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We pulled up to my apartment. I got in and tried to settle for a moment, but I barely had time to breathe before I heard the sound of a car pulling up out front.
I looked through the window.
Josh.
His car was parked in my front yard. My heart sank.
*I didn't need his company. Not now. Not like this.*
"Mum, can you distract him a bit?" I asked, trying to think of a plan.
"I need time to process everything."
She nodded, understanding in her eyes.
"I'll take care of it. You go inside and rest. We'll talk later."
"Thanks," I whispered, grateful but exhausted.
I headed upstairs, took a deep breath, and braced myself.
I had so many questions, and I needed answers.
No matter what it took, I would uncover the truth—even if it shattered everything I thought I knew.
I collapsed onto the couch, exhaling slowly.
But I couldn't relax.
Josh's face flashed in my mind. The blood. The video. The killings.
*Who is he really?*
Blank holes.
Question marks.
Everything felt like a riddle I was too tired to solve.
Then—
A knock at the door.
I froze.
My mother was supposed to keep him out.
Why was he here already?
I opened the door slowly.
Josh stood there, concerned.
My mother behind him, giving me a helpless shrug—*I tried.*
"Hey," he said gently. "How are you feeling?"
Normally, I would've melted at the sound of his voice.
But not today.
Not after watching him kill a man with his bare hands.
Not after seeing the video of him taking down two men like it was nothing.
Not when everything around me was falling apart and he was the center of it.
"Can I come in?" he asked after I didn't respond.
I stood at the doorway, unmoving.
"I'm tired," I said quietly, trying to dismiss him.
"Please," he said, voice more urgent now.
"We need to talk. About us. About everything."
I sighed.
Stepped aside.
"Mom, I'd like a moment with Josh," I said.
She nodded again and walked away. I shut the door behind her.
Then I turned, hands akimbo, staring directly at Josh.
"So," I said, my voice steady, "I think this is the part where you start explaining everything."
Josh nodded.
"I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"Sorry?" I blinked. "That's not enough. I need the truth. Who are you really? What's going on? And why the hell am I leverage?"
Josh's face grew serious. He looked me dead in the eye.
"I'll tell you everything," he said slowly. "But you have to promise me one thing first."
I raised a brow. "What?"
"You have to promise me you'll stay safe," he said.
"There are people who want to hurt you. And I need to know you'll protect yourself."
A chill ran down my spine.
I folded my arms, heart pounding harder now.
"Who are these people, Josh?" I whispered.
"And why do they want to hurt me?"