A Step Too Close

The night was quiet, save for the rhythmic tapping of Evelyn's fingers against the keyboard. The soft glow of her laptop screen illuminated her face, her brows furrowed in deep concentration.

Theo, sitting on her couch, wasn't looking at the file in his hands anymore. Instead, his eyes kept drifting back to her.

The way she absentmindedly chewed on her bottom lip. The way her lashes flickered when she read something particularly frustrating.

It had been an hour since they returned from the disastrous encounter with Kade. An hour since Theo had let another lead slip away.

And yet, instead of obsessing over it like he normally would, he found himself watching Evelyn.

A dangerous habit.

Evelyn suddenly sighed, pushing her laptop away. "I'm hitting a wall."

Theo smirked. "You? Hitting a wall? Impossible."

She shot him a glare. "Don't mock me, Bennett."

Theo leaned back, arms crossed. "If you're tired, sleep."

Evelyn scoffed. "Says the insomniac."

"Touché."

But even as he said it, Theo's gaze lingered on her face. There were dark circles beneath her eyes, barely visible under the soft light.

She was pushing herself too hard.

As always.

Theo exhaled. "Come here."

Evelyn blinked at him. "What?"

Theo patted the space beside him. "You need a break."

She eyed him suspiciously. "Since when do you believe in breaks?"

"Since you look like you're about to collapse."

Evelyn rolled her eyes but, after a moment, got up and settled beside him on the couch.

The silence stretched.

Theo felt it—the warmth of her beside him, the faint scent of her vanilla perfume.

She rested her head against the back of the couch, exhaling.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then—

"Do you think we'll ever have normal lives again?" Evelyn murmured.

Theo stared at the ceiling. "Define normal."

"You know," she said softly. "Days without watching our backs. Without waiting for the next attack."

Theo sighed. "That's not in the cards for us, Carter."

She hummed, as if she already knew the answer.

Then, to his surprise, she shifted slightly, her shoulder brushing his.

It was a small thing. Barely noticeable.

But he noticed.

And he didn't move away.

---

The Next Morning – Theo's Apartment

Theo woke to the sound of his phone buzzing relentlessly.

Groaning, he grabbed it off the nightstand.

"Bennett," he muttered.

Ethan's voice was sharp. "We've got a problem."

Theo sat up instantly. "What kind of problem?"

Ethan hesitated. "Kade. He's made another move."

Theo swung his legs over the edge of the bed, already reaching for his gun. "Where?"

Ethan exhaled. "He's not the one pulling the strings, Theo."

Theo stilled.

"What are you talking about?"

Ethan's voice was grave.

"Kade's been working for someone else this whole time. Someone bigger. Someone we never even considered."

Theo's grip on the phone tightened.

A cold feeling settled in his stomach.

They weren't just dealing with Kade anymore.

They were dealing with something far worse.

---

Evelyn's Apartment

Evelyn was barely awake when her phone rang.

She reached for it blindly, groaning. "What?"

Theo's voice was sharp. "Get dressed. Now."

Evelyn immediately sat up. "What happened?"

"I'll explain on the way," Theo said. "I'm outside."

Evelyn threw off the covers, adrenaline spiking.

Something was wrong.

Very, very wrong.

She quickly got dressed, grabbed her gun, and rushed out the door.

Theo was already waiting by the car, his expression unreadable.

Evelyn slid into the passenger seat, heart pounding. "Theo, what's going on?"

He exhaled.

"Kade isn't our biggest threat," Theo said grimly. "There's someone else."

Evelyn's breath hitched.

Theo turned to her, eyes dark.

"And we're about to find out who."

---

End of Chapter 38