CHAPTER 56

Vera’s POV

The moment the guard left, the room went quiet again.

Aaron leaned back slightly, watching her.

Vera tilted her head just a little.

That same look passed between them again.

Lina saw it and immediately shook her head. “No.”

Neither of them answered.

“…No,” she repeated, stepping back like distance alone would save her. “I don’t like that silence. That silence means something stupid is about to happen.”

Aaron exhaled slowly, dragging a hand over his jaw. “You say ‘stupid’ like it’s not relative.”

“It’s not relative,” Lina shot back. “With you two, it’s always stupid.”

Vera pushed off the chair, stretching slightly like she was just getting comfortable instead of planning something illegal under house arrest. “Relax.”

“I don’t trust that word when it comes from you,” Lina replied immediately.

“That sounds personal.”

“It is personal,” Lina said flatly. “I just got my life back. I’m trying to keep it.”

Aaron huffed out a quiet laugh, then glanced at Vera. “We can’t stay here.”

“No,” Vera agreed. “We can’t.”

Lina blinked between them. “…You’re serious.”

“Very,” Aaron said.

“There are guards everywhere.”

“I noticed.”

“They were literally ordered not to let us leave.”

“Also noticed.”

“And you’re still talking like this is possible?” Lina asked.

Aaron tilted his head slightly, looking at her like she just said something mildly disappointing. “You’re new here, so I’ll let that slide.”

Lina frowned. “Let what slide?”

“The part where you forgot I also make the rules angel ” he said calmly.

She stared at him.

Then slowly looked at Vera. “Is he always like this?”

Vera shrugged. “No he is just pissed at a particular person”

“you ve got to be kidding me,” Lina corrected.

“Am Not,” Aaron added at the same time.

Lina pressed her lips together. “You’re both insane.”

Silence stretched for a second.

Then Aaron shifted forward slightly. “We need somewhere safe.”

“Obviously,” Vera replied.

Lina looked between them. “…Do you two hear yourselves? This sounds like the beginning of a bad idea.”

Aaron ignored her. “Anywhere public is risky.”

“Anywhere empty is worse,” Vera said.

“Exactly."

Then Aaron’s expression shifted just a little.

Then—“Kael’s club.”

Vera didn’t even hesitate. “That works.”

Lina blinked. “…I’m sorry, what?”

Aaron leaned back again like he just solved a basic problem. “It’s the safest place we can go.”

“It’s a club,” Lina said.

“Yes.”

“wait...hold on Kael Owns a club? ” she added.

“Yes.”

“The same Kael who locked us inside the house.”

Aaron gave her a look. “And the same Kael whose entire staff knows not to question me.”

That shut her up for half a second.

“…That’s actually worse,” she said finally.

Vera smirked faintly. “No, it’s convenient.”

“It’s stupid,” Lina corrected.

“You’re using big words to justify bad decisions.”

“Welcome to survival,” he replied.

She exhaled sharply, pacing once like she was trying to physically walk away from the idea. “Okay, let me understand this. You want to sneak out of a heavily guarded house… to go to a club… owned by the same person who locked you in… because you think that’s safer?”

“Yes,” Vera and Aaron said at the same time.

Lina stared at them.

“…I hate both of you.”

“Noted,” Vera said.

Aaron stood up fully now, rolling his shoulders once like he was already done arguing. “Get ready.”

“I’m not going,” Lina said immediately.

He didn’t even look at her. “You are.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No—”

“You’re safer with us than alone here if anything goes wrong,” he cut in, voice calm but final.

That stopped her.

Because she knew he was right.

And she hated that.

Vera pushed off the wall, already moving toward the door. “We don’t have time to overthink this.”

“You didn’t even think about it in the first place,” Lina muttered.

“That’s the point.”

Aaron smirked faintly. “Now you’re catching on.”

---

Getting out wasn’t hard.

It should’ve been.

It wasn’t.

The guards at the main exit straightened the moment they saw Aaron approach.

