Leo shook his head. "No signs, no sign of a break-in, nothing. But someone's got eyes on you. I can't figure out where Lunel is, or if he's even still alive., I don't know"
Zayden just said, "Hmm. Keep me in the loop."
As Leo started packing up his stuff, ready to bounce, Zayden stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
"I need a name. Look into her for me," he said low. "Zeyne…"
But saying that name felt heavy, like the truth was trying to hide.
Before either of them could say anything more, a sudden gunshot shattered the silence, quick and shocking.
In that moment, in the middle of the forest, Zeynep glanced at the guy who'd been tailing her. His face was mostly hidden by a frayed scarf, and his eyes looked crazed. He aimed the gun at her, his hands shaking.
Instead of freezing, she reacted fast.
When he pulled the trigger, she quickly ducked out of the way. The bullet shot up into the sky as she grabbed his wrist, pushing the gun away from her. The smell of gunpowder hit her hard. Anger and fear filled her as she wrestled for control of the gun.
It slipped right out of his fingers.
Stumbling back, she caught it and raised it, ready to pull the trigger.
Click.
Nothing. Just one bullet left.
He came charging at her, but she didn't think twice. She swung the gun hard against his temple.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
He went down, groaning, and then stayed still.
Out of breath, she stood over him, her arms shaking from the fight and all the adrenaline pumping through her.
That's when she heard them coming up behind her.
Heavy footsteps.
The sound of twigs and leaves moving.
Back in the woods, Zayden moved before he even thought about it. He sprinted forward, his rifle thumping against his back. Leo kept up with him, moving quietly and steadily thanks to years of practice, though there was a tension in his body that wasn't there before.
They weaved through the trees, dodging low branches and scanning for any hint of movement. The silence after the shooting was way worse; it felt too quiet, too calm, like the whole forest had stopped breathing.
Zayden's mind raced along with his feet. Just one bullet. Who fired it? Who was the target?
He didn't let himself think of her yet, not in his head.
"She was walking alone," he said.
"You let her walk out alone," Leo muttered behind him.
Zayden didn't respond or snap back because Leo was right.
Every part of him burned with the thought of Zeynep out there. Alone. Vulnerable. Maybe scared.
And if someone had followed her… If they'd come for her to get to him…
His jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.
They crested a low ridge, ducked beneath a fallen log, and Zayden finally raised a hand to signal Leo to slow down. They were close now; he could feel it. The air felt different, thicker with adrenaline.
Then he heard it, a scuffle. Some rustling. A gasp.
Zayden waved his hand again, this time more urgently, and they sprinted the last few feet to the clearing.
What they saw made him stop cold.
Zeynep was sprawled on the ground, her pajamas all muddy and her hair a total mess around her face. She was gripping a gun, but it was shaking in her hands, it was definitely his. Smoke was still curling from the barrel, but the weapon felt useless now.
In front of her was a man, rough-looking and wild-eyed. He stumbled back, blood running down his head where she'd hit him, looking dazed and confused. His hunting rifle was a few feet away, either tossed aside or knocked out of his hands during the fight.
Zeynep's hands shook, and she was breathing heavily. Her lips were split between fear and anger, but the fire in her eyes was undeniable. She was cornered, defiant, and unbroken.
Zayden didn't wait. He sprang into action.
He reached her in seconds, gently taking the gun from her grip and checking her for injuries before turning to face the guy who had attacked her. Leo was already on him, pinning the man down with a twist of his arm and a knee pressed into his back.
The man groaned, cursing in a language Zayden hadn't heard in years, and honestly, he didn't want to hear it now.
"Who sent you?" Leo demanded.
But Zayden was focused on Zeynep.
"You good?" he asked, his voice low but urgent.
Her eyes were darting all over, the panic clear in them, then they landed on the gun in his hand. She nodded, but it was shaky and didn't inspire much confidence.
He touched her arm gently. "Zeynep. Talk to me."
"I… I didn't mean to shoot," she whispered. "I just wanted to scare him. I thought he was going to—"
"You did the right thing," Zayden replied firmly. "You're safe now."
Still, he wasn't entirely convinced.
Because whoever that guy was, he didn't just show up by chance.
And Zeynep Koral's secrets weren't just hers anymore.
Hidden Base – Hours Later
The guy let out another groan, blood still dripping from the side of his head as Zayden pulled him into the thick bushes, moving quickly and quietly. Leo stayed close behind, rifle hanging over his shoulder, scanning around for any signs of trouble. There was no way they were heading back to the front of the cabin. He had already sent Zeynep to the front. So she won't see this. No way that was happening.
Zayden made his way to the back, where a crooked pine tree was leaning against the wall, its branches all twisted and odd. He reached under one of the thicker branches and tugged on it.
There was a click.
The wooden wall behind the tree shifted, revealing a narrow passage dug into the ground, lined with stone and iron. A steep staircase led down into the darkness, quiet as could be.
The guy whimpered as Zayden pushed him forward down the stairs.
At the bottom of the tunnel, a heavy steel door looked like it was locked up tight. A small scanner blinked on the side, just waiting.
Zayden leaned in.
Scan complete. Match: Cypher V. Access granted.
The locks clicked open with a hiss, and the door slid wide.