FIRST MOVE
326 Words
The morning sun cut through the clouds in sharp, pale beams, painting my study in light that felt far too clean for the plan we were about to set in motion.
Nathaniel sat across from me at the small table, coffee in hand, his eyes scanning a folded map between us.
“This warehouse,” he said, tapping a spot on the paper. “It’s where the van in the photo was last seen. My contact says Ryan’s been moving something through there—something that never gets logged.”
I traced the street names with my finger. “And you think the bundle in that photo came from there?”
“I don’t think, Elena. I know.”
The certainty in his voice made my stomach tighten. “So we go there tonight?”
“Not we,” he corrected. “Me. You’ll stay here.”
I pushed my chair back. “Absolutely not.”
His jaw flexed, but he didn’t look up from the map. “This isn’t a game. If Ryan suspects you’re involved—”
“He already suspects me,” I cut in. “Last night proved that. If you think I’m going to sit here while you walk into whatever he’s hiding—”
Nathaniel’s eyes finally lifted, pinning me in place. “I’m not risking you.”
“And I’m not losing you,” I said, softer but just as stubborn.
We held the stare for a long moment before he sighed, folding the map and sliding it toward me. “Fine. But you follow my lead. No detours. No heroics.”
I nodded, though we both knew that promises like that were hard to keep.
As he stood, the edge of sunlight caught the faint scar along his jaw—one I hadn’t noticed before. I wondered what price he’d already paid for protecting me once.
Tonight, we’d find out if we were ready to pay it again.
- Writer
