Saving someone isn't always heroic.
Sometimes it's desperate.
Messy.
Ugly.
And sometimes—
It costs more than you're ready to pay.
---
Click.
The sound cut through the silence like a blade.
Too sharp.
Too final.
---
"Don't move," the man said calmly, gun steady, eyes locked on us like he'd already decided how this ended.
No panic.
No hesitation.
Just certainty.
---
I shifted slightly, placing myself just enough in front of her without making it obvious.
Instinct.
Automatic.
---
"Who sent you?" I asked.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
"No," he said simply. "Because the result is the same."
His finger tightened slightly on the trigger.
Not yet.
But close.
Too close.
---
Valentina stepped beside me.
Not behind.
Never behind.
---
"Another one," she muttered. "Do they come in endless supply?"
"Feels like it."
"Great."
---
The man's lips curved faintly.
"You're both impressive," he said. "Surviving this long."
"Disappointed?" I asked.
"Not at all," he replied. "Makes this more interesting."
---
I didn't like him.
Didn't like his calm.
Didn't like the way he wasn't rushing.
That meant he had control.
Or thought he did.
---
"You're injured," he noted, glancing at my shoulder.
"Still standing."
"Barely."
"Still enough."
---
His gaze shifted to her.
Lingering.
Assessing.
---
"And you," he said. "Worth all this trouble?"
She didn't flinch.
Didn't look away.
---
"Depends," she said coolly. "Are you worth killing?"
A pause.
Then—
He smiled.
---
"I like her."
"Get in line," I muttered.
---
Tension tightened.
Closer.
Closer.
---
"We're not walking away from this," she said under her breath.
"No," I agreed. "We're not."
---
The man's grip adjusted.
Subtle.
But enough.
He was about to fire.
---
I saw it.
A fraction of a second before it happened.
---
"Down!"
---
I moved.
Fast.
Faster than the pain.
Faster than the thought.
---
I grabbed her—
Pulled her hard against me—
And turned—
---
The shot rang out.
---
Fire tore through my side.
Hot.
Sharp.
Blinding.
---
I didn't stop.
Couldn't.
---
We hit the ground hard.
Rolling.
Sliding behind what little cover remained.
---
"Dante!" her voice broke through the haze.
"I'm fine," I gritted out.
Lie.
---
Blood spread fast.
Too fast.
---
"You're not fine," she snapped, pressing her hand against the wound.
"Seen worse."
"Stop saying that!"
---
Another shot hit the wall above us.
Closer.
---
"He's moving," I muttered.
"I can see that!"
---
Her hand pressed harder against my side.
Trying to stop the bleeding.
Trying to keep me here.
---
"You shouldn't have done that," she said.
"No choice."
"There's always a choice."
"Not this time."
---
Her eyes met mine.
Anger.
Fear.
Something else.
---
"Why?" she demanded. "Why would you do that?"
The question hit harder than the bullet.
---
"Because—"
I stopped.
Because what?
Because it's my job?
Because you're my responsibility?
Because I had to?
---
None of it felt right.
---
"Because I'm not letting you die," I said finally.
---
Silence.
Heavy.
---
She stared at me.
Searching.
Like she was trying to find something in my words.
Something I wasn't saying.
---
Another shot.
Closer.
Breaking the moment.
---
"We need to move," I said.
"You can't move like this."
"Watch me."
"You're bleeding out."
"I've got time."
"You don't!"
---
The man's footsteps echoed again.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Confident.
---
"You're running out of options," he called out.
"Get in line," I muttered.
---
Valentina tightened her grip on me.
"You're not dying here," she said.
"Wasn't planning to."
"Good. Because I'm not dragging your body out of this mess."
A faint smirk tugged at my lips.
"Appreciate the concern."
---
She rolled her eyes slightly—
Even now.
Even here.
---
"On three," I said.
"What are we doing?"
"Getting out."
"That's not a plan."
"It is today."
---
A breath.
Then—
"One…"
Her grip steadied.
"Two…"
The footsteps got closer.
"Three."
---
We moved.
---
Pain exploded through my side as I forced my body up—
But I didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
---
She supported me without saying a word.
Adjusting.
Matching my pace.
Staying with me.
---
Gunfire erupted again.
---
We pushed through it.
Through the chaos.
Through the pain.
---
Closer—
Closer—
---
The exit.
---
Almost—
---
A shadow moved in front of us.
---
Too fast.
---
The man stepped into our path again.
Gun raised.
Already aimed.
---
"You're not leaving," he said calmly.
---
I raised my weapon.
Slower.
Too slow.
---
He saw it.
Smiled.
---
"This is where it ends."
---
No.
---
Not yet.
---
I shifted—
Just enough—
Pulling her behind me again.
---
"Dante—"
"Stay back."
---
His finger tightened—
---
Then—
A shot rang out.
---
Not his.
---
He froze.
Eyes widening slightly.
---
Then—
He dropped.
---
Silence.
---
I turned.
---
The watcher.
Standing in the shadows.
Gun still raised.
Expression unreadable.
---
"You're welcome," he said calmly.
---
I didn't lower my weapon.
"Why?"
---
His gaze flicked to Valentina.
Then back to me.
---
"Because she's not supposed to die yet."
---
Not reassuring.
Not even close.
---
Valentina stepped closer.
Careful.
Still watching him.
---
"Who are you?" she asked.
---
A faint smile.
---
"Someone who just saved your life."
---
A beat.
Then—
"You should run," he added.
---
"Why?" I asked.
---
His smile faded.
---
"Because next time…"
---
His eyes darkened.
---
"I won't."
---
Silence.
Cold.
Final.
---
Then—
He disappeared.
Again.
---
Gone like he was never there.
---
I exhaled slowly.
Too slowly.
---
My legs gave out.
---
She caught me before I hit the ground.
---
"Hey—hey, stay with me," she said quickly, her voice tighter now.
"I'm fine."
"You need a new line."
"Working on it."
---
Her hands pressed against the wound again.
Trying to stop the bleeding.
Trying to keep me here.
---
"You're not dying," she said.
"Didn't plan to."
"Good."
A pause.
Then—
"Because I'm not done arguing with you."
---
A faint breath left me.
Almost a laugh.
---
"Wouldn't dream of it."
---
But the darkness crept in anyway.
Slow.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
---
And as everything started to fade—
I realized something I couldn't ignore anymore.
---
This wasn't just about the assignment.
---
Not anymore.
---
"Dante…"
Her voice was the last thing I heard.
---
And for the first time—
I didn't know if I'd answer.