ADANNA P.O.V (point of view)
"Together… always."
Darian squeezed my hand, and we stepped out of the alleyway. The wind brushed past us like a quiet warning, carrying a coldness that didn't belong to early morning. The street ahead looked empty… too empty. Buildings stood tall and silent, windows dark, not even a stray car rolling by.
Something felt off.....Darian slowed his steps, his hand tightening around mine. "Stay close," he murmured.
I could hear something shift in him.....his breathing changed… his posture too. His body went still like he was listening to something far away.
My heart dropped. "Darian… what is it?"
He didn't answer, not at first.
His eyes moved across the rooftops, the street, the shadows between buildings. Every direction.... every inch.
Then he whispered, voice sharp but low.
"They're here."
I froze....and before I could speak, before I could even react, Darian's arm went around my waist and he pulled me sharply behind a parked truck.
"Stay down," he whispered.
A split second later.....
CRACK!
The sound echoed through the quiet street and a sharp, violent crack that made the air tremble. Something hit the metal of the truck with a loud pang… another… another…
My breath hitched.
"Darian...!"
"It's a sniper," he said, his voice calm but the kind of calm that comes from years of danger. "They followed us."
My whole body shook, but I pressed closer to him, feeling his heartbeat slam against my cheek. His arm remained tight around me, shielding me with everything he had.
"Why now?" I whispered. "How did they know....?"
"They've been watching since last night," he replied. "They must have been waiting for us to step into the open."
I felt him shift… calculating. His hand brushed my cheek, soft, but the tension in him was sharp as a blade.
"We need to move."
"But how? They're shooting....."
"Adanna."
His voice dropped deep, serious.
"You trust me, right?"
My throat tightened.
"With everything," I whispered.
His eyes softened for a split second, just one heartbeat of warmth..... before a shadow crossed his face again.
"On my count."
He gently pushed my head down, shielding me with his entire body. I could feel every breath he took, every muscle flexing as he prepared to move.
"One…"
I closed my eyes.
"Two…"
His hand slid to mine and locked tightly.
"Three!"
He pulled me up.....running.
The air screamed as another bullet tore past.
We ran into a narrow side street, Darian keeping me half beside him, his arm never left my waist. Every time my steps faltered, he held me tighter, guiding me.
When we reached another shadowed corner, he pressed me against the wall, not roughly, but urgently.... his hand pressed over my mouth before I could speak.
"Shh."
Footsteps echoed behind us.
My heartbeat pounded so loud I thought they'd hear it.
Darian leaned in, his forehead almost touching mine, his breath warm against my cheek.
He whispered, barely audible.
"They're close. Don't move."
I nodded slowly, trying to breathe quietly.
His face hovered right in front of mine, intense and protective. In that darkness, danger surrounding us, the closeness made my stomach twist.....fear, but also something deeper… something warm.
I could feel his heartbeat, beating fast but steady.
Even hunted… he was a shield.
Suddenly.....a male cold voice said,
"Target is with him. They moved east."
And my chest tightened.
Darian's grip on me pulsed. "They have three units," he whispered. "They're sweeping the area."
"Three?" I whispered. "Darian, how do we get out?"
His fingers brushed my cheek lightly, almost like he needed to feel I was still there.
"There's only one way," he whispered. "We split them up. Make them chase the wrong things."
I shook my head violently. "No... No, you're not leaving me."
His jaw clenched. "I'm not. I'm giving us a chance."
"I said no," I whispered fiercely, grabbing his shirt. "We're together."
His chest rose slowly… painfully… like those words hurt him more than the bullets.
"Adanna…" he breathed.
His hand cupped my face gently, thumb brushing my cheekbone.
"I won't leave you, but you have to trust me when I say this, if they corner us… they'll kill you first."
Those words stabbed through me.
Tears burned behind my eyes, but I shook my head, refusing to pull away from him. "I'm not afraid."
His expression softened, something breaking in his eyes. His forehead lowered to mine again, and I felt his breath tremble against my lips.
"I am," he whispered.
The words hit me harder than the gunshots.
He was afraid… for me.
Not himself....but for me.
His hand slid behind my neck, pulling me closer as if I might disappear.
"Listen," he murmured, voice barely a breath, "I can fight, I can run, I can hide for years… but if something happens to you, Adanna...."
His voice cracked."I won't survive it."
My chest tightened painfully.
"Darian…" I whispered and before I could say more, he kissed me.
It wasn't soft this time. It wasn't slow. It was desperate, hot, full of fear and longing and everything he'd been holding back for months.
I clung to him, fingers tangling in his shirt, pulling him closer. His hands slid to my waist, gripping me like he needed me alive to breathe.
When he finally pulled away, he kept his forehead pressed to mine, breathing hard.
"We're getting out of this," he whispered. "I swear."
I nodded, my lips brushing his. "Tell me what to do."
His eyes flashed with something fierce.
"Run with me."
He took my hand again grip strong and unshakable and pulled me deeper into the abandoned street, but as we turned the corner....
Three silhouettes stepped out with black clothes, full mask and guns rising.
