Lost and Found

A Shady Deal

As Evelyn and Mackenzie spread out the biology materials on the coffee table, the awkward tension between them began to dissipate, replaced by a quiet focus.

Mackenzie seemed genuinely determined to work on the project, and Evelyn found herself surprised by how diligent he was.

For someone who used to spend more time mocking her than paying attention in class, he was surprisingly competent.

"See? I do know how to work," Mackenzie joked lightly, glancing at her as he sketched a diagram for their presentation.

Evelyn smirked. "I'll believe it when I see you actually finish the project."

"Fair enough," he said with a grin. "But I'm trying here, okay?"

She nodded, silently admitting to herself that his effort was appreciated.

Despite her reservations about being in his house, she had to admit this was the most civil interaction they'd ever had. Still, her guard remained up.

She couldn't forget the years of torment so easily, no matter how apologetic or different Mackenzie seemed now.

The calm moment was shattered by the sound of footsteps approaching

from down the hall. Evelyn looked up as a

tall, imposing man entered the room.

He was dressed sharply in a tailored suit, his slicked-back dark hair streaked with silver.

His presence was commanding, the kind that made you instinctively sit up straighter. And Evelyn felt an immediate chill run down her spine.

Mackenzie glanced up, his expression neutral. "Hey, Dad."

His father—Aurelio Brennen, the infamous head of the local mafia—paused mid-step when his gaze landed on Evelyn.

His sharp eyes narrowed slightly, recognition flashing across his face.

Evelyn's heart sank, her blood running cold as a flood of memories hit her like a freight train.

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Three years ago, at the start of her freshman year, Evelyn had reluctantly attended a house party Mackenzie threw to celebrate his team's first football victory.

Her best friend at the time had dragged her along, insisting it would be fun. But the party had been anything but enjoyable for Evelyn.

Amidst the chaos of loud music, drunk teenagers, and questionable behavior, Evelyn had wandered upstairs in search of a quiet space to escape the noise.

She hadn't meant to stumble upon the master bedroom, much less the scene inside.

Mackenzie and his father had been standing near a desk, several metal cases laid out in front of them.

The cases were filled with guns,

their polished metal gleaming under the dim light.

Two unfamiliar men stood nearby, discussing something in low voices while Mackenzie looked on, his usual cocky demeanor subdued in the presence of his father.

The moment Evelyn had opened the door, all eyes turned to her. Panic surged through her as Aurelio's icy gaze bore into her.

"What are you doing here?" he had barked, his voice sharp and threatening.

"I—I didn't mean to," Evelyn stammered, frozen in place. Her wide eyes darted from Mackenzie to his father and the men.

"Get her out of here," Aurelio had growled to Mackenzie, who immediately stepped forward.

Mackenzie grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not painful, and guided her back into the hallway. "Go back downstairs," he hissed, his tone low and urgent. "And don't tell anyone what you saw. Ever."

Terrified, Evelyn had nodded and fled the scene, her heart pounding in her chest.

She hadn't told a soul what she'd seen that night, too afraid of what the Brennens might do if she did.

And ever since that day, it was as if Makenzie had made it his mission to make her life a living hell.

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But now, as Aurelio stared at her in his living room, Evelyn felt like that terrified freshman all over again.

"You," Aurelio said slowly, his deep voice laced with suspicion.

Evelyn's hands gripped the edge of the couch, her knuckles turning white.

Mackenzie frowned, glancing between his father and Evelyn. "What's going on?"

Aurelio ignored his son, his piercing gaze locked on Evelyn. "I remember you. You were at a party a few years ago, weren't you?"

Evelyn's throat felt dry, and for a moment, she couldn't find her voice. So she just nodded reluctantly, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure they could hear it.

"Yes sir, I wad," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aurelio's expression darkened. "Do you know how dangerous it is to wander where you don't belong?"

"Dad," Mackenzie interjected, his tone confused and defensive. "What's going on? What party?"

Evelyn's eyes darted to Mackenzie, who was staring at his father with growing frustration.

He didn't remember. Of course he didn't. The amnesia wiped out everything, including what happened that night.

