He knew i found it

"Kael," she hissed, panic rising in her voice. "He knows. He knows you saw the gun."

I swallowed hard. My throat was dry. "I didn't mean to— I just… I was going to return it."

She looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "Return it?! What are you even saying?! You don't 'return' a gun to someone like Leo. You run. You tell someone. You burn the jacket and change your name!"

I wanted to laugh. But I couldn't.

Because every part of me was suddenly burning with two truths:

1. Leo had a gun.

2. Leo had saved me.

Nova's voice dropped lower, more serious than ever. "Kael… what if Leo didn't just happen to save you that night? What if he was involved in whatever the hell happened in that alley?"

My stomach twisted.

The thought had crossed my mind, sure. What if he was chasing someone? What if he fired the shot I heard? What if the only reason I'm still breathing… is because I saw something I wasn't supposed to?

But there was one more possibility—one I hadn't dared speak aloud.

"What if he's not trying to hurt me?" I whispered.

Nova stared. "What?"

"What if… he's protecting me?"

Her face crumpled into disbelief. "Kael, no. You can't be serious."

I didn't respond.

Because deep down… I was serious. I had felt safe in his arms that night. That wasn't my imagination. That wasn't fear-induced delusion.

Before Nova could argue more, another message pinged.

Same number.

> "Meet me behind the gym. Five minutes. Or I come find you."

I felt all the air leave my lungs.

Nova read it over my shoulder. "You're not going. Kael, absolutely not."

But I was already backing toward the door.

"I just want answers," I said quietly.

"Answers can wait. Safety can't," Nova snapped.

"I need to know, Nova. What he's hiding. What he wants from me."

She grabbed my arm. "Then I'm coming with you."

"No," I said, gently pulling free. "If it goes bad, I need you to tell the others."

I didn't wait for her to argue again. I walked out of that classroom with shaky legs and a heart that wasn't sure if it wanted the truth...

…or just another lie that felt like safety.

Nova exhaled sharply. "I'll be outside. But Kael… don't be stupid. Watch your back."

I gave a small nod, and she walked off, throwing one last worried glance over her shoulder.

The moment she was out of sight, I slipped around the gym building, my pulse loud in my ears.

Leo was already there—leaning casually against the brick wall like this was his kingdom and I'd just wandered into it uninvited. Shirtless, again. And completely unbothered, of course.

"Nice of you to show up," he said, not looking at me. "Thought you might play dumb."

I crossed my arms. "You forgot your jacket."

He raised an eyebrow, finally meeting my eyes. "Did I?"

My lips pressed together. "I didn't take anything."

He stepped forward slowly, the smirk never leaving his face. "But you looked, didn't you?"

I didn't answer.

He took another step, eyes scanning me like he already knew the truth. "Where is it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, voice firmer than I expected. "Whatever it is, maybe don't leave dangerous stuff lying around like a psycho."

Leo's smile sharpened. "You mean the gun?"

I flinched. Just slightly—but he caught it.

"That thing doesn't belong in school," I snapped, trying to keep my voice level. "What are you even doing with it?"

"That's not your business," he replied coolly. "But now that you've stuck your nose in it… you've made it your problem."

My breath caught.

"I didn't tell anyone," I muttered.

"Yet," he said, taking one last step forward. "But I can see it on your face—you're debating it."

I forced myself not to back away. "You think I won't? I should."

"Maybe," Leo said, voice dropping lower. "But you didn't. Why not, Kael?"

His tone wasn't mocking this time. Just… curious. Dark and quiet like a secret.

I hated that I didn't have a good answer.

"You saved me," I said finally. "In the alley. I saw the tattoo. That was you."

Silence.

Then he looked away, jaw clenched, something unreadable in his eyes.

"I didn't do it for you," he said quietly.

"Yeah?" I said, stepping up to him now, my voice rising. "Then why the hell did you do it, Leo? Why were you even there?"

He didn't answer.

And I hated that too.

"You walk around like you don't care about anything," I continued, bitter heat rising in my chest. "So what the hell are you hiding?"

Leo looked back at me—something sharp flickering behind his eyes—and for a second, I thought he might actually say something real.

But instead, he leaned in, so close I could feel his breath on my skin.

"You should stay out of this," he said, voice barely a whisper now. "Because the next time you find something you're not supposed to… I won't be so gentle."

And just like that, he turned and walked off again—leaving me behind with a spinning head, a pounding heart, and a gun hidden in my bedroom closet.

I found Nova pacing near the edge of the school field, arms crossed so tightly it looked like she was holding herself together.

She turned the second she saw me, eyes narrowing. "Well?"

