CHAPTER 9THE SAFE HOUSE
785 Words
The elevator stopped deep beneath the building.
The doors opened slowly into darkness.
Elara stepped out carefully, pulse still racing from everything upstairs.
The underground garage stretched endlessly around them, dim lights flickering overhead while rainwater dripped somewhere in the distance.
It felt isolated.
Hidden.
Safe.
At least compared to the nightmare above them.
Anik stayed close behind her, one hand still gripping the gun while the other remained near her lower back protectively.
He hadn’t let go of her once since the attack started.
Not once.
A black car waited near the far side of the garage.
Two men stood beside it immediately straightening when they saw Anik approaching.
Neither looked surprised by the blood on him.
That terrified Elara all over again.
“Sir,” one of them said quickly.
“The route is clear.”
Anik nodded once.
“Good.”
The men glanced briefly toward Elara before opening the back door immediately.
No questions.
No hesitation.
Like obeying him was automatic.
Anik guided her into the car before sliding in beside her.
The doors shut.
Seconds later the vehicle sped into the rain-covered streets.
Silence filled the backseat.
Heavy.
Exhausted.
Elara stared out the window at blurred city lights flashing past them while her thoughts spiraled uncontrollably.
Everything had changed tonight.
Everything.
Anik sat beside her silently, tension still carved into every inch of his body.
Even now he looked ready for another attack.
“You’re hurt.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
His eyes shifted toward her briefly.
“It’s nothing.”
Lie.
There was blood running near his shoulder beneath the torn fabric of his shirt.
Elara moved closer immediately.
“You were shot?”
“Grazed.”
“You should’ve said something.”
His expression darkened slightly.
“Elara, there were more important things happening.”
The answer irritated her instantly.
“You almost got killed!”
“And you almost got taken.”
Silence crashed between them.
Because the fear in his voice sounded real.
Raw.
He looked away first.
Like admitting that bothered him.
Elara studied him quietly.
“You were willing to kill for me.”
Big mistake mentioning it.
Anik’s jaw tightened immediately.
“I was willing to do worse.”
Her heartbeat stumbled violently.
Not because he sounded proud.
Because he sounded honest.
The car continued cutting through the storm while tension thickened between them again.
God.
Even now.
Even after blood and gunshots and fear—
The attraction between them refused to disappear.
If anything—
It felt stronger.
More dangerous.
Anik suddenly leaned forward slightly, speaking to the driver.
“Take the longer route.”
The driver nodded immediately.
“You think we’re being followed?” Elara asked.
“I know we are.”
Cold fear returned instantly.
Anik reached into his jacket before pulling out another phone.
Different from the destroyed one upstairs.
“How many phones do you even have?”
A faint smirk almost touched his mouth.
“Enough.”
The tiny expression hit her harder than it should have.
Because after tonight—
Seeing even the smallest crack in his cold exterior felt intimate somehow.
Anik noticed her staring.
His gaze held hers for one dangerous second too long.
Then two.
Then three.
The atmosphere inside the car shifted again.
Heavy.
Charged.
His eyes dropped briefly to her lips.
And suddenly she forgot how to breathe properly.
This was insane.
Everything around them was falling apart.
People were hunting them.
And somehow she still wanted him close.
Anik exhaled slowly before dragging his gaze away.
Like looking at her too long physically hurt him now.
“You should rest.”
A soft laugh escaped her.
“Do I look capable of sleeping?”
“No.”
His voice lowered slightly.
“You look terrified.”
The honesty in his tone made her chest tighten unexpectedly.
Because beneath everything else—
He noticed her.
Really noticed her.
Elara looked down briefly before whispering:
“I’m not terrified of them.”
Anik went still beside her.
“What does that mean?”
Her pulse quickened.
Because this conversation felt dangerous in a completely different way.
“It means…”
She swallowed carefully.
“…I think the scariest part of tonight was seeing what you become when someone threatens me.”
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Anik stared at her without speaking.
And slowly—
Something dark shifted behind his eyes.
Not anger.
Something worse.
Possession.
“You still don’t understand,” he said quietly.
Her heartbeat stumbled.
“Understand what?”
His voice dropped lower.
“If they touch you again…”
The look in his eyes turned terrifyingly calm.
“…I won’t stop next time.”
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