A cold wave shot through me as Darian pushed me behind him instantly.
"Stay behind me," he said, voice low and dangerous. The men didn't speak.
They didn't warn, they simply lifted their weapons.
Darian's hand tightened around mine, then....
BOOM!
An explosion hit somewhere behind us, the shockwave shaking the ground. The men staggered, turning and more voices shouted from another street. A crash sounded, tires screeched.
More Syndicate units... They weren't here to threaten, they were here to take us alive or dead.
Darian grabbed my face, kissed my forehead quickly. "When I say run....run."
Before I could answer.....
Bullets ripped through the air again.
He pulled me behind a damaged taxi, dropping down with me, shielding me with his back.
"Darian!" I screamed.
"I'm okay... stay down!" His voice vibrated through me.
More shots.... Shouting and the world spun in chaos.
He turned to me, breath fast but eyes steady. "Listen to me, I need you to trust me now more than ever."
"I trust you," I whispered, voice shaking.
He grabbed my chin gently. "Look at me." I did.
"Whatever happens," he whispered, "I'll find you."
My heart squeezed painfully. "Darian....."
"Run!" He pushed me, not away... but toward a narrow crack between two buildings.
I turned back immediately.
"Yes, run.... but I'm running with you." His eyes widened for a second, then he smiled....small, pained, but real.
"Good girl."
He grabbed my hand again as we shot into the alley, bullets slicing the walls behind us.
My lungs burned, but I didn't let go and He didn't either.
We burst out behind an old warehouse, both panting hard. Darian didn't stop, he dragged me to a rusted door and shoved it open.
Inside was dark and empty. He slammed it shut behind us and locked it.
It was silence.... Darkness with only our breathing.
He leaned against the door, chest heaving, eyes on me like he needed to make sure I was still alive.
"Adanna… are you okay?"
I nodded, stepping toward him. "Are you?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he grabbed my waist suddenly and pulled me into him, burying his face in my neck. His arms wrapped around me tightly, too tightly as if he was afraid I'd vanish.
I melted into him, my hands sliding up his back, feeling the tension shaking through him.
"We're not safe yet," he whispered into my skin. "But we have a little time."
His lips brushed my neck. Slow, warm and shiver ran down my spine.
I pulled back just enough to see his face. The dim light touched his features, sharp jaw, intense eyes, a mix of fear and desire lingering in them.
The air between us crackled. "I thought I lost you out there," he said quietly.
"You didn't," I whispered, stepping closer. "I'm right here."
His breath hitched as his hands slid up my sides, gentle but desperate.
"Adanna…"
I touched his chest, feeling his heartbeat race under my palm.
"We're going to survive this," I said softly. "Together."
He leaned in, brushing his lips against mine, barely touching. "Stay with me."
"I'm not leaving."
We kissed again, slow at first, then deeper, the kind of kiss that made everything else disappear. His hand tangled in my hair, pulling me closer. My fingers gripped his shirt, feeling the heat of his body press against mine.
Fear, relief, love... all mixing.
When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathless.
He rested his forehead against mine. "We need to move soon because they won't stop."
I nodded. "Where do we go?"
He hesitated, then his voice dropped.
"There's something I haven't told you."
My heart paused. "What is it?"
His eyes darkened, not with fear, but with something heavier.
"They don't just want you because of your father's company."
I swallowed. "Then why?"
His jaw tightened.
"You're the key to something bigger… something they've been planning for years."
And my blood ran cold.
"What do you mean?"
He opened his mouth to answer.....
BAM!
The warehouse door shook violently.
My breath caught.... and Darian grabbed me instantly, pulling me behind a stack of crates.
His voice was barely a whisper against my ear. "They found us."
My heart slammed against my ribs and his final whisper sent a chill straight through me.....
"Adanna… whatever happens next, be ready."
ADANNA P.O.V (point of view)
The second Darian whispered those words, my whole body went still. The warehouse door shook again, louder this time with metal groaning under force.
They're here and i tightened my grip on his arm. My breath felt trapped in my chest.
"Darian…" I whispered shakily.
He put a finger to his lips, eyes sharp. "Don't panic, tgey won't break through instantly. We have a little time."
A loud thud slammed into the door again.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
My heart jumped with every hit.
"We need to move," he whispered urgently, pulling me deeper into the warehouse. His hand stayed firmly on my waist, guiding me, steadying me.
But the warehouse was almost empty, just crates, broken shelves, and shadows thick enough to hide danger.
"Is there another exit?" I breathed, trying not to let my voice shake.
"There should be," he said, scanning the walls. "This building used to be a storage depot. There's always a back way."
Another hit came and the whole door bent inward.
A scream rose in my throat, but Darian cupped my face instantly.
"Look at me."
I did, even in the darkness, his eyes held me steady.
"I'm here, You're not alone..... breathe with me."
I inhaled slowly, matching his breath. It helped, just a little but my hands still shook.
He pressed his forehead to mine, whispering, "Good girl… stay with me."
Another violent bang snapped us back.
Darian grabbed my hand, pulling me behind a set of tall crates. We crouched low, hidden in the shadows.
