chapter 12 the opened window
1066 Words
Chapter 12 — The Open Window
The window was open.
Ava froze.
The curtains moved gently in the cold night air, but there was no one standing behind them.
Jace stepped closer.
“Don’t move.”
Ava swallowed. “You say that a lot.”
“Because you don't listen.”
Dre gave a quiet groan from behind them. “Can you two flirt later? I think I’m bleeding.”
Ava turned.
“Dre!”
He was leaning against the wall, one hand pressed against his side. There was a small tear in his shirt, but thankfully, no serious wound.
Jace walked toward the window.
Ava followed.
He immediately turned around.
“I said stay here.”
“And I said I’m not standing around while you do everything yourself.”
His jaw tightened.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Jace sighed.
“Fine. But stay behind me.”
Ava nodded.
They approached the window carefully.
Jace looked outside.
Nothing.
Only the dark street below and the faint glow of a streetlamp.
He reached toward the window frame and noticed something.
A small piece of black fabric was caught on the edge.
He pulled it free.
Ava stared at it.
“What is that?”
Jace didn't answer.
Dre pushed himself away from the wall.
“Jace?”
Jace examined the fabric closely.
“This wasn't here before.”
Ava's stomach tightened.
“So someone really was here.”
“Yeah.”
“Who?”
Jace looked at her.
“That’s what I’m going to find out.”
Suddenly, Dre's phone vibrated.
All three of them looked at it.
Dre pulled it from his pocket.
Unknown number.
He hesitated before answering.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then a distorted voice spoke.
“You should have stayed away.”
Dre's face changed.
Jace immediately moved closer.
“Put it on speaker.”
Dre did.
The voice continued.
“You think this is about Ava?”
Ava's heart stopped.
Jace looked at her.
The caller laughed softly.
“It was never just about her.”
The call ended.
Silence filled the room.
Ava stared at Jace.
“What does that mean?”
Jace didn't answer.
“Jace.”
Still nothing.
She stepped closer.
“You know something.”
His eyes met hers.
“I know enough to tell you that you're in more danger than you realize.”
Ava's voice dropped.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Jace looked away.
Dre sighed.
“She deserves to know.”
Jace shot him a warning look.
Dre raised his hands.
“I’m just saying.”
Ava looked between them.
“What are you two hiding?”
Jace walked toward the kitchen and leaned against the counter.
For the first time since Ava had met him, he looked tired.
Not angry.
Not dangerous.
Just tired.
“My past isn't clean,” he said.
Ava remained silent.
“I've done things I'm not proud of. I made enemies. Real ones.”
“I already knew that.”
“No.” He shook his head. “You don't.”
His eyes darkened.
“There are people who don't forgive. People who don't forget.”
Ava folded her arms.
“And somehow I'm involved.”
Jace nodded slowly.
“That’s what scares me.”
Her expression softened.
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because they know you're important to me.”
Ava's breath caught.
Dre looked away, suddenly very interested in the floor.
Ava stared at Jace.
“Important?”
Jace realized what he'd said.
His expression hardened again.
“Forget it.”
“No.”
“Ava—”
“No. You don't get to say something like that and then tell me to forget it.”
Jace stepped closer.
“I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“By keeping secrets?”
“Yes.”
“That isn't protecting me.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Then what do you want?”
“The truth.”
Jace stared at her for several seconds.
Then he finally nodded.
“Okay.”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.
He opened a photograph.
Ava looked at the screen.
Her face went pale.
It was a picture of her.
Taken outside her apartment.
She looked at Jace.
“When was this?”
“Three days ago.”
Her stomach dropped.
“Who took it?”
“We don't know.”
Jace swiped to the next image.
Another photograph.
Then another.
Ava walking to work.
Ava entering a shop.
Ava standing outside with a friend.
Someone had been watching her.
For how long?
She felt suddenly cold.
“They've been following me.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was trying to find out who.”
“And did you?”
Jace's expression changed.
“No.”
Ava stared at the photographs.
Then she noticed something.
In the corner of one picture was a car.
Black.
Parked across the street.
She recognized it.
“I've seen that car.”
Jace immediately looked at her.
“Where?”
“Outside my workplace.”
“When?”
“Several times.”
Dre stepped closer.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Jace grabbed his keys.
“We're leaving.”
Ava frowned.
“Where?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Jace—”
“Now.”
The urgency in his voice made her stop arguing.
Dre followed them toward the door.
But before Jace could open it—
Three knocks sounded from the other side.
Everyone froze.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Ava's heart pounded.
Jace slowly raised one finger to his lips.
Nobody moved.
Another knock.
Then a voice came through the door.
“Ava?”
Her eyes widened.
She knew that voice.
It was someone she trusted.
Someone she never expected to hear outside Jace's apartment.
Jace looked at her.
“Who is it?”
Ava whispered the name.
Jace's expression instantly changed.
He reached for the door handle.
Ava grabbed his arm.
“Don't.”
He looked down at her hand.
“Why?”
“Because if he's here…”
She swallowed.
“…then we have a much bigger problem.”
The person outside knocked again.
“Ava, I know you're in there.”
Jace's eyes hardened.
Then the lights suddenly went out.
And this time—
Ava knew the darkness wasn't an accident.
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