Louis’ POV
978 Words
Last night’s job was chaos. Pure madness.
I barely escaped the police, darting through shadows and narrow streets like a hunted animal. The plan I had so carefully drawn up turned out to be flawed—wrong details about the building’s entry and exit points. That mistake nearly cost me.
In the brawl that broke out, I caught a wound on my arm, blood soaking through my sleeve. I abandoned the car I had gone with—it was too risky to keep. My phone buzzed nonstop. Emily. She’d called several times, but I couldn’t answer in the heat of the chase. One wrong sound, one wrong move, and I’d have been finished. I had to get home before she grew suspicious enough to go looking for me at the fake workplace I’d told her about.
With no other choice, I boarded the train. The ride was crowded, the air heavy with chatter and the rustle of newspapers. I sank into a seat, restless eyes scanning the faces around me. Paranoia was second nature now—I couldn’t afford to be followed.
And that was when I saw her.
She had the kind of beauty that made the world pause. Warm brown eyes, deep enough to drown in. Lips soft and red like fresh strawberries, tempting enough to taste. Even without makeup, her face carried a raw, innocent glow that stirred something in me. Too pure, too untouched for the darkness I lived in.
But she caught my gaze. Her brows furrowed, her face hardening into a frown, as though I had crossed an invisible line. She looked furious, though I didn’t understand why. Even so, the fire in her expression only heightened her beauty.
I forced myself to turn away, sinking into my seat two rows ahead of hers. Minutes later, I risked another glance, stretching my neck just enough to see her. She was asleep now, her features softened by exhaustion. Peaceful. Lovely. Innocent. Too innocent for me.
No—I couldn’t afford to get entangled. Not with her. Emily was already more than enough to manage.
When the train finally reached Veloria, she was still asleep, oblivious as people shuffled out. I debated waking her, but a woman sitting beside her nudged her gently. My chance to intervene slipped away, and I left without a word.
I went straight to the Boss’s office to deliver my report from Brisden. His reaction was… infuriating. My efforts, as always lately, were brushed aside. Ever since the new recruit joined the group, the Boss had started looking at me differently—less as his trusted man, more as a shadow overshadowed by someone else’s glory.
By evening, I was exhausted, my mind heavy with anger. When I finally reached my apartment, I realized I’d forgotten my keys. I knocked lightly, hoping Emily was home.
Knock. Knock.
Silence. I knocked again. This time, I heard footsteps approaching, slow, hesitant. Still, the door didn’t open. My instincts prickled—I couldn’t afford carelessness these days.
Then, suddenly, the door flew open.
And there she was.
The girl from the train. Standing in my doorway. Her face pale, eyes wide with shock. She looked at me as if she’d seen a ghost. Dressed in my all-black attire, I must have looked exactly like the kind of man mothers warn their daughters about.
My chest tightened with an odd mixture of excitement and unease. Excitement—because now I could see her every day. Unease—because her presence here was dangerous. For her. For me.
The door slammed shut with a loud thud, rattling the walls.
From inside, I heard Emily’s voice. “Are you okay?”
The girl’s trembling reply: “There’s… there’s a bad guy at the door.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle under my breath. Even scared, she had nerves.
“Emily!” I called softly. “It’s me. Open up.”
The door opened again, and Emily rushed into my arms, pulling me into a slow kiss. “I missed you,” she whispered. I held her, but my eyes were fixed on the girl.
She stared back at me, unblinking. Her expression was sharp, suspicious, almost accusing. I smirked, testing her, and she shot me a glare in return before retreating to the couch. She looked dizzy, unsettled.
“Louis,” Emily said, bright-eyed, “meet my friend. She’ll be staying with us for a while.”
I swear I saw her eyes widen in shock when Emily added, “This is my boyfriend.”
Boyfriend. The word seemed to hit her like a blow she hadn’t expected.
Inside, I smiled. This was a reason to come home more often now.
But beneath that smile, unease coiled in my gut. Her eyes were too sharp, her questions too precise.
When Emily later pleaded with me to let her stay, I was cold, adamant. “One month. That’s all. No more.”
Her presence was dangerous. She was clever—I could sense it. Too clever. She might piece things together if she stayed too long. And feelings? No. I couldn’t let my weakness ruin everything.
That evening after refreshing ,I left the apartment again. Loose ends needed tying up, and I had to make sure Brisden’s job was buried clean. As I walked into the night, my phone buzzed with Mandy’s name flashing across the screen.
She’d been calling often lately.
What could she want now?
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD