Dark Secrets

Love

For a second, Theo forgot about the danger. Forgot about the people hunting him.

All he could focus on was Callum, standing too close, a knife in his hand, and an expression that was far too complicated for Theo to understand.

Then, before he could overthink it—

Pain.

Sharp, quick, just above his ribs. Theo gasped, his body jolting.

Callum caught him before he could stumble, steadying him. “Breathe,” he murmured.

Theo clenched his jaw, exhaling slowly through his nose. The pain burned, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Blood seeped through his shirt.

Callum eased him down to the pavement, lowering him carefully so he looked like he’d collapsed.

“Now stay down,” Callum said, voice quieter now.

Theo let his body go limp, focusing on his breathing. Callum took a step back, wiping the blade clean. Then he nodded to Elliot.

“Go.”

Elliot hesitated, then ran off into the night.

Theo closed his eyes, heart pounding.

Somewhere in the city, someone was about to hear that Theo Sinclair was dead.

And when they did, the real game would begin.

Got it! Here’s the next part of The Heart of the City:

Theo lay motionless on the cold pavement, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, mixing with the distant hum of the city. He could hear Callum moving around, the sound of his boots scuffing against the concrete, but he didn’t dare open his eyes.

Not yet.

He had to sell this.

Footsteps echoed down the alley. Slow. Cautious. Someone approaching.

Theo forced himself to stay still, to breathe shallowly.

A new voice, rough and uncertain: “Is this him?”

Callum’s tone was sharp, businesslike. “Yeah. Theo Sinclair. He was asking too many questions.”

Theo’s pulse quickened.

Callum sounded so convincing. If Theo hadn’t felt the shallow cut, he might have believed he’d actually been left for dead.

Another voice, lower and steady: “The boss will want confirmation.”

Theo could hear them getting closer. He fought the instinct to move.

Then—

Fingers pressed against his neck, right over his pulse.

Theo had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from reacting. His body screamed at him to run, but he couldn’t. Not yet.

A tense silence.

Then, the man let out a satisfied grunt. “He’s gone.”

Theo almost exhaled in relief.

The first man sighed. “Damn shame. Kid should’ve minded his own business.”

Callum’s voice was unreadable. “Some people don’t know when to stop.”

Theo heard the shuffle of movement. The two men walked away, their voices fading into the distance.

He stayed down. He didn’t dare move until Callum crouched beside him, his breath warm against Theo’s ear.

“They bought it,” Callum murmured.

Theo opened his eyes. His body ached from staying still so long, but he forced himself up on his elbows, his bloodied shirt sticking to his skin. “That was way too close.”

Callum smirked. “You did good.”

Theo rolled his eyes. “Yeah, thanks for nearly giving me a heart attack.”

Callum chuckled but then grew serious. “We have a window now. They’ll report back to their boss, and as far as he knows, you’re out of the picture.”

Theo pushed himself up fully, grimacing as the wound throbbed. “And that gives us time to figure out who their boss is.”

Callum’s smirk faded. “Exactly.”

Theo swallowed. He’d wanted answers before, but now? Now it was personal. These people had tried to erase him. Just like they had with Jesse.

He wasn’t going to let them get away with it.

Callum extended a hand. Theo hesitated—just for a second—then took it.

Their fingers curled together, and Callum pulled him up effortlessly.

For a moment, Theo was too aware of how close they were, of the way Callum’s grip lingered. He swallowed, heart hammering for reasons that had nothing to do with the danger they were in.

Callum studied him, his gaze unreadable. Then, just as quickly, he let go.

“We need to move,” Callum said.

Theo cleared his throat. “Yeah.”

As they slipped into the shadows of the city, Theo couldn’t shake the feeling that things were only going to get more dangerous from here.

But now?

Now, he wasn’t just running.

He was hunting.

And whoever was behind this?

They wouldn’t see him coming.

Got it! Here’s the next part of The Heart of the City:

They moved fast, sticking to back streets and alleys, the city’s neon glow flickering above them. Theo’s side throbbed with every step, but he ignored it, pushing forward. He was supposed to be dead. He didn’t have time to feel pain.

Callum led the way, his movements sure and practiced. Theo had questions—a lot of them—but now wasn’t the time. They had a window of opportunity before the people hunting him adjusted their plans. He wasn’t about to waste it.

Finally, after weaving through a maze of streets, Callum stopped in front of an old, abandoned building. The paint was peeling, the windows dark.

“This looks… inviting,” Theo muttered.

Callum shot him a look. “It’s safe.”

Theo arched a brow. “You sure? Because it looks like a great place to get murdered.”

Callum smirked. “Exactly. No one will think to look here.”

Theo exhaled sharply but followed him inside. The air smelled like dust and old wood, the floor creaking under their weight. Callum led him up a narrow staircase, through a rusted door, and into a room that looked like it had been lived in—barely. There was a cot, a desk covered in papers, and a duffel bag shoved in the corner.

Theo turned to Callum. “So, what now?”

Callum locked the door behind them, then leaned against it, arms crossed. “Now, we find out who set you up.”

Theo scoffed. “Great. Let me just check my list of powerful enemies.”

Callum tilted his head. “You joke, but I guarantee someone put your name on that list for a reason.”

Theo’s jaw tightened. He knew that. He just didn’t know why.

Callum pushed off the door, moving toward the desk. He grabbed a folder and tossed it onto the bed beside Theo. “These are people who’ve gone missing. Some of them, I tracked before I got out. Some, I only found out about after.”

Theo hesitated before picking it up. He flipped through the pages—faces, names, dates. People like Jesse. People like him.

His stomach twisted. “And they all just… disappeared?”

Callum nodded. “No bodies. No trails. Just gone.”

Theo clenched his jaw, flipping to the last page.

His own name stared back at him.

Theo Sinclair.

His fingers tightened on the paper. “This isn’t random, is it?”

Callum shook his head. “No. Someone wants you gone. The only question is why.”

Theo swallowed, his mind racing. He thought back to Jesse, to the list Elliot found, to the way Callum had known about all of this before Theo had even realized he was in danger.

“Callum,” Theo said slowly, “is there a chance that Jesse is still alive?”

Callum didn’t answer immediately. He looked at Theo for a long moment, something unreadable flickering across his face.

Then, finally—

“There’s a chance,” Callum said.

Theo’s breath caught.

That was all he needed to hear.

Because if Jesse was out there—if there was even the slightest possibility—then Theo wasn’t going to stop until he found him.

And whoever was behind all of this?

They were about to learn that Theo Sinclair wasn’t as easy to erase as they thought.