Chapter 17 — The File
1006 Words
The door creaked open.
Not kicked, not forced. It opened, gently, and deliberately.
Aliyah froze with her back against Adrian’s chest. His arm tightened weakly around her waist, his breath hot against her neck. He was still half-slumped, barely conscious, but the sound snapped him fully awake.
He shoved himself upright with a pained grunt.
“Aliyah… behind me.”
She didn’t move.
A figure stepped into the cabin. He started lowering his hood, palms open.
Moonlight cut across a familiar jawline.
Aliyah’s breath stuttered.
“…Rafe?”
Adrian’s entire body went rigid.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Rafe lifted his hands higher.
“Relax. I’m not here to finish the job.”
Adrian snarled, voice hoarse.
“You never come unless you want something.”
“And right now,” Rafe replied, “I want you two to live long enough to hear what’s coming.”
Rain pattered on the cabin roof.
Aliyah stepped in front of Adrian despite his growl of protest.
“Aliyah, get back,” he hissed.
“No.”
She squared her shoulders.
“He’s not pointing a gun at us. You are bleeding out. Stop pretending you can fight.”
Rafe's eyes flicked to her—
softening, almost pitying.
“You’ve changed,” he murmured.
“I’ve been through a lot.” she shot back.
A beat.
Rafe lowered his hood fully. His dark hair was soaked, plastered against his forehead. His gaze fixed on Adrian.
“It’s happening. The hit squads are an excuse. They’re not after her because you betrayed them.”
Adrian stiffened.
“Don’t.”
“You didn’t tell her?” Rafe's voice sharpened.
“You’re the reason they want her, Adrian.”
Aliyah felt the world tilt.
“What does he mean?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
He just closed his eyes.
Rafe did it for him.
“He saved you, Aliyah. Years ago. When the Syndicate first marked you.”
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
“I… I don’t remember—”
“You weren’t supposed to,” Rafe said.
Adrian flinched.
Rafe continued, voice low and relentless.
“He pulled you out of one of their holding sites before they could test you. He killed men he grew up with. Men loyal to him. Men who trusted him.”
Aliyah’s heart twisted.
She turned to Adrian.
“You—saved me?”
Adrian swallowed hard, looking away.
“I didn’t want you dragged into this now. Not like this.”
“Adrian—”
“I didn’t want you to look at me and see the monster I used to be.”
His voice broke.
Aliyah stepped closer, kneeling in front of him, taking his trembling hands.
“What are you saying? I only see the man who risked everything to protect me.”
His eyes widened. Raw, and vulnerable.
Rafe cleared his throat sharply.
“Beautiful. Touching. But we’re out of time.”
Aliyah snapped her head up.
“What do you mean?”
“They tracked you here. A team of six. Maybe seven.”
He looked straight at Adrian.
“You are in no condition to fight. And she can’t take all of them alone.”
Adrian tried to stand—immediately collapsing to one knee.
Aliyah caught him with both arms.
“Stop!” she cried.
“You’re going to pass out again—”
“I’m not letting them take you,” Adrian rasped.
“Not again.”
Rafe pressed something into her hand.
A small metal drive.
“This is Adrian’s file. The truth. Why they want both of you dead.”
Aliyah’s breath hitched.
“…why give this to me?”
“Because,” Rafe whispered, “I’m not the enemy tonight.”
He met Adrian’s eyes.
“And because you once saved me too, brother.”
Adrian’s expression shattered—surprise and pain flickering through his eyes.
“Rafe—don’t do this—”
“Too late, bro.”
He stepped back toward the door.
“They’ll be here in minutes. You guys should prepare to run.”
Aliyah tightened her grip on Adrian. Her heart is hammering.
“But, I don't know where we should go next.”
Rafe's answer was almost a whisper.
“I can only say, you have to go to the only place left they fear.”
The moment Rafe disappeared into the night, Adrian sagged against her.
She caught him, both of them sinking to the floor.
“Aliyah…” His breath fanned her cheek, warm, and shaky.
“You should leave me. You’ll survive if you go now.”
Her voice came out as a tremor.
“Don’t you dare say such things.”
He tried to push her away weakly.
“You don’t understand—”
“I fully understand now, Adrian! Not everything, but that's enough information for me. For now... at least.”
She cupped his face, forcing him to look at her.
“I’m here because I choose you. Not because I don’t know the danger—in fact I do now.”
Adrian’s breath stuttered.
His forehead gently pressed against hers, a soft, broken surrender.
“I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t, okay? Nobody loses no one.”
His lips brushed hers barely, a whisper of a kiss, but enough to shake them both.
The world outside creaked.
Footsteps are heard. Shouts are almost everywhere.
Enemies are closing in.
But inside that tiny burning second, the universe was only his hand tangled weakly in her shirt, her fingers trembling against his jaw, two hearts beating terrified and desperate and irrevocably entwined.
Then—
They hear Rafe's voice shouting from outside.
“They’re here!”
Aliyah pulled Adrian to his feet as gunshots cracked in the trees.
She pressed her forehead to his one last time.
“Whatever happens next,” she whispered,
“I’m not leaving you. And don't you dare shove me away.”
And they ran together straight into the dark, again.
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