“Sir.”

He didn’t slow down. “Open it.”

There was a pause.

Tense.

Then—“Sir, we were given strict instructions—”

“I gave you a new one,” Aaron said, stopping just close enough to make it clear he wasn’t repeating himself.

Silence.

The guard hesitated.

Looked at the others.

Then back at Aaron.

Vera crossed her arms, watching like she already knew how this would end.

Lina held her breath.

Aaron didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t raise his voice.

After a second—

The gate opened.

Just like that.

Lina let out a quiet breath. “…I hate how easy that was.”

“Authority,” Aaron said simply.

“Abuse of authority,” she corrected.

“Same thing,” Vera added.

---

The drive was quiet at first.

Then Lina spoke. “…If we die, I’m blaming both of you.”

“You’ll be alive to complain,” Aaron replied.

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

She turned to Vera. “Why are you so calm?”

“I’m not calm,” Vera said. “I’m just committed.”

“That’s worse.”

Aaron snorted softly.

---

The club was already alive when they arrived.

Lights.

Music.

The kind of place where no one asked questions if you walked in like you belonged.

Which they did.

The guards at the entrance stepped aside immediately when they saw Aaron.

No hesitation.

No calls made.

No warnings sent.

Just respect.

Lina noticed. “…That’s terrifying.”

“It’s useful,” Aaron corrected.

They stepped inside.

The music hit first

Loud.

Vera exhaled slowly, shoulders relaxing just a fraction. “Better than being locked in a room.”

“Low standard,” Lina muttered.

“Still better.”

Aaron glanced around, scanning automatically. “We stay where I can see both of you.”

Lina rolled her eyes. “I’m not a child.”

“Then don’t act like one.”

She opened her mouth—

Closed it.

Then looked away.

Vera smirked faintly.

“…You enjoy this too much,” Lina muttered.

“A little,” Vera admitted.

They moved deeper into the club.

People parted without realizing why.

Some recognized Aaron.

Most didn’t.

Didn’t matter.

They took a table.

Drinks came without being ordered.

Lina stared at the glass in front of her. “…I didn’t ask for this.”

“You don’t have to,” Aaron said.

Vera picked hers up, taking a small sip. “Relax.”

“You keep saying that,” Lina replied. “It’s not working.”

Aaron leaned back, watching the room. “Nothing here moves without us knowing.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel safe?”

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t.”

“Give it time.”

Lina shook her head, muttering something under her breath.

Then glanced at Vera.

“…So we’re just pretending everything is normal now?”

Vera held her gaze for a second.

Then shrugged slightly. “No.”

“Then what are we doing?”

“Waiting.”

“For what?”

Her eyes flicked toward Aaron briefly.

Then back.

“For things to make sense.”

Lina exhaled slowly. “That’s not reassuring.”

Aaron glanced at them. “That’s the best you’re getting.”

---

Hours later—

The house was quiet.

Kael stepped inside first.

Lucian right behind him.

Both already reading the difference.

Kael’s gaze shifted immediately.

“Where are they.”

Lucian didn’t answer.

He didn’t need to.

A guard stepped forward. “Sir—”

“Don’t,” Kael cut in, voice low.

The guard froze.

Lucian’s jaw tightened slightly as he looked around the empty space. “…They’re not here.”

“No,” Kael said.

The guard swallowed. “They were—”

“Don’t tell me where they were,” Kael said quietly. “Tell me where they are.”

No one had that answer.

Lucian let out a slow breath, dragging a hand over his face. “…Aaron.”

Kael’s expression darkened just enough.

“Of course.”

Because it meant they already knew exactly what kind of problem they were dealing with.

Kael turned slightly. “Get the cars ready.”

Lucian’s mouth curved faintly, but there was no humor in it. “You think they stayed in one place?”

“No,” Kael said. “But I know where they would go.”

Lucian glanced at him. “Your club.”

Kael didn’t answer,

And just like that,

It was about to rain hell.