Page 180 of Exposé

A misstep.

A shadow in the wrong place, and we'd be gone.

They had eyes everywhere, and walking into town was like stepping into an open grave.

We have no choice.

We're running out of time.

The words hovered on my lips, a confession that could change everything or mean nothing at all.

If I die tomorrow, will I regret not telling him?

If he dies...

My lungs squeezed tight, the answer wrapping around them like a suffocating burial shroud.

"Wow." Nate glanced up, our eyes locking. "This is perfect. You managed to shame them and expose them in one move." He gave an approving head nod. "Very impressive."

Heat crawled up my neck, an involuntary smile betraying me. "Am I missing anything?"

He put the laptop on the desk. The faintest scent of his cologne—something that fit him too well, wafted between us as his smirk deepened—his eyes flicking over my face. "You know I don’t mind being the unsung hero. But if you insist on making it official, I’d settle for a footnote. Something subtle." He waved his hands in the air like smoothing out a banner. "Special thanks to Nate Barlowe, the man who saved my ass."

I let out a low, sarcastic laugh, crossing my arms with a lopsided smile. "Oh, so now you're looking for recognition? What happened tothriving under pressure?"

He tapped his fingers against the desk. "Thriving, surviving—" he shrugged, "same thing, right? Besides, I figure if I keep you alive long enough to publish this, I deserve at least a free drink out of the deal."

"Hmm. A drinkandcredit in the article? That’s pushing it."

"Tough negotiator." Nate let out a mock sigh, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. Just the drink. But I’m choosing the place."

I arched a brow. "So you’re assuming I’m saying yes?"

"Nope." He stood with a grin. "I know a sure thing when I see one."

Damn him.

He winked, and the heat in my cheeks grew into a fiery blaze. "I'll give you credit if you getusout of here alive."

The air around me thickened, pressing in like invisible hands squeezing my throat. My pulse slammed against my ribs, breathstuttering as my mind spiraled, each thought darker than the last.

Tomorrow, everything will unravel.

Tomorrow, we either escape or die.

My stomach clenched, nausea curling in the pit of my gut, my playful smirk crumbling into something fragile and raw. The edges of my vision blurred, my lungs pulling in sharp, useless gasps as the room seemed to close in.

Too tight.

Too loud.

Too much.

"Hey, hey, hey." Nate’s voice cut through the chaos, tethering me to reality. He stepped toward me, his brow furrowing. "What just happened?"

"I... We're going to—"

"You're thinking too much, Ava."

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