CHAPTER SIX.
THE CONFESSION.
The drive was silent, Lena sat in the passenger seat of Adrian's car, her hands resting tightly in her lap. The city passed by outside the window, but she barely noticed it. Her mind was still stacked on one thing. A camera in her apartment watching her, recording her, she closed her eyes briefly. "This can't be real," she whispered. Adrian glanced at her "it is." His voice was calm, but firm. That calmness was the only thing keeping her from completely falling apart. "Where are we going?" She asked softly, "my place." Lena nodded slowly, she didn't argue, she didn't have the strength to. Adrian apartment was exactly how she imagined it. Simple, clean, controlled and no unnecessary decorations. No clutter everything in its place.
Lena stepped aside slowly, looking around. "It's quiet," she said. Adrian closed the door behind them. "I like it this way he said." Lena turned to face him, there was a pause. A heavy one , then she spoke. "Tell me the truth." Adrian's expression shifted slightly. "What truth." "All of it." She said. No more half answer. No more hiding things." Adrian held her gaze. For a moment, it looked like he might refuse. But then, he sighed and gave in. "Victor Hale is not just a businessman," Adrian began. "He runs multiple illegal operations behind the scenes." Lena eyes widened slightly, "like what." Trafficking, blackmail and surveillance control." Her stomach turned , "and you?" Adrian hesitated "I have been investigating him." "For how long?" "Months," Lena stared at him, "so you knew he was dangerous before I even met him?" "Yes." "And you didn't tell me?" I didn't think he would notice you he said. Lena shook her head." But he did." Adrian jaw tightened. "Yes." Silence filled the room. Lena was now feeling scared and not knowing what to believe anymore.
Then Lena asked the question that had been building inside her. "Why are you helping me?" Adrian looked at her. This time, he didn't look away. "Because I care about you." The words landed softly, but they hit hard, Lena's breath caught. "You barely know me," she said. "That doesn't change anything." Her heart began to beat faster. "I tried to stay away," he admitted. "I knew getting close to you would be dangerous. "Then why didn't you?" He stepped closer, "because I couldn't." The air between them changed. It became heavier, warmer and more intense. Lena swallowed. "You're saying this like it's a bad thing." "It is Adrian said quietly. "Because now you're a target." "But I would have been a target anyway." She replied. Adrian didn't respond. Because she was right. Lena stepped closer to him, her voice softened. "I'm scared ," she admitted. Adrian's expression softened. "I know." "But I'm more scared of not understanding what's happening." Adrian nodded slowly. "Then I'll make sure you understand everything. Lena looked at his eyes. "And you don't leave me out of it?" "No." A pause. Then "no more secret." Lena took a deep breath. "Okay." Their eyes stayed locked and for the first time. There was something stronger than fear. Trust. Outside, the world continued as normal, but inside that apartment everything had changed. Because now , they were in this together. And somewhere in the shadows, Victor Hale was watching, waiting and planning.