Amara didn't sleep much that night.
The message Ethan had received kept replaying in her mind.
Next time, we won't miss.
Those four words echoed like a warning she couldn't escape.
Sometime around dawn, she finally drifted into a light sleep.
But it didn't last long.
A soft knock sounded on her bedroom door.
Amara groaned and rolled over.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Ethan stepped inside.
He looked like he hadn't slept either.
His tie was gone, his sleeves rolled up, and his hair slightly messy.
For a moment, Amara just stared at him.
Then she noticed something else.
Two men standing in the hallway behind him.
Security.
She sat up slowly.
"Please don't tell me they are staying?"
"They are," Ethan said.
She blinked.
"You're joking."
"I'm not."
Amara rubbed her face.
"Ethan…I already live in a mansion that looks like a government facility. Do we really need armed guards outside my bedroom too?"
"They're not outside your bedroom."
She glanced toward the door.
"They're literally outside my bedroom."
Ethan didn't look amused.
"After what happened last night, security is being increased."
"For you," she said.
"For us."
That made her pause.
He walked further into the room.
"You're not leaving the estate alone for a while."
Amara immediately frowned.
"Oh no."
Ethan stopped.
"Oh no?"
"You're not putting me under house arrest."
"I'm keeping you safe."
"I didn't agree to that."
"Amara…"
"No," she said firmly. "You don't get to control my life just because someone fired a gun at you."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"It wasn't just at me."
"That doesn't change my point."
They stared at each other.
The tension between them thickened.
Finally Ethan sighed.
"You're stubborn."
"And you're controlling."
He stepped closer.
"I'm trying to keep you alive."
"And I'm trying to keep my sanity."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Ethan said quietly,
"You almost died last night."
The words hung heavily in the room.
Amara's anger softened slightly.
"I know."
He studied her face.
"You're not taking this seriously enough."
"And you're taking it too seriously."
"That's because it's my responsibility."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Since when am I your responsibility?
The question came out more softly than she intended.
Ethan didn't answer right away.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Close enough that she could feel his presence.
His voice lowered.
"Since you became my wife."
The word sent a strange flutter through her chest.
Even though they both knew the marriage was fake.
Amara swallowed.
"This marriage isn't real."
His gaze didn't leave hers.
"That doesn't mean your safety isn't."
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Warmer.
Too warm.
Amara became very aware of how close he was standing.
Close enough that she could see the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw.
Close enough to smell his cologne.
Her pulse quickened.
"You're doing that thing again," she murmured.
"What thing?"
"Standing too close."
"I'm standing where I always stand."
"Exactly."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Oh?"
Amara looked away quickly.
"You're impossible."
"Yet you married me."
"Contractually."
"Still counts."
She rolled her eyes.
But when she looked back at him, the teasing faded slightly.
His expression had changed.
There was something deeper in his gaze now.
Something intense.
"Amara."
Her breath caught slightly.
"Yea?"
He lifted his hand slowly.
For a second, she thought he was going to touch her face.
Instead, his fingers brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
The simple gesture made her heart skip.
"You look exhausted," he said quietly.
"I almost got shot yesterday."
"Fair point."
She laughed softly.
But neither of them moved.
The space between them had become charged with something neither of them was acknowledging.
Amara suddenly realized something.
"You didn't sleep either."
"No."
"Because of the attack?"
"Partly."
"And the other part?"
His gaze lingered on her for a moment.
"You."
Her stomach flipped.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Ethan leaned slightly closer.
Close enough that his voice dropped to a whisper.
"Because I kept thinking about what would have happened if that bullet had been aimed at two inches higher."
Amara's breath caught.
His hand was still near her ear.
Still dangerously close to her face.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then tension between them felt electric.
Then,
Ethan's phone rang.
The moment shattered.
He stepped back immediately, pulling his phone from his pocket.
His expression changed as he read the screen.
"What is it?" Amara asked.
He answered the call.
"Yes."
Silence.
Then his eyes darkened.
"When?"
Another pause.
"I understand."
He hung up.
Amara felt unease creeping into her chest again.
"What happened?"
Ethan looked at her.
"The driver."
Her stomach tightened.
"What about him?"
Ethan's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"He's awake."
Relief flooded her face.
"Oh thank God."
But Ethan didn't look relieved.
"He said something before the doctors sedated him again."
Amara's heart started pounding.
"What did he say?"
Ethan's jaw tightened slightly.
"He said the shooter wasn't alone."
A chill ran down her spine.
"What do you mean?"
Ethan's voice lowered.
"He said there was someone else in the SUV."
Amara felt a knot form in her stomach.
"Another shooter?"
Ethan shook his head slowly.
"No."
"Then who?"
His eyes locked onto hers.
"The man giving the orders."
The room felt silent.
Amara swallowed.
"Did the driver see his face?"
Ethan hesitated.
"That's the strange part."
"What do you mean?"
Ethan ran a hand through his hair.
"He said the man's face looked…familiar."
Amara frowned.
"Familiar?"
"Yes."
"So who was it?"
Ethan looked at her, his expression dark.
"He couldn't remember."
Her stomach dropped.
"What?"
"The driver said he knew he had seen the man somewhere before."
Ethan's voice lowered.
"But before he could say anything else…"
"He passed out again."
Silence filled the room.
Amara felt a cold feeling settle in her chest.
Someone had tried to kill them.
And the only witness might have recognized the person behind it.
But now…
The truth was slipping away.
Amara looked at Ethan slowly.
"What if he remembers later?"
Ethan's eyes hardened slightly.
"Then someone out there might make sure he never gets a chance."