The next day, Lukas didn't tell me where we were going again. I followed him anyway, trusting him more than I probably should. My sweater stayed pulled a little tighter over my stomach — flat, hidden — because no one knew yet, and I still hadn't called Evelyn.
We passed through the older part of Berlin, cobblestone streets lined with buildings that had seen decades of history. Lukas moved confidently, but I started noticing things I hadn't before — the way some doors were locked with extra bolts, the cameras tucked in corners, the people who watched him a little too closely before looking away.
"Do you… know everyone here?" I asked cautiously.
He gave a small, almost amused smile. "Not everyone. But I know the ones I need to."
I frowned. "The ones you need to…?"
He didn't answer. He just glanced at me, eyes sharp, like he was testing whether I could handle the answer. I didn't.
We stopped in front of a tall building that looked normal enough, but the moment Lukas pressed a code into a keypad, the heavy door swung open silently. Inside was a quiet, dimly lit lobby. He glanced back at me.
"Stay close," he said simply.
The elevator ride was silent. The lights flickered just once, and I felt my stomach twist. Not because of the baby — it was still early — but because I had a growing sense that Lukas's world wasn't just calm apartments and quiet streets.
When we stepped out, I realized we weren't in a normal office. The hallways were lined with surveillance screens, maps, and folders with people's faces and locations. My stomach dropped.
"This is…?" I started.
"Work," Lukas said shortly. He didn't elaborate, and I didn't press. I wasn't sure I wanted to know more.
I kept my eyes forward, but every instinct screamed that Lukas's life had layers I wasn't ready for. And somehow, being here made me feel both safer and more exposed at the same time.
Back on the streets, the city seemed brighter, more ordinary. But I couldn't shake the thought of those folders, those screens, and what secrets Lukas carried — secrets he wasn't ready to share.
And somewhere deep down, I knew that whatever I was getting into, it wasn't just about me anymore.