The rain had stopped, but the city still felt wet—like it was holding its breath.
Dominic sat on the edge of his apartment bed, staring at his injured left leg. The bandage was clean, professionally wrapped. Virginia had done it without asking questions, her hands steady, her face calm, almost loving.
Almost.
Pain throbbed beneath the fabric, syncing with the slow ticking of the wall clock. Every tick felt like a lie counting down.
"You sure you don't need a doctor?" Virginia asked from the doorway.
Dominic looked up. She was wearing casual clothes now—oversized shirt, shorts, hair tied loosely—but his instincts screamed danger the same way they did on missions.
"I'm fine," he said. "Just a stupid accident."
Virginia crossed her arms. Her eyes dropped to the wound again.
"Funny," she said lightly. "That's exactly where I shot someone last week."
Dominic's heart skipped.
He forced a laugh. "You and your dark jokes."
She smiled.
It didn't reach her eyes.
VITO GENOVESE'S MANSION — SAME NIGHT
Vito Genovese stood in front of a massive digital wall, sipping wine as lines of data scrolled endlessly. Surveillance feeds. Bank movements. AI simulations.
Two figures appeared on opposite sides of the screen.
Dominic.Virginia.
Vito chuckled softly.
"They're getting closer," he said to no one.
Behind him, a nervous assistant shifted. "Boss… is it wise to let them—"
Vito raised one finger.
Silence.
"They are perfect," Vito continued calmly. "A blade and a shield. Emotion and logic. Husband and wife."
The assistant swallowed. "They don't know about each other?"
Vito smiled.
"That's the beauty."
He waved his hand, and the screen shifted to a glowing black object rotating slowly.
The AI Card.
"When the time comes," Vito said, eyes gleaming, "only one of them will walk away."
NEXT MORNING
Dominic moved through Hong Kong like a ghost.
Crutches would raise suspicion, so he endured the pain, limping just enough to look injured, not hunted. His undercover phone vibrated constantly—police updates, coded mafia messages, warnings layered with lies.
Then one message stood out.
VITO:Come to the mansion. Alone.
Dominic exhaled slowly.
This was bad.
MEANWHILE — VIRGINIA
Virginia sat at a café across the street from the mansion, sunglasses hiding sharp, focused eyes. Steam rose from untouched coffee.
She had lied.
She didn't need a day off.
She needed answers.
Her boss never gave time off unless something was wrong—or something was planned.
She watched Dominic arrive.
Her breath caught.
Him.
The limp. The posture. The timing.
Her fingers tightened around the cup.
"So it really is you," she murmured.
Virginia paid and slipped into the crowd, moving with the city, never obvious, always present. She followed Dominic through hidden routes, security gaps, blind spots.
She smiled.
Still predictable.
INSIDE THE MANSION
Dominic entered Vito's office.
The boss sat in the same ridiculous chair, calm as a god.
"You look injured," Vito observed.
Dominic shrugged. "Occupational hazard."
Vito leaned forward. "You failed to retrieve the AI card."
Dominic stiffened. "There were complications. Another operative—"
"Yes," Vito interrupted. "I know."
Dominic frowned. "You knew?"
Vito smiled. "I know everything."
A long silence followed.
"Tell me," Vito continued, swirling his wine, "would you kill another operative if I ordered it?"
Dominic hesitated.
"Yes," he lied.
Vito's smile sharpened.
"Good."
OUTSIDE — VIRGINIA
Virginia crouched near the outer wall, tapping into the mansion's security feed with a wrist device. Screens flickered to life.
She saw Dominic standing before Vito.
Her jaw tightened.
Why is he here alone?
Then she heard it.
Vito's voice, clear through the hacked audio.
"Soon," Vito said, "you'll be sent to eliminate a threat."
Virginia's eyes narrowed.
On her screen, a profile began loading.
A silhouette.
Height. Weight. Movement pattern.
Her breath froze.
It matched Dominic.
"No…" she whispered.
THE TRAP IS SET
Vito dismissed Dominic with a casual wave.
"Rest," he said. "Your next mission will be personal."
Dominic bowed slightly and turned to leave.
As he stepped into the hallway, a chill ran down his spine.
I'm being watched.
Virginia melted into the shadows as he passed, close enough to smell gun oil and rain.
She could have touched him.
She didn't.
Her heart pounded violently.
If Vito wants him dead… why?
And worse—
Why does he feel so familiar?
THAT NIGHT — THE APARTMENT
Virginia arrived home before Dominic.
She searched.
Carefully. Quietly.
Inside a hidden compartment beneath the bed, she found it.
A badge.
Police.
Her world tilted.
When Dominic entered, she was waiting.
"Long day?" she asked sweetly.
He nodded. "You?"
"Relaxing."
She handed him the badge.
Dominic froze.
The silence was deafening.
"Explain," Virginia said softly.
Dominic exhaled, shoulders slumping.
"I was going to tell you."
"When?" she snapped.
"Before one of us died."
Virginia laughed—a sharp, broken sound.
"Oh," she said. "That's funny."
She stepped closer.
"I was ordered to kill you."
Dominic's eyes widened.
He reached for her—
She slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me."
They stood inches apart, years of lies burning between them.
Outside, thunder rolled again.
ELSEWHERE
Vito Genovese watched live feeds from hidden cameras inside their apartment.
He raised his glass.
"To love," he said softly.
The screen split into two flashing alerts.
MISSION ASSIGNMENT SENT.
TARGET CONFIRMED.
The war had officially begun.
And neither Dominic nor Virginia realized yet—
They were never meant to survive together.