Page 6 of When 're Silent

Demi looked at Finn and smiled,kindness in her eyes.

“But then I’d be turning you intosomeone else,” she said. “Seeing you and Amelia chase down Max Vilne, I don’tthink I can be part of that world. I don’t want to wait up each night wonderingif I’m going to get a call that you’ve been hurt or worse.”

She squeezed Finn’s hand. “I thinkI’m ready to go home and find out what’s next for me.”

Finn raised Demi’s hand and kissedit. “I hope you find happiness, Demi. You deserve it. And if you’re ever introuble...”

“I know you’ll come running,” shesaid, letting go. “Goodbye, Finn Wright.”

Finn watched as the ambulance crewattended to Demi, but she seemed to be okay without any visible injuries otherthan the cut on her arm. The doors closed and Finn felt a mix of relief andpain in his chest, but before he could think through his feelings, he turnedand saw a second ambulance; a mirror image of the one that was taking Demiaway. All but for the occupant.

He watched, a silent sentinel, asAmelia was lifted into the back of it. She had risked everything to save Demi,her bravery a beacon in the consuming darkness. Even now, as she lay on thestretcher, her determination was palpable—a force not easily extinguished.

“Amelia!” Finn called out, taking astep towards the ambulance as the doors swung open. She turned her headslightly, her eyes locking with his for a charged moment.

“Are you okay?” he asked, runningover to her side.

“I’m fine, Finn,” she said. Shepointed to the two paramedics attending to her. “I just like watching men fussover me.”

“That’s why I don’t do it,” Finnsmiled. “But then, that’s probably why my love life is the way it is.”

Amelia locked eyes with him for amoment. It was as if she were about to say something, to address the closenessthat had grown between them, but then her expression changed as though she feltthe very talk of it would ruin them.

“No sign of Vilne?” Amelia asked.

“No,” said Finn. “Not yet.”

“We were so close,” Amelia saidwith a clenched fist, padding her knee. “Can I get up now?” she asked one ofthe paramedics.

“It looks like you hurt your headand...”

“I’m fine,” she said, wincing andstepping off the gurney. “Thank you.”

“You should rest,” Finn added.

“Every inch of those tunnels willbe scoured for Max Vilne,” she said, her voice steady despite the fatigue thatetched lines into her face. “We’ll flush him out.”

Finn shook his head, knowing alltoo well the mind they were up against. “Vilne’s not some rat in a sewer,” hereplied, his gaze fixed on the entrance to the underground station nearby.“He’ll have planned this out meticulously. There will be an escape route wehaven’t found, hidden exits scattered like breadcrumbs only he can see. Londonhas so many abandoned tunnels, if knows of them, he’ll use them.”

Amelia’s eyes held a spark ofdefiance, but Finn saw the concern there too. “But what he didn’t plan was youand me,” she countered, her tone softer now.

Finn felt the tightness in hischest ease slightly at her words. “Amelia, your bravery today...” He trailedoff, unable to fully articulate his gratitude, the enormity of her actions. “Iowe you more than I can ever repay.”

The moment hung between them,charged with the unspoken bond of two people who had faced death together andcome out the other side. But it was a fleeting connection, soon overshadowed bythe gravity of their situation.

“What now?” Amelia asked, breakingthe silence as she wrapped her arms around herself, warding off the chill ofthe winter night.

Finn glanced over at Demi, whostood a few paces away, her face ghostly pale in the half-light. “Demi needs togo home,” he said softly. “Away from all this madness, back to safety. I’llspeak with my contacts at the Bureau and see if I can get her protected untilwe catch Vilne.”

“And you?” Amelia’s question wastentative, probing the wound that was Finn’s past.

He let out a long breath, hisshoulders tensing. “No, our paths diverged a long time ago.” His voice wasflat, carrying the weight of a failed relationship, the loss of what could havebeen. “That chapter has closed”

Turning back to Amelia, Finn mether gaze squarely. "But you... Vilne will see you as the one who took hisprize now. He already had you as a possible target because you're close to me.It's possible you're going to be his number one target now. He wants to tortureme."

The air seemed to grow colder withhis words, the threat against Amelia tangible and immediate. Finn’s resolvehardened; he would not let Vilne’s vendetta claim anyone else, especially notsomeone who had shown such courage.

“You need to stay vigilant, Amelia,please,” he warned, the urgency clear in his tone. “Max Vilne will want revengefor what you did today.”

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