The city never truly slept. It only waited—lurking beneath the surface, pulsing with secrets and shadows. Alessia moved through the labyrinthine alleyways, her senses sharp, every sound a potential threat. The rain had stopped, but the cold lingered, seeping into her bones like the venom of betrayal still fresh in her mind.
Her footsteps echoed against damp brick walls as she followed Mara deeper into the maze. The safe house had been compromised, and the enemy’s reach was longer than they ever imagined. Every moment wasted was a step closer to the edge—closer to losing everything.
Mara glanced back, eyes scanning the darkness. “We can’t stay here,” she whispered. “They’re watching every exit.”
Alessia’s mind raced. She had thought the safe house would be their sanctuary—a place to regr
