Genevieve awoke to the sound of the wind howling against the windows, the dim light of dawn barely illuminating the small bedroom. She lay still for a moment, her body aching from the tension of the past days.
Brandstone was already up. She could hear the faint murmur of his voice coming from the kitchen. He was on the phone, his tone clipped and urgent.
Quietly, she slipped out of bed and padded toward the door. She lingered in the hallway, listening.
"I don't care what it costs," Brandstone was saying. "I need those names. If we don't move fast, we're both dead."
Genevieve's stomach churned. She wasn't sure if he was trying to protect her—or save himself.
The morning was tense. Brandstone's mood was grim, and Genevieve's patience was wearing thin.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on, or are you just going to keep shutting me out?" she demanded over breakfast.
Brandstone looked up from his coffee, his expression unreadable. "It's better if you don't know."
"That's not good enough," Genevieve snapped. "I've risked everything to expose these people. I deserve to know the truth."
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze hard. "The truth is, these people don't just want you dead—they want everything you've built erased. Your work, your reputation, your life. They'll destroy it all, and they'll make it look like you were the villain."
Genevieve's hands trembled as she processed his words. "And you? Where do you fit into all of this?"
Brandstone hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I used to work for them," he admitted finally. "I was their cleaner—the one they called when things needed to disappear."
Her breath caught. "You're saying you've done this before? Helped them destroy people?"
"Yes," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "But I got out. I thought I could leave it behind."
Genevieve stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "So, you're just as guilty as they are."
"I never said I wasn't," Brandstone said, his tone sharp. "But I'm not that man anymore."
Genevieve stared at him, her emotions a chaotic mix of anger, betrayal, and something she couldn't quite name.
"I don't know if I can do this," she said finally.
Brandstone's expression softened. "You don't have to trust me, Genevieve. But right now, I'm your best chance at staying alive."
The day passed in a blur of planning and preparation. Brandstone worked tirelessly to secure a new location, while Genevieve combed through her files for any missed leads.
As night fell, they sat together in the living room, the weight of the day pressing down on them.
"We need to find a way to end this," Genevieve said, breaking the silence.
"We will," Brandstone replied. "But it's going to take time."
Genevieve looked at him, her resolve hardening. "I don't have time, Brandstone. Every second we wait, they're getting closer."
He reached out, his hand covering hers. "We'll figure it out. Together."
Their eyes met, and for a moment, the tension between them melted away. Genevieve leaned into him, her head resting against his shoulder.
"I don't know how this ends," she admitted softly.
"Neither do I," he said. "But I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."
In the dead of night, Genevieve awoke to the sound of rustling outside. She sat up, her heart pounding as she strained to listen.
Brandstone was already up, his gun in hand.
"Stay here," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Genevieve ignored him, slipping out of bed and following him into the hallway.
The sound came again, louder this time—a branch snapping just outside the window.
Brandstone motioned for her to stay back as he approached the door.
Genevieve's heart raced as she watched him open it, his movements swift and calculated.
The night was still, the forest eerily quiet. But the unease in the air was palpable.
"They're watching us," Brandstone said, closing the door and locking it.
Genevieve felt a chill run down her spine.
The rest of the night was sleepless, the tension between them growing as they prepared for the inevitable.
"They won't stop until they get what they want," Brandstone said as dawn broke.
Genevieve met his gaze, her resolve unshaken. "Then we make sure they don't get it."