I swallowed, still feeling the heat of Leo's breath on my skin like he'd left a bruise there.

"He wants his jacket back," I said flatly. "With the gun."

Nova blinked. "What?"

"He told me to bring it to a bar tonight. Some sketchy place off Fifth Street."

Nova's face drained of color. "He what?"

I nodded, voice low. "At 10 PM. Alone."

She stared at me like I'd gone insane. "Are you seriously thinking about going?"

I hesitated.

And that was all the answer she needed.

"Kael!" she hissed. "You can't. That's insane. What if it's a trap? What if he's involved in something dangerous—worse than we thought?"

"I know," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "But Nova… I need answers. I need to know why he had that gun. Why he was there that night. Why he—"

"Why he saved you?" she said, voice sharper than I expected.

I didn't respond.

She sighed and stepped closer. "Kael… you don't owe him anything. Especially not your trust. That guy—he's dangerous. Whatever this is, you're not ready for it."

"I'm not trusting him," I said. "I just… I have to know. It's like—there's a string tied between that alley and Leo and me and I can't breathe until I figure out what the hell it is."

Nova looked at me for a long moment, then dropped her eyes.

"You're going no matter what I say, aren't you?"

I nodded slowly.

"Fine," she muttered. "But I'm coming with you."

"No—he said alone."

"I don't give a damn," she snapped. "I'll sit outside. I'll watch from a block away if I have to. But I'm not letting you walk into this alone."

My chest warmed a little. I didn't say thank you, but she knew.

We both knew.

And as we stood there under the setting sun, I realized something terrifying:

I was more afraid of what I might feel when I saw Leo again…

than I was of the gun still hidden in my closet.

Nova stared at me, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "So? What did he say?"

I sighed, pressing my palm to my forehead. "He wants me to meet him. Tonight. At the bar near the bridge. To give the jacket back."

Nova's jaw clenched. "And the gun?"

"I'm not giving it to him," I whispered. "I hid it. It's still in my room."

She nodded, but worry clouded her eyes. "Just… be careful, Kael. This isn't some schoolyard drama anymore. He left a gun in your house."

Before I could reply,

Jace.

Followed by Aven and Zim.

They looked between us suspiciously—Nova's crossed arms, my tense shoulders.

"Since when do you two ditch us for secret chats?" Jace asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Yeah," Aven added, "what's going on?"

Zim tilted her head. "Kael, you're acting weird."

Nova instantly stepped between me and them, flashing her best fake smile. "Nothing dramatic. We were just discussing exam notes. Kael's got the memory of a goldfish."

I forced a laugh. "What can I say? I panic under pressure."

Jace didn't look convinced. "You sure that's all? You looked pale earlier."

"Just tired," I muttered, grabbing my bag. "Can we just go?"

Zim kept staring at me, but nodded. "Fine. But if you're hiding something, Kael, we'll find out."

Nova grabbed my wrist , squeezing it gently. I met her eyes for just a second—and that said everything.

We weren't saying a word.

Not yet.

Not until we figured out who exactly Leo was…

and why he had a damn gun in the first place.

As we stepped out the school gates, Aven casually threw over his shoulder,

"By the way, I'm bringing my fiancée to the bar tonight."

Every head turned.

Even Jace, who usually didn't blink unless something was on fire, froze.

Zim narrowed her eyes. "Wait, the fiancée? As in, the one from the contract engagement?"

Aven nodded, grinning like he'd just tossed a grenade into our peaceful afternoon.

Nova raised a brow. "I thought that was all just a contract and ur not serious."

"Nope," he said, popping the p. "It's real. Paper signed, deal sealed. The wedding will happen… someday. Maybe. But she came came her after so many years . So tonight, you'll finally meet her."

Jace scoffed. "You've been dodging this reveal for months, Aven. We didn't even know if she actually existed."

"I like my privacy," Aven said with a smirk. "Besides, mystery builds character."

l stayed quiet, his head still spinning from the Leo situation. But even i was a little curious. Who was this girl that had Aven—Aven—tied down in a contract?

"Can we at least get a name?" Nova asked.

Aven just winked. "Nope. See you at 9. Wear something bar-worthy. You too, Kael—I know you live in oversized hoodies."

And with that, he was gone, leaving a trail of chaos and curiosity behind him.

I stared look ahead, but his thoughts were already drifting somewhere else.

To the gun still hidden in his closet.

To the bar where he was supposed to meet Leo tonight.

To the way Nova had looked at him when she said she didn't trust Leo.

And now... throw in Aven's secret fiancée?

Tonight was going to be a storm.