Elias's Penthouse
Theo's footsteps were heavy.
Each one sounded like a gunshot in Evelyn's head.
He was leaving.
He wasn't just walking out of this penthouse. He was walking out of her life.
Her heart lurched.
No. No, this wasn't how this was supposed to go.
Her body moved before she could think.
One step. Then another.
"Theo—"
But before she could reach him—
Arms wrapped around her waist.
Firm. Unyielding. Stopping her.
Her breath caught.
Elias's voice was smooth against her ear. "Now, now, princess. You don't want to do that."
Theo froze.
His back was to her, but she saw it—the way his shoulders went rigid. The way his hands curled into fists.
Kade took a slow, uneasy step forward. "Elias, I wouldn't—"
Elias smirked. "Wouldn't what? Hold onto something that's mine?"
Theo turned.
Slowly.
Deadly.
His eyes were pure fire.
Evelyn felt the shift in the room. The air became suffocating.
Elias had just crossed the only line he shouldn't have.
Theo's voice was low, lethal. "Let. Her. Go."
Elias only tightened his grip. "She hasn't exactly asked me to."
Evelyn stiffened. "Elias—"
"Shhh." His breath ghosted against her skin. "You chose this, remember?"
Her stomach twisted. No. This wasn't the plan.
Theo's jaw locked. His hands twitched—itching to grab his gun.
Kade looked between them, then exhaled sharply. "Alright. Let's not get stupid here—"
Theo didn't hear him.
His entire focus was on Evelyn.
Her. In his enemy's arms.
His voice came out like a storm. "Evelyn. Move."
Her breath hitched.
This wasn't what she wanted. This wasn't—
Elias's grip tightened.
And suddenly, it wasn't just about stopping her.
It was a warning
A silent message: Stay where you are. Or suffer the consequences.
Evelyn's heart pounded.
Theo saw it.
Saw the hesitation in her eyes. The war raging inside her.
And something inside him—broke.
He took a step closer. "You don't belong there."
Elias chuckled. "I beg to differ."
Theo's fury darkened. "Let. Her. Go."
Elias's grip loosened—but just enough for his fingers to ghost down her arm. A taunt.
Evelyn jerked away.
Theo moved.
The gun was in his hand before anyone could stop him.
Aimed.
Point-blank.
Right at Elias's skull.
Elias barely flinched. "Now, now, Kingsley." He smiled. "Would you really shoot in front of her?"
Theo's finger pressed against the trigger.
And for a terrifying second—
Evelyn thought he would.
Kade moved first.
"Damn it, Theo!" He shoved between them, blocking the gun. "Not here. Not like this."
Theo's chest was heaving. His hands shook. His control was slipping.
Evelyn swallowed hard. "Theo."
His gaze snapped to hers.
And that was when she saw it.
The betrayal. The heartbreak. The complete and utter devastation
Elias chuckled behind her. "Ah, young love. So fragile."
Theo's gun shifted.
Elias didn't flinch.
Kade shoved harder. "Enough!"
Silence crushed the room.
Then—
Theo did the last thing Evelyn expected.
He lowered the gun.
His jaw clenched. His breaths were ragged.
Then, without a word, he turned.
And he left.
This time—
For good.
---
The Warehouse
Kade slammed his fist onto the metal table. "That was insane!"
Theo didn't respond.
He sat in the dark, his fingers curled into his palm, his jaw locked so tight it hurt.
Kade ran a hand through his hair. "Talk to me, man."
Theo's voice was a whisper. "She reached for me."
Kade froze.
Theo exhaled, barely holding himself together. "She reached for me." His head tilted back, hitting the chair. "And that bastard stopped her."
Kade hesitated. "Yeah. But she still reached."
Theo's fingers twitched.
Kade sat beside him. "She's not gone, Theo."
Theo exhaled sharply. "She shook his hand."
Silence.
Then, softer—
"She shook his hand."
Kade didn't know what to say.
Because there was no fixing this.
Not yet.
Not like this.
---
Elias's Penthouse
Evelyn stared out the window.
The city was waking up, but all she felt was numb.
Elias poured himself another drink. "He nearly shot me."
Evelyn didn't answer.
He took a slow sip. "You're thinking about him."
Still, she said nothing.
Elias smirked. "He won't come back, you know."
Her grip tightened on the windowsill.
He stepped behind her. "You made your choice."
Evelyn inhaled sharply. "Did I?"
Elias's smirk deepened. "Didn't you?"
She didn't answer.
Because she honestly didn't know anymore.
---
End of Chapter 51