Page 58 of Veil of Secrets

Hands up.

Not touching.

Just… open.

“I don’t care what’s on that paper,” he says. “I care that you didn’t flinch when a gun came in the room. I care that you stayed when you had every reason to run.” He breathes out. “I care that I wanted to finish what we started—and I still do.”

That last line hits low.

Below skin.

Below scar.

Below whatever I built to stay safe.

I stare at him.

Then lean against the rail again, looking out.

“Vince is poison,” I say. “He doesn’t kill with knives. He waits for you to turn them on yourself.”

Nico doesn’t respond.

Just comes up beside me.

We stand there.

Shoulders touching.

His hand finds mine.

No pressure.

Just presence.

The city below doesn’t stop moving.

But for the first time tonight—I do.

Then the stairwell door bangs open again.

Fast this time.

No pretense. No slow entrance.

Just impact.

A guy I don’t recognize stumbles forward—big frame, short, buzzed hair, busted lip. Shirt untucked, gun already in his hand. His chest is heaving like he sprinted up every floor to get here.

He’s not subtle.

But his voice cuts clear.

“You lying bitch!” The gun lifts. “You think you’re one of them?”

My body moves before my mind does.

I drop into a crouch. My left foot kicks out, knocks his stance wide. I slide under the barrel as it swings down. His trigger finger doesn’t have time to tighten before I come up inside his guard.

---