The tension in the house had reached a boiling point. Rose and I barely spoke in the presence of Elise, though when we were alone, the weight of everything unsaid was palpable. Rose was growing restless, and I could tell she felt trapped, even though I was doing everything I could to shield her. But the Meridian Syndicate wasn't letting up—they were calling more frequently, their demands growing bolder.
It was during one of these quiet mornings that Elise finally confronted Rose. She'd had enough of the coldness and late-night absences.
"Rose, we need to talk," Elise said, her voice stern but laced with concern.
Rose sighed, her fingers tapping impatiently on the countertop. "What now?"
"I'm worried about you," Elise said, folding her arms. "You're shutting everyone out, and you're putting yourself in danger. Whatever's going on, you can trust us."
Rose's expression hardened. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"I know you're hurting," Elise said gently. "But I also know that running away from it isn't going to fix anything."
Rose's eyes flickered toward me, as if expecting me to step in. But I stayed quiet, letting Elise say her piece.
"I've lost too much already," Elise continued, her voice breaking. "First my husband, and now… I feel like I'm losing you too."
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, I thought Rose might break. But instead, she turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Elise sat down heavily, her face crumpling as tears filled her eyes.
"I don't know what to do anymore," she said softly.
I placed a hand on her shoulder. "She'll come around," I said, though I wasn't sure I believed it myself.
Later that evening, Rose returned, her mood as stormy as ever. She found me in the living room, pacing nervously as I waited for Leo's call.
"You're going to get yourself killed, you know that?" she said, leaning against the doorframe.
I stopped pacing and turned to face her. "I don't have a choice."
"There's always a choice," she said bitterly. "You just made the wrong one."
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I'm doing this for you, Rose. Do you think I want to be involved with these people? Do you think I enjoy lying to Elise? This isn't about me."
She hesitated, her expression softening. "I didn't ask for this, Daniel. I didn't ask for any of it."
"Neither did I," I said quietly. "But here we are."
Before Rose could respond, my phone buzzed. It was Leo. I answered quickly, my pulse quickening as his voice filled the line.
"We've got a bigger job for you this time," he said. "Meet me at the warehouse at midnight."
"What kind of job?" I asked, my stomach twisting.
"You'll see," he said, and then the line went dead.
I glanced at Rose, who was watching me with a mix of fear and frustration.
"Let me come with you," she said suddenly.
"No," I said firmly. "It's too dangerous."
"And it's not dangerous for you?" she shot back. "If something happens to you, what do you think is going to happen to me?"
Her words hit harder than I wanted to admit. She was right—if I got in over my head, there would be no one left to protect her.
"Fine," I said reluctantly. "But you stay in the car. No arguments."
The warehouse was as foreboding as I expected, its dim lighting casting long shadows across the concrete floor. Leo greeted me with his usual smirk, flanked by two of his men.
"Glad you could make it," he said. Then his eyes flicked to Rose, who was lingering near the entrance. "Didn't expect you to bring company."
"She's just here for backup," I said quickly.
Leo raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. "Alright. Here's the deal—we've got a shipment coming in tonight, and we need someone to make sure it gets where it's going without any… complications."
"What kind of complications?" I asked warily.
"Competitors," Leo said, his tone casual. "Let's just say they're not thrilled about us moving in on their territory."
My stomach sank. This wasn't just another delivery—it was a direct confrontation.
"You in?" Leo asked, his eyes boring into mine.
I hesitated, my mind racing. But before I could answer, Rose stepped forward.
"We'll do it," she said firmly.
My head snapped toward her. "Rose—"
"I'm not letting you do this alone," she said, her voice steady.
Leo chuckled. "I like her. She's got guts."
I wanted to argue, to tell her to stay out of it, but I knew it was useless. Rose had made up her mind, and there was no stopping her.
As we left the warehouse, my mind was spinning with doubts. This job was more dangerous than anything I'd faced so far, and now Rose was involved.
"You shouldn't have said yes," I said as we climbed into the car.
"You shouldn't have come here in the first place," she shot back.
We drove in silence, the tension between us thick and unrelenting. For the first time, I wasn't sure if I could keep us both safe.
And for the first time, I wasn't sure if I was strong enough to walk away.