"Listen," he whispered, hands gently framing my face again. "If they break in, I'll distract them. You run toward the back wall. There's a maintenance ladder there. Climb it and get out."
"No." I shook my head immediately. "I'm not leaving you."
"You have to...."
"I said no."
He stared at me, something intense flickering in his eyes. "Adanna... this is life or death."
"I know," I whispered. "That's why I'm not running without you."
His jaw clenched… then softened.
He leaned in, lips brushing mine softly, just once, like a promise. A quick, trembling kiss filled with fear and fire.
"Okay," he whispered. "We run together."
Before we could move.....
CRASH!
The door burst off its frame and footsteps stormed inside..... Heavy..... Fast and Organized.
Darian pulled me closer into the darkness, his arm wrapped tight around my waist. I felt his heart pounding, felt his breath against my ear.
"Stay low," he whispered, his lips brushing my skin. Voices echoed through the warehouse....
"Search every corner."
"She's here."
"Take him out first."
My blood went cold and Darian's grip on me tightened painfully.
"They're not here to capture us," he whispered quietly. "They want to end this."
Fear stabbed me in the chest as he turned my face toward him again. Even in the danger, he softened as he looked at me. His thumb brushed my cheek.
"I won't let them touch you," he whispered. "I'd die first."
My eyes filled. "Don't say that."
The sound of boots got closer... too close.
He leaned in, his lips barely touching mine as he whispered.....
"Quiet."
We stayed hidden, breathing slow, listening to footsteps spread across the warehouse. Every sound felt like a ticking bomb. Every second stretched, tense and suffocating.
Two men moved past our hiding spot and my heart hammered.
Darian lifted his hand slightly, silently telling me not to move, not even breathe.
Their flashlights swept across the crates, one beam came dangerously close to us and my fingers dug into Darian's shirt.
He slid one hand gently down my side, calming me, grounding me. His body shielded me completely.
The beam passed and the footsteps moved away and i exhaled shakily.
He leaned in and whispered, lips brushing my ear, "We move on my signal."
He waited...just a second, Listening.
Then.... another set of footsteps echoed near the back door.
Darian's eyes sharpened.
"That's our way out," he whispered. "Come on."
He grabbed my hand and we started moving slowly between crates. Every movement felt loud. My heartbeat sounded like thunder.
We almost reached the back wall when.....
A voice called out.
"There!"
A flashlight hit us.
Darian yanked me behind a crate just as bullets screamed through the air.
I stumbled but he caught me, pressing me against the wall with his body as bullets tore into wood inches from us.
"Darian!" I gasped.
"I've got you," he said, voice hard, protective.
He grabbed my face and kissed me again, quick, intense....like it was the only thing keeping him sane.
"We run, Now!"
We sprinted as shots exploded behind us.
Darian dragged me toward the maintenance ladder near the wall.
But when we got there, the ladder was half broken… hanging.
My heart dropped. "It's damaged!"
Darian's eyes darted around. His jaw clenched.
"I'll lift you up," he said. "You climb first. I'll follow."
"But...."
"No arguments."
He bent slightly and gripped my waist. Bullets hit the wall nearby.
I flinched.
"Adanna," he snapped softly. "Look at me." And i did.
His voice softened instantly. "Trust me."
I nodded.
He lifted me easily. I grabbed the metal frame, pulling myself up. The ladder shook under my weight, but it held.
Darian started to climb after me....
Bang!
A bullet grazed the metal near his hand.
"Darian!" I screamed.
"I'm fine.....keep climbing!" he yelled.
More footsteps..... More voices.
"They're at the back!"
"Cut them off!"
I climbed faster, heart racing. Darian was right below me, climbing hard.
We reached the top edge. I pulled myself over the ledge.
I crawled forward and turned....
Darian was almost up.
Almost...
Then....
A hand grabbed his ankle from below.
"NO!" I screamed.
Darian kicked back violently, hitting the attacker in the face. He pulled himself up the last few inches and reached the ledge.
He grabbed my hand, tight....hauling himself onto the rooftop.
We collapsed together, breathing hard.
For a moment, the world was silent except our shaking breaths.
He rolled onto his back, chest heaving. I turned to him and grabbed his shirt.
"Are you okay?" I panted.
He nodded weakly. "You?"
"I'm fine."
He let out a shaky exhale and pulled me into his chest, holding me tightly. I buried my face in his neck, feeling his heartbeat crashing into mine.
"We're not safe yet," he whispered, kissing my hair. "But we have distance."
I lifted my head slightly.
"Darian… earlier, inside… you said there was something I didn't know. Something bigger."
His eyes darkened again… that same heavy look.
He brushed a finger down my cheek.
"Yes," he whispered. "And you need to hear it."
My chest tightened.
"What is it?"
He leaned closer, his lips near my ear but before he spoke.... a low beep echoed from somewhere on the rooftop.
Darian froze. His whole body tensed.
My stomach dropped. "What… what is that?"
He lifted his head slowly, eyes scanning the roof.
Then he whispered....
"That's a tracker." And my heart stopped.
"They already know we're up here."