Page 104 of Veil of Secrets

My gaze rises slowly to Nico’s face, studying every sharp angle, every scar, every hard line etched by years of fighting the same war I've fought. His eyes hold mine steadily, silent understanding passing between us. His presence is more than comfort—it's certainty. It anchors me in this moment, free from the ghosts of men who thought they owned me.

“We didn’t just end him,” I say softly. “We proved something.”

“What’s that?” Nico asks, his voice a gentle invitation.

“That we can trust each other. Completely.”

He breathes out slowly, the corners of his lips lifting faintly. “Yes.”

I nod slowly, letting that single word settle deep inside me. Trust. It's been so long since I've genuinely felt it, so long since I let anyone close enough to hurt me. But Nico is different. He’s earned it, proven himself time and again.

Finally, after a long silence, he tilts his head toward the heavy steel door. “Let’s get out of here. We’ve spent enough time around death tonight.”

I agree silently.

We’re not survivors anymore.

We’re conquerors.

We’re together.

We’re free.

Chapter 20 – Nico

The vault beneath Marco’s casino feels like a lifetime ago, though it’s only been hours. We tore through their world—Vince’s lies, Marco’s plans, their men bleeding out on cold steel floors.

We grabbed what mattered—ledgers, cash, proof—and moved through the city’s wet streets, rain washing the fight from our skin but not our minds. Luca’s back at the hideout now, sorting the take, planning next steps. I don’t care about the details. Not yet.

I sit on a boardwalk bench, wood worn smooth by years of salt and time, Elara beside me. The ocean stretches out, dark and endless, waves rolling in steady, like they’re trying to pull the night’s weight away. My arm brushes hers, not planned, just natural. Her chain catches the dawn’s first light, glinting against her jacket.

Blood’s still on her knuckles, dried into cracks, same as mine. We haven’t bothered cleaning up. The fight’s done, but its edge lingers, sharp and familiar.

I look at her, her eyes fixed on the water, face calm but not soft. “Stay,” I say, voice low, not demanding, just honest.

She tilts her head, meeting my gaze, lips curving slightly. “Maybe.”

I lean back, hands resting on the bench. “You could run. I’d get it.”

Her eyes narrow, not cold, just searching. “But you think I won’t?”

I hold her look, unflinching. “I think you don’t want to anymore.”

She laughs, a quick breath, almost sharp. “You’re getting ahead of yourself.”

I grin, feeling the truth in her words, in her being here. “You’re still here.”

She never belonged to anyone. That hasn’t changed. But maybe she belongs here. With me. That’s enough.

Her fingers tap the bench, close to mine, chain shifting against her chest. I reach out, brushing the metal links, not grabbing, just touching something that’s hers, warmed by her. She doesn’t move away. That’s enough to make my chest feel tight, not weak, just real. The night’s been brutal—blades, lies, bodies—but sitting here, with her, feels like something we fought for.

“You still don’t think about stopping?” she asks, voice even, eyes back on the waves.

I shift, facing her fully. “Stopping what? All this?” I nod toward the city behind us, the blood on our hands, the life we’ve built.

“Yeah.” She turns to me, her gaze steady. “The fights. The running. Always looking over our shoulders.”

I rub my knuckles, feeling the dried blood flake off. “This is who I am.”

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