"She stumbled into something she shouldn't have seen," Aurelio said curtly, folding his arms. His sharp gaze returned to Evelyn. "And yet, here you are, sitting in my house like nothing happened."

Evelyn's voice wavered as she spoke. "I didn't tell anyone. I haven't said a word to anyone about what I saw, I swear."

Aurelio studied her, his expression unreadable. After a long, tense silence, he nodded slightly. "Good. Let's keep it that way."

Mackenzie stood abruptly, his eyes narrowing. "Dad, what the hell are you talking about? What did she see?"

"It doesn't concern you," Aurelio said dismissively. "Focus on your schoolwork, Mackenzie."

"It does concern me," Mackenzie snapped. "She's my partner for this project, and she's sitting in my house. If something's going on, I deserve to know."

Aurelio's cold demeanor didn't waver. "You don't need to know everything, son. Trust me on that."

Evelyn felt the tension in the room grow unbearable. She stood, her legs trembling slightly. "I think I should go," she said, clutching her book bag tightly in her shaky hands.

Mackenzie turned to her, his expression torn between confusion and concern. "Evelyn, wait—"

"No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "This was a mistake. I shouldn't have come here."

Without waiting for a response, she moved toward the door. Her heart raced as she stepped out into the cool evening air, her mind spinning with fear and regret.

Mackenzie caught up with her on the driveway, grabbing her arm gently to stop her. "Evelyn, hold on. Please."

She turned to face him, her eyes burning with unshed tears. "Why did you ask me to come here, Mackenzie? Why did you think this was a good idea?"

"I didn't know this would happen," he said, his voice desperate. "I don't even know what my dad was talking about back there. Please, just tell me what's going on."

Evelyn stared at him, torn. She had spent years burying that memory, pretending it never happened.

And now, here he was, the same boy who had dragged her out of that room, looking at her like he genuinely wanted to help.

"You really don't remember," she said quietly.

"No," Mackenzie admitted. "I don't. But I want to understand. Please, Evelyn."

She hesitated, the words caught in her throat. Could she trust him? Could she let him in, even after everything?

Finally, she shook her head. "No. I can't do this, Mackenzie. I just can't."

She pulled away from him and

started walking down the driveway, leaving him standing there, his expression filled with frustration and something that almost looked like guilt.

As Evelyn disappeared down the street, Mackenzie turned back toward the house, his mind racing.

Whatever had happened three years ago, it was clear his father had kept it from him. And now, it was tied to Evelyn in a way that he couldn't ignore.

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Evelyn barely made it to the safety of her house before the tears began to fall.

She slammed the front door behind her and leaned against it, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

The memory of Aurelio Brennen's sharp gaze and his veiled warning played on repeat in her mind. She had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable.

"Evelyn?" Her mother's voice floated out from the kitchen, warm and concerned.

Evelyn quickly wiped her face with the sleeve of her sweater, forcing a steady tone. "Yeah, Mom, it's me."

Her mom poked her head out from the kitchen doorway, her hands covered in flour. "You okay, sweetie? You're home earlier than I expected."

Evelyn nodded, offering her a strained smile. "Yeah, just a lot of work to do. I think I'm going to head upstairs and get started."

Her mother studied her for a moment, clearly not convinced, but she didn't push. "All right. Let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks, Mom," Evelyn said, already heading for the stairs.

The moment she closed her bedroom door behind her, she let out a shaky breath and sat on the edge of her bed. Her mind was racing, trying to process everything that had happened.

Mackenzie's father remembered her. That alone was enough to send a wave of fear crashing over her.

But what truly unsettled her was Mackenzie's reaction.

He hadn't known. He genuinely had no idea what his father was talking about or what Evelyn had witnessed that night three years ago.

Evelyn hugged her knees to her chest, trying to shake the nagging thought that had crept into her mind during their confrontation: Mackenzie wasn't the same person he had been back then.

The cruel, arrogant boy she had spent years avoiding wasn't the one who had looked at her with genuine concern tonight, it was a different Mackenzie that she had never seen before.

And this new Makenzie made her brain hurt with the mixed emotions that he caused her to have.