The following days blurred together in a whirlwind of questions and paranoia. Every time Ava picked up her phone, she half-expected a call from an untraceable number, or a cryptic text from an unknown source. Nadia's words echoed in her mind, like a constant hum in the background: Stay close to Ethan. He's the key.
But the more Ava watched him, the more conflicted she became. She saw the way Ethan's eyes hardened whenever the topic of his past came up, and the subtle tension in his jaw whenever they were around certain people. He was constantly on edge, as if waiting for something—or someone—to catch up with him.
And now, here they were, sitting across from each other in the small café near the university, the hum of chatter around them doing little to drown out the heaviness between them.
Ethan shifted in his seat, his fingers tapping restlessly on the table. Ava had learned that when he did that, it meant something was bothering him. Something he wasn't saying.
"You're not telling me something," Ava said, her voice low but firm.
Ethan's eyes flickered up to meet hers. He smiled, but it was the kind of smile that didn't reach his eyes, the kind that said I'm trying to protect you. And that smile only made Ava more determined.
"Not everything needs to be said out loud," he replied quietly, his voice strained.
Ava's heart sank. She didn't want to believe it, but the pieces were starting to fit together, slowly but surely. Ethan wasn't just keeping secrets from her—he was keeping her in the dark for her own safety. She could see it now, the walls he had built around himself, the guarded way he spoke, the way he deflected her questions.
But the truth was, Ava had been in the dark for too long. She wasn't afraid of what he was hiding anymore. She was afraid of what would happen if she kept ignoring it.
"Ethan, I need to know. If I'm going to be part of this... part of whatever this is, I need to know the truth." She held his gaze, hoping that this time, he would let the walls fall.
His expression faltered, but only for a moment. Then, he leaned back in his seat, sighing deeply. "I'm not the man you think I am, Ava. You have no idea the things I've done. The people I've hurt."
Ava's pulse quickened. This was it. This was the moment she had been waiting for.
"I know you've done things. But that doesn't change what's happening now. Ethan, these people... the ones you're running from—they want me too, don't they? Nadia said I'm connected to all this, and you're telling me I don't understand. Well, I want to understand." She felt her chest tighten as she spoke, the words coming out faster than she could catch them. "I can't do this without knowing what I'm really dealing with."
For a moment, there was silence between them, broken only by the clink of silverware on plates around them. Ethan ran a hand through his hair, his eyes darting nervously. It was clear now that he was at a crossroads—a moment of choice that could either bring them closer or destroy what little trust they had left.
"You're right," he said finally, his voice low, almost apologetic. "You have a right to know. But once I tell you, there's no going back. You'll be involved whether you want to be or not."
Ava's heart raced. "I'm already involved, Ethan."
Ethan's eyes darkened, and for the first time, Ava saw something dangerous flicker in them. Something that made her blood run cold. "This isn't something you want to be a part of. I don't want you to get hurt."
His words stung, but not in the way she expected. It wasn't anger. It was fear. Fear for her. Ava swallowed hard, trying to push past the knot in her throat.
"I don't need you to protect me, Ethan. I need you to trust me. We're in this together now."
For a long moment, Ethan said nothing. Then, he exhaled, as if finally giving in to the weight of his secrets. "Fine. But you have to understand, what I'm about to tell you will change everything."
Ava leaned forward, her eyes locked on his. "I'm ready."
Ethan shifted, then began to speak in a quiet, tense voice, his words coming slower now, like he was choosing them carefully. "The organization I'm involved with—they don't just deal with hacking or corporate espionage. They're into something much bigger. They've infiltrated governments, banks, private corporations. They manipulate events on a global scale. They control information, they control people. And their reach is far—too far."
Ava's stomach twisted. This sounded like something out of a spy novel, something far beyond anything she could have imagined.
"But why you, Ava?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Why are they after me?"
Ethan took a deep breath. "Because you were always meant to be a part of this. Nadia... she's not just some random person. She's a part of their network, someone they trust. She was sent to test you, to see if you'd be an asset." He looked at her directly now, his gaze sharp. "You've already proven yourself, whether you realize it or not. And that's why I've been trying to protect you. You're in danger."
Ava's mind raced. She couldn't believe it. She had thought Nadia was working with them, but now it sounded like she was part of something bigger—a part of a conspiracy that stretched across continents, across industries, across governments.
"But why didn't you tell me sooner?" Ava asked, her voice trembling. "Why didn't you trust me with the truth?"
Ethan's eyes softened, but there was a guilt in them that made Ava's heart ache. "I never wanted you to be involved, Ava. I thought I could protect you. But now..." He trailed off, looking away.
"But now you need me," Ava finished for him.
He nodded, slowly. "Yes."
Ava's mind spun. What was she supposed to do with this information? How could she process all of this—global conspiracies, shadow organizations, threats on her life? And how could she possibly trust Ethan when everything about him seemed to scream danger?
But then she looked into his eyes, and for a fleeting moment, the world outside the café seemed to disappear.
Whatever was coming, they would face it together.
"I'm with you," she said, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "But we need to end this. Once and for all."
Ethan didn't say anything, but the weight of his gaze spoke volumes. She had made her decision. Now, they were in this together. And there was no turning back.