The ringing in Lena's ears refused to stop.
For a few seconds—or maybe longer—everything felt distant. Blurred. Like she had been pulled out of her own body and thrown into a moment she couldn't fully process.
Smoke lingered in the air, thick and suffocating.
Her grip on Aiden tightened.
She didn't even realize she was shaking until he pulled back slightly to look at her.
"Lena."
His voice was sharp. Focused.
Grounding.
"Are you hurt?"
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Trying to force herself back into reality.
"I—I don't think so," she said, her voice uneven.
Aiden's hands were already on her shoulders, scanning her quickly, his expression darker than she had ever seen it.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Angry.
And that anger?
It wasn't directed at her.
"Stay here," he said.
But Lena immediately grabbed his arm.
"No."
He paused.
"I'm not staying here alone," she added, her voice firmer now despite the tremor in it.
Aiden studied her for a moment.
Then gave a small nod.
"Fine. Stay close."
He stood, pulling her up with him, his hand instinctively finding hers again.
This time—
It didn't feel like control.
It felt like protection.
The living room was a mess.
Glass scattered everywhere.
The window shattered completely, leaving the outside world exposed in a way that made Lena's stomach twist.
"What was that thing?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
Aiden crouched near where the object had landed.
Careful.
Controlled.
"A small explosive device," he said.
Lena's breath caught.
"Small?" she repeated.
"It was meant to scare," he added. "Not kill."
That didn't make her feel better.
"They're escalating," he muttered.
Lena watched him closely.
"You expected this?"
Aiden stood slowly.
"I expected pressure," he said. "Not this soon."
She wrapped her arms around herself.
Trying to steady the sudden chill that ran through her.
"This is insane," she whispered.
Aiden looked at her.
His gaze softer now.
But still intense.
"I'm getting you out of here."
"What?"
"You're not staying in this house," he said firmly. "Not after this."
Lena hesitated.
"And go where?" she asked.
"Somewhere safe."
A bitter laugh slipped from her lips.
"Safe?" she repeated. "Does that even exist in your world?"
Aiden didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Still—
He stepped closer.
Lowered his voice.
"I'll make it safe."
Something in the way he said it made her pause.
For the first time—
It didn't sound like confidence.
It sounded like a promise.
Minutes later, everything moved quickly.
Too quickly for Lena to fully process.
Security arrived.
Voices filled the house.
Orders were given.
Glass was being cleared.
Damage assessed.
But through it all—
Aiden never let her out of his sight.
His hand brushed against hers more than once.
Subtle.
Unintentional.
Or maybe not.
Lena sat quietly as everything unfolded around her, her mind still replaying everything.
The messages.
The picture.
The explosion.
"You okay?"
She looked up.
Aiden stood in front of her again.
Closer this time.
"I'm fine," she said automatically.
He didn't look convinced.
"You're shaking."
Lena glanced down.
He was right.
"I just… didn't expect my life to turn into this overnight," she admitted softly.
Aiden's expression shifted.
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
"It won't always be like this," he said.
Lena looked at him.
"You don't know that."
A pause.
"No," he admitted. "But I know I won't let anything happen to you."
Her chest tightened again.
"You couldn't stop what just happened," she pointed out.
Aiden's jaw clenched.
"That won't happen again."
"You can't promise that," she said quietly.
His gaze locked onto hers.
"Yes," he said. "I can."
The certainty in his voice made something shift inside her.
Not completely.
Not enough to erase the doubt.
But enough to make her hesitate.
"Why?" she asked suddenly.
Aiden frowned slightly.
"Why what?"
"Why do you care so much?" she asked. "This is supposed to be a deal. A contract. Nothing more."
Silence.
For a moment—
It felt like time slowed.
Aiden didn't answer immediately.
And that?
That told her this question mattered.
Finally—
"I told you before," he said quietly. "You're my responsibility."
Lena held his gaze.
"That's not the same thing as caring."
Another silence.
This one heavier.
More dangerous.
Aiden stepped closer.
Close enough that she could feel the shift in the air between them.
"You think I'd go this far," he said softly, "for something that doesn't matter?"
Her breath caught.
"I don't know what to think anymore," she admitted.
And that?
That was the most honest thing she had said all day.
Aiden studied her face carefully.
As if trying to read every thought she wasn't saying out loud.
"Then don't think," he said.
Lena blinked.
"What?"
"Just trust me."
A small, almost disbelieving laugh escaped her.
"You're asking for a lot."
"I know."
Silence stretched between them again.
But this time—
It felt different.
Less hostile.
More uncertain.
More real.
Before Lena could respond—
Aiden's phone rang.
His expression shifted instantly as he answered.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then—
His entire demeanor darkened.
"When?" he asked sharply.
Another pause.
"Understood."
He ended the call slowly.
Lena's stomach tightened.
"What is it?" she asked.
Aiden looked at her.
And this time—
There was no hesitation.
"They're not done," he said.
Her heart sank.
"What do you mean?"
A beat.
Then—
"They're coming for you next."
The words hit like a punch.
Lena went completely still.
"What?"
Aiden stepped closer.
His voice lower now.
More dangerous.
"They've made it clear," he said. "You're not just a message anymore."
Her breath hitched.
"You're the target."
Silence filled the space between them.
And for the first time—
Lena truly understood what she was up against.
Not just secrets.
Not just lies.
But something far worse.
Something that wasn't going to stop.
And now—
She was right in the middle of it.
Aiden's gaze hardened as he looked at her.
"Which means," he said, "from this moment on…"
He took another step closer.
"You don't leave my side."
Lena swallowed.
Because this time—
It didn't feel like a suggestion.
It felt like survival.