CHAPTER FIVE
1417 Words
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*CHAPTER FIVE*
*43:15:00 | DETENTION*
The alarm didn’t scream.
It _shrieked_.
Red light. Steel shutters. The sound of locks engaging on every exit.
"Federal lockdown," Marcus said instantly.
He was already at the panel, fingers flying.
"Geneva Protocol 9. Triggered by the leak.
12 hour mandatory detention. No override."
Lila’s stomach dropped.
"12 hours?"
"Minimum."
He slammed his fist on the panel.
"With me."
The last two words hung in the air.
On the comms, Damian’s voice.
"Lila? Status."
"Locked in," Lila said. "12 hours."
"s**t. Okay. Ava and I are taking the files to London.
Press is already running it. Board’s gonna fall.
You two survive the next 43 hours."
A beat.
"Blackwood. Keep her alive."
The line went dead.
Gone.
Just them.
Marcus turned from the panel.
His face was stone.
"Bed. Now.
You sleep. I watch."
"That’s not how this works."
"It is tonight."
---
The safehouse was a cage.
400 square feet.
One bed. One bathroom. One table. One chair.
No windows.
Steel door.
And him.
Marcus took the floor. Back to the wall. Gun across his knees.
Lila took the bed.
But she didn’t sleep.
*42:50:00*
Silence.
The kind that pressed on your chest.
Lila broke it.
"You could’ve told Damian the truth."
"About what."
"About why you came back."
Marcus didn’t look at her.
"Because I’m being paid."
"Liar."
His jaw ticked.
"Don’t."
"Don’t what? Call you out?"
"Don’t talk to me."
His voice was low. Dangerous.
"12 hours, Lila.
That’s all we have to get through without—"
He cut himself off.
"Without what?"
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Nothing."
---
*42:10:00*
The temperature dropped.
HVAC shut off with the lockdown.
Lila pulled the thin blanket around her.
Still cold.
Marcus noticed.
Of course he did.
He didn’t move.
Professional.
Lila stood.
Went to the duffel.
Pulled out another blanket.
Tossed it to him.
He caught it.
Didn’t use it.
"Use it," she said.
"No."
"You’ll freeze."
"I’m fine."
Lila stared at him.
At the way he was sitting.
Rigid.
Like if he relaxed for one second he’d break.
She walked to him.
Held out the blanket.
"Take it."
Marcus looked up at her.
And for a second the mask slipped.
Tired.
Wrecked.
Wanting.
Then it slammed back down.
"I don’t need your pity."
"It’s not pity."
She dropped to her knees in front of him.
Close.
Too close.
"Take the damn blanket, Marcus."
He stared at her mouth.
Just for a second.
Then snatched the blanket and threw it over his shoulders.
"Happy?" he asked.
"Not even close."
---
*41:30:00*
Hunger hit.
Lila pulled out two MREs.
Set one in front of him.
He didn’t touch it.
"Eat," she ordered.
"I’m not hungry."
"Liar."
Marcus finally looked at her.
Eyes black.
"Stop calling me that."
"Then stop lying."
He grabbed the MRE.
Tore it open.
Ate like it was punishment.
Lila ate too.
Watching him.
The room was too small.
She could hear him breathe.
Could see the muscle in his jaw tick.
*40:55:00*
The lights flickered.
Died.
Darkness.
Lila gasped.
In the dark, Marcus moved.
Fast.
His hand found her wrist.
Pulled her off the bed.
Behind him.
"Don’t move," he said.
His voice was in her ear.
His body was in front of hers.
Shielding.
She could feel his back rise and fall.
Feel the heat of him.
"Generator’s kicking in," he murmured.
"30 seconds."
But he didn’t let go of her wrist.
His thumb brushed over her pulse.
Once.
Twice.
The lights snapped on.
Marcus dropped her wrist like it burned him.
Stepped away.
Face blank.
But his hand was shaking.
---
*40:20:00*
Lila couldn’t take it.
She stood.
Walked to him.
"Move," she said.
Marcus didn’t.
"I said move."
He looked up at her.
"Why."
"Because I’m tired of sitting 10 feet away from you
like you’re going to bite me."
Marcus stood.
Now they were chest to chest.
The room too small to matter.
"I might," he said quietly.
