Page 30 of Veil of Shadows

“I don’t know, but it’s not safe here. I need you to trust me.”

She hesitates, her brow furrowed in thought. “Trust you? After everything? You think I can just—”

“Now is not the time to argue,” I cut in, urgency coating my words. “I’ll explain everything when we’re safe. For now, just let me protect you.”

Alyssa’s lips press together, and for a moment, I see the gears turning in her mind. Finally, she exhales sharply, leaning back in her seat. “Fine. Where are we going?”

“Somewhere safe,” I reply, starting the engine and pulling away from the chaos of the lab.

As I drive, I can feel the weight of her scrutiny, the questions hovering in the air. I know she wants answers, and Iwant to give them to her, but first, we need to create distance between us and whatever danger lurks in the shadows.

The city blurs by, the streetlights casting fleeting shadows against the car’s interior. I glance at her, and despite the tension, there’s something deeper in her gaze—a mixture of fear and a fierce determination I can’t ignore.

“You’re not telling me everything,” she says quietly, breaking the silence.

“No, I’m not,” I admit. “Because I don’t have all the answers yet.”

Alyssa’s fingers grip the edge of her seat, and I can see her mind racing, processing everything. “You have to understand, Viktor. I’m not just going to sit back and let you take control. This is my life too.”

“I get that,” I say, my voice steady, “but right now, your safety is my priority. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

As we drive deeper into the city, I can sense her resolve, but I also feel her frustration. She wants to fight back, to take control, but this isn’t just about us anymore—it’s about survival.

When I finally find a secluded spot to pull over, I park and turn to face her fully. “We need to discuss our next steps. If someone is after you, we need to prepare.”

“Prepare?” she echoes, disbelief lacing her tone. “How do we prepare for something we don’t even understand?”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “We gather information. We find out who’s targeting you and why. And we do it together.”

Alyssa’s expression softens slightly, but I can still see the shadows of doubt lingering. “Together, huh? You’re saying that like you think I can just trust you blindly.”

“I’m asking you to trust me,” I say, my tone sincere. “We have a common goal, and that’s to keep you safe.”

The silence stretches between us, thick with tension. I can see her weighing her options, and for the first time, I allow myself to hope that maybe she can see past the chaos.

“Okay,” she finally says, her voice steady. “I’ll trust you—for now. But if this is just another one of your schemes to manipulate me—”

“It’s not,” I interrupt, my voice firm. “You have to know that.”

As she leans back, crossing her arms, I can feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. Protecting her is no longer just a choice; it’s a necessity, and I can’t let anything stand in the way of that.

Suddenly, a noise outside breaks through the tension, the sound of tires screeching. My instincts kick in as I turn to look out the window, heart racing.

“Get down!” I shout, and before I can process the danger, a vehicle speeds past us, a figure leaning out with a gun raised.

Bullets rain against the side of the car, shattering the window beside Alyssa.

“Viktor!” she screams, and instinct takes over as I shift into drive, slamming the gas pedal to the floor.

The car lurches forward, and I feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I weave through the streets, dodging traffic and searching for an escape.

“Hang on!” I shout, my focus narrowed to the road ahead. I can’t afford to lose her, not now.

The gunfire continues, the sound of bullets ricocheting off the metal frame of the car sending a jolt of fear through me. I glance in the rearview mirror and see the car pursuing us, a black sedan, and the man leaning out the window, his aim steady.

“Viktor, they’re right behind us!” Alyssa cries, panic rising in her voice.

“I know!” I reply, gritting my teeth. “We need to get to a safe location. Just stay low!”

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