Page 61 of Veil of Secrets

The word lands with weight. Not like possession.

Like declaration.

My mouth parts slightly.

I could laugh.

But I don’t.

Instead, I echo it.

“Ours.”

He reaches up. Brushes his thumb under my chin. It’s not sweet. It’s not careful. It’s just present.

“You don’t have to prove anything to me,” he says.

“I’m not trying to.”

“Good.”

We stand there, blood pooling at our feet, the city pushing on behind us.

And for once, I’m not scanning for exits.

For once, I don’t feel like prey.

His hand finds mine again.

No pressure.

Just presence.

We stay like that.

Long enough for the moment to shift.

For the breath to steady.

For the trap Vince set to dissolve between us like sugar in dark water.

Whatever he tried to twist, it didn’t take.

Not tonight.

That’s a start.

Chapter 10 – Nico

The warehouse creaks like it remembers better days.

Salt clings to every bolt and corner. It sticks to my tongue, seeps into my jacket. The metal stinks—old oil, blood dried months ago, rust from crates we should’ve burned.

I stand over the steel table, both hands flat on either side of a pile of paper that should’ve been ash.

Forged records.

Time stamps. Call logs. Photos.

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