, the weight of everything pressed down on them.

Theo was the first to break the silence.

"We need to be careful."

Evelyn nodded, sitting on the couch and pulling her legs up. "I know."

He stood near the window, staring out as if searching for answers in the night.

After a long moment, he turned back to her.

"You should get some rest."

Evelyn studied him, noticing the tension in his shoulders, the way he looked like he wanted to say more but couldn't.

"Theo," she said softly.

He looked at her.

The air between them grew thick again, the remnants of what almost happened still lingering.

For a second, she thought he might actually address it.

But then, he just nodded. "Goodnight, Evelyn."

She sighed. "Goodnight, Theo."

And as he walked away, she realized something frustrating.

They could pretend all they wanted.

But whatever this was between them—it wasn't going away.

And eventually, they'd have to face it.

End of Chapter 31