Elora_Elysia

Lillian "Lily" Everett has spent years searching for answers about her family's past, desperate to understand the secrets that shattered her life. But when her investigation leads her to a hidden truth—one that was meant to stay buried—she becomes the target of dangerous forces determined to silence her. Forced to flee, she finds an unlikely ally in Noah Carter, a former mercenary with a dark past and a reputation for never getting involved. Reluctantly, they strike a fragile alliance, but as their journey unfolds, so does an undeniable tension neither of them can ignore.

The deeper Lily digs, the more horrifying the truth becomes. Her brother, Elias Everett—the one she thought was dead—has been alive all along, hidden in the shadows, entangled in a dangerous rebellion against the monarchy. But Elias is no longer the same boy she once adored. He is a man hardened by betrayal, secrets, and choices he refuses to explain. Torn between love and anger, Lily struggles to bridge the growing chasm between them, but time is running out.

As enemies close in and the web of deception tightens, Lily and Noah must navigate a world where loyalty is fleeting, betrayal is inevitable, and love is the most dangerous game of all. In a battle for justice, truth, and survival, Lily is faced with the ultimate choice: Expose the truth and risk losing her brother forever, or sacrifice everything to save the only family she has left.

But in a world built on lies, even the purest love may not be enough to survive.

The Letters He Never Sent

Lily's pulse pounded in her ears as she locked eyes with the man from the bar. His presence alone was enough to confirm her worst fear—this was never meant to be a simple meeting.

Noah shifted beside her, his stance tense. "Where's Langley?" His voice was sharp, demanding.

The man smirked. "That's what you're worried about?" He took a slow step forward, his leather shoes clicking against the wooden planks of the pier. "You should be asking a different question."

Lily swallowed hard. "And what question is that?"

The man tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his cold gaze. "How fast can you run?"

A split second later, he reached for the gun at his waist.

Noah reacted first. He grabbed Lily's arm and yanked her backward just as the man pulled the weapon free. A gunshot shattered the silence of the docks.

Lily's breath caught as Noah dragged her behind a stack of crates, pressing her low against the damp wooden floor. Another shot rang out, splintering the wood inches from where she had been standing.

She gasped, heart racing. "He's trying to kill us!"

Noah's jaw was clenched. "Yeah, I noticed!"

More footsteps. The man wasn't alone. Lily peeked around the crates and spotted two more figures moving through the shadows, their weapons drawn.

This wasn't just an ambush. This was a kill order.

Noah's grip tightened on her wrist. "We need to move."

Lily nodded, forcing herself to focus. She scanned the dock, searching for an escape route. The water was too far down, and the open pier left them exposed. Their only option was to move through the maze of shipping containers.

They moved quickly, darting between the crates as gunfire echoed behind them. Lily's breath came in sharp, uneven bursts. The scent of salt and metal filled her lungs, and every fiber of her being screamed at her to run faster.

Noah pulled her around a corner, pressing his back against a cold steel container. He was breathing hard, his fists clenched. "We can't outrun them like this."

Lily's mind raced. If they couldn't escape, they had to hide—or fight.

A forklift, parked near the edge of the dock. The keys were still in the ignition.

Lily's heart pounded. "Noah." She pointed toward it. "We can use that."

Noah followed her gaze and let out a breath. "You really think you can drive that thing?"

Lily set her jaw. "Guess we're about to find out."

Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the forklift. Another shot rang out, striking a metal beam nearby. Noah cursed but followed her, covering her as best as he could.

Lily reached the driver's seat, climbed in, and turned the key. The engine roared to life.

One of the gunmen rounded the corner just as Lily slammed her foot onto the gas. The forklift lurched forward, metal screeching against concrete. The man barely had time to react before Lily swung the machine's heavy forks toward him, forcing him to dive out of the way.

Noah used the distraction to grab a discarded metal rod from the ground. As another attacker rushed forward, Noah swung hard, knocking the gun from his hand and sending him stumbling back.

Lily didn't give them time to regroup. She twisted the forklift sharply, blocking their path. "Noah, now!"

Noah didn't hesitate. He grabbed Lily's arm, pulling her off the forklift. Together, they sprinted toward the dock's exit, their pursuers momentarily stunned.

They didn't stop running until they reached the edge of the city.

Only then did Lily finally allow herself to breathe.

Noah turned to her, eyes dark with concern. "They weren't just trying to scare us, Lily. They wanted us dead."

She nodded, her hands still shaking. "Which means we're closer to the truth than we thought."

But if Langley had set them up… where was he now?

Chapter 17