CHAPTER 42

Vera didn’t move for a long time after Kael left. The silence in the room felt heavy,

Her eyes stayed fixed on the door like he might walk back in at any second, like everything that just happened would repeat itself. But he didn’t, and that somehow made it worse.

She dragged in a slow breath, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. Run. That was her first instinct. It had always been her first instinct. Run, Hide,

Her feet even shifted slightly on the floor, like her body was ready to obey that urge without waiting for permission.

But then she stopped.

Her jaw tightened.

If she ran again, Kael wouldn’t hesitate. He had said it so casually, so coldly. He would kill everyone in this building. And Vera knew him. He wasn’t bluffing.

A bitter scoff escaped her lips. Not like she cared about those people, they were Strangers, their Lives had nothing to do with her.

But…......her expression slowly darkened. She didn’t want anyone dying because of her again.

Lina.

The name hit her like a sharp blade to the chest. Her chest tightened, her breath catching painfully. Lina died because of this mess, Because of that damn organization, Because of lies, Because of manipulation, Because they were all nothing but pawns in a game they never even agreed to play.

Her fingers curled into fists.

She should hate Kael. She should hate him for pulling the trigger, For taking Lina’s life, For being the one who ended it. But the truth? The ugly, painful truth?

She couldn’t.

Because deep down, she knew. He didn’t have a choice.

That realization disgusted her. Made her feel weak. Made her feel like she was betraying Lina just by understanding him.

Vera let out a shaky breath and ran a hand through her damp hair. “No running…” she murmured to herself. Not this time.

This time, she would face it. Face him. Face everything. And if she was going to do that, she needed answers. About the organization, About what they did to them, why???? why none of them were allowed to live normal lives.

Her gaze hardened.

Lina’s death wouldn’t be for nothing.

She wouldn’t let it be.

Decision made, Vera turned and walked into the bathroom. A long, cold shower later, her body finally relaxed—but her mind didn’t, but exhaustion eventually won, and sometime during the night, she fell asleep.

The next morning, Vera was already awake. The faint light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. She stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body, water still dripping from her hair—and then she froze.

There was a shadow by the window.

Her heart slammed violently against her ribs. Before her brain could even process it fully, her hand moved on instinct. She grabbed the bedside lamp and hurled it straight at the figure.

The person caught it effortlessly.

That was when her vision cleared.

“…Kael?”

He stood there like he owned the place, Unbothered...

“What the hell—how the fuck did you get in here?!” she snapped, her voice sharp, still laced with adrenaline.

Kael didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he lifted his hand slightly, a master key card dangling between his fingers. A slow smirk curved his lips. “Good morning, princess.”

Vera blinked at him.

Once,

Twice,

Then irritation flooded her expression. “Are you insane?! Get out! I need to change!”

Kael tilted his head slightly, studying her. Then—without a single ounce of shame—he started walking toward her.

Vera’s eyes widened. “Kael—what are you—”

He didn’t stop. Instead, he reached the bathroom door behind her, locked it, and then casually walked past her like none of this was strange. Like he hadn’t just cornered a half-dressed woman.

He dropped onto the bed, stretched out comfortably, one leg crossing over the other, watching her… smiling.

Vera stared at him like she was about to lose her mind. “…Get. Out.”

“No.”

Her jaw clenched. “Kael—”

“You can change right in front of me" He said it so casually it almost felt insulting.

Vera’s face flushed instantly. “Are you mad?!”

He chuckled softly, resting his head against his hand. “We used to change in front of each other all the time.”

Her expression snapped. “That was different!”

His eyebrow lifted slightly. “How?”

“We were kids and it wasn't a choice she snapped, her voice rising. “Now get the hell out!”

Kael’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. Then slowly, he stood. And this time, when he walked toward her, the energy shifted.

Vera’s breath hitched. Her heart started racing again, but this time—not from fear.

He stopped right in front of her, Way too close. Her back instinctively pressed against the door behind her.

Kael’s eyes dropped briefly to the strands of wet hair clinging to her neck, then back to her face. Without warning, his hand moved, grabbing her waist and pulling her closer.

Vera’s breath caught sharply, Her hands instinctively pressed against his chest, but she didn’t push him away.

Her heart was beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

Kael reached up slowly, took a strand of her wet hair, and tucked it behind her ear. His fingers brushed lightly against her skin.

Then he leaned in.

Close enough for his breath to ghost over her neck.

And inhaled.

Vera shivered, Actually shivered. Her eyes fluttered slightly, her grip tightening on his shirt.

Kael smiled. A low, satisfied smile. “Hmmm… You smell nice.”

Vera’s brain stopped working. Completely.

“Ten minutes,” he added softly, stepping back like nothing just happened. “Mi amore… don’t keep me waiting.”

And just like that, he walked out.

Leaving her there, Speechless.

Again.

For the second time in less than forty-eight hours, Vera had absolutely nothing to say.

Two hours later, Vera stepped back into her room. Her expression was neutral—too neutral. The car ride with Kael had been unbearable. Not because he did anything, but because he didn’t.

He drove like nothing happened. Like he didn’t just pin her against a door and breathe her in like she was something he wanted to consume. Like he didn’t completely mess with her head.

Vera exhaled sharply. “Idiot…” she muttered under her breath. She wasn’t even sure if she meant him… or herself.

Kael pushed open the doors to his office, and for once, he looked… happy, Dangerously Suspicious

Aaron was the first to notice. “Oh hell no.”

Kael didn’t even look at him as he walked further in. “What?”

Aaron leaned forward, squinting at him like he was inspecting a crime scene. “That look on your face? I don’t like it.”

Lucian, standing by the window, glanced over his shoulder, a slow smile tugging at his lips. “Well… this is new.”

Kael smirked slightly, loosening his cuffs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah?” Aaron shot back. “Because you look like a man who just came back from doing something very illegal or very… enjoyable.”

Kael finally glanced at him. “Maybe both.”

Aaron groaned. “I knew it.”

Lucian chuckled softly, then his expression shifted slightly—more serious now. “So… what now?”

Kael’s smirk faded just a little. “Vera is no longer a threat.”

Lucian nodded. “She never really was.”

“She was,” Kael replied simply. “Just not by choice.”

Silence settled briefly between them. The unspoken truth hanging in the air.

Lucian’s gaze sharpened slightly. “So what’s the plan?”

Kael walked past them, settling behind his desk. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, “We find them.”

His voice was calm, “The organization.”

Aaron’s expression darkened instantly. “And when we do?”

Kael leaned back slightly, his eyes glinting with something dangerous. “We burn it to the ground.”

A beat.

Then his lips curved again, that same smirk from earlier. “But until then…”

He glanced at Lucian.

And Lucian already knew.

A slow, knowing smile spread across his face.

“We live,” Kael finished, “normally.”

Lucian nodded once. “I like that plan.”

Aaron looked between both of them. Confused, Concerned.

“…Why do I feel like ‘normal’ for you two is going to cause problems for the rest of us?”

Neither of them answered.

They just smiled.

And that?

That was worse.