Lila didn’t flinch.
"Then do it."
The air between them went electric.
Marcus’s eyes dropped to her lips.
Then back up.
His hands fisted at his sides.
Like he was physically holding himself back.
"You don’t know what you’re asking," he said.
Voice rough.
"Yes I do."
"You think you want this."
He gestured between them.
"But you don’t.
Not when you remember who I am."
"And who are you?"
"A man who left you bleeding."
"A man who was paid to protect you."
"A man who can’t—"
He stopped.
"Can’t what?"
Marcus looked away.
"Can’t afford to want you."
Lila reached out.
Put her hand on his chest.
Right over his heart.
It was hammering.
"Then don’t afford it," she whispered.
"Just do it."
Marcus closed his eyes.
Took a shuddering breath.
"Get on the bed, Lila."
It wasn’t a request.
Lila’s knees went weak.
But she did it.
Sat on the edge.
Marcus stood in front of her.
Looking down.
Hands still fisted.
"What now, professional?" she asked.
His jaw clenched.
Then he dropped to his knees in front of her.
Not touching.
Just there.
Close enough that she could feel his breath.
"Now," he said.
"Now I sit here.
And I don’t touch you.
Because if I touch you,
I won’t stop."
Lila reached out.
Brushed her fingers over his knuckles.
Marcus flinched.
But didn’t pull away.
"One touch," she whispered.
"That’s all."
"Don’t," he said.
But he didn’t move.
Her fingers slid between his.
Interlaced.
Marcus made a sound.
Low.
Broken.
He looked at their hands.
Then at her.
"Lila."
Her name sounded like a prayer and a curse.
"Yeah?"
"Don’t make me hate myself."
"Too late," she said.
"I already do."
Something in him snapped.
He leaned in.
Pressed his forehead to hers.
Still holding her hand.
Still not kissing her.
But so close she could taste him.
His hands trailing up in between her thighs
She shudders at the effect it has on her
"I left," he whispered.
"Because the second I let myself have you,
I knew I’d never let you go.
And you deserved better than a man like me."
Lila’s throat tightened.
"Maybe I don’t want better."
Marcus laughed. Bitter.
"You say that now."
"I mean it now."
He pulled back.
Just enough to see her eyes.
And the want in his was terrifying.
"You have no idea," he said.
"What you do to me.
How long I’ve—"
He stopped.
Stood.
Ripped his hand from hers.
"Bathroom," he said.
Voice shot.
"Now."
He locked the door behind him.
Lila heard him hit the wall.
Heard him breathe.
Hard.
She sat on the bed.
Staring at the door.
Her hand still tingling from his.
*39:40:00*
10 more hours.
---
*38:00:00*
Marcus came out.
Face blank.
Hair damp.
Like he’d splashed water on himself.
He didn’t look at her.
Went back to the floor.
Lila did the same.
Sat across from him.
3 feet of space.
Might as well have been 3 miles.
More silence.
*36:00:00*
"Tell me about London," Marcus said suddenly.
Lila blinked.
"What?"
"After I left.
Tell me."
So she did.
About the nights she couldn’t sleep.
About learning to fight.
About her and Damian and Ava taking their father down.
About the nights she almost called him.
Marcus listened.
Didn’t interrupt.
Didn’t look away.
When she finished, he was quiet for a long time.
"I’m sorry," he said finally.
Not for leaving.
For everything else.
But from now on"he continued" we keep it professional"
Marcus-
"Don't Lila, That's what's best for both of us"
"You always like making decisions for both of us without my consent"She Snapped "
"That's because you always have a nack of making the wrong decisions"He snapped back"
She Froze for a second, her eyes flickering
The memory of when she followed him into the alley and took the stab for him came back
"Fine Then " If you insist"She replied
Marcus nodded.
*34:00:00*
The last two hours were the worst.
Because the tension had a name now.
And neither of them said it.
Marcus stood.
Checked the door panel.
"10 minutes."
Lila stood too.
The shutters began to rise.
Light poured in.
The door unlocked with a heavy _clunk_.
Freedom.
Marcus opened it.
Didn’t look at her.
"Let’s go."
Lila followed him out.
Into Geneva.
Into the next 43 hours.
But the air between them had changed.
And they both knew it.
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