Noah stared speechlessly at Derek, not knowing what to say. The name belonged to a person from his past: one who was very close to his mother, but long gone into oblivion. His eyes were fierce, demanding, and sent tendrils of fear worming down Noah's spine."Come inside," Noah said after he opened the door for Derek. He could just close it behind him in a total whirl of questions.Derek didn't waste time. "It's about Mia," he said, fixing Noah with an unbroken stare. "She's not who you think she is. And she's even more dangerous than you could imagine."- To our surprise, Noah frowned, puzzled. "Mia? What do you mean? She's just... a woman I met. We hit it off, but I'm not like-"Derek shook his head, looking all serious. "She is part of the same network your mother was running from. Her father is Marcus's right-hand man, and she has been sent to get close to you."With that, Noah felt like he had been punched in the gut. Blood drained from his face. "What?" he whispered, voice almost inaudible. "Why? Why me?""Because you are the key to finishing what Marcus started," revealed Derek. "Your mother's enemy has been watching you. All that your mother did for your safety was in vain. They are using you as bait for her."The fragile idea in Noah's mind cracked. He had been safe from the naked truth all his life. It all came crashing down. The very person he had begun to care about-Mia-is the daughter of those people from whom his mother had fought hard to keep him safe."But she... Mia doesn't know," plead Noah, almost trying. "She doesn't know what her dad does. She's just... a normal person."Derek shook his head again. "You don't know that for sure. But you need to find out. And fast."---The next day, Noah was all preoccupied with Mia. Her smile, her laugh, her making him feel like he was a worthy being-it all seemed too good to be true. Was he actually giving in to someone sent to destroy him?Noah, in search of the fact, decided to contact Mia. She'd probably be giving answers. But he would ensure his unfeeling logic did not mix with emotions. He sent her a message for a coffee meeting. Yes, she accepted, with an answering quick cheerful response. All this made him a little more suspicious.They meet at a little cafe in the city. Noah, as he walks into the cafe, has a quick settling of eyes at a corner table where he finds Mia's dark ones brightening the very moment she sees him. She gets up as her smile lights up."Hey," Mia said, with a voice that sounded warm and inviting. "Glad to see you made it."Noah managed to smile; he tried to push the discomfort that had settled in his chest aside. "Sure. I would have been glad to see you, Mia."They settled down, and their banter flowed as naturally as it seemed at the start. But Noah's mind continued drifting down to what Derek said. Is Mia actually part of the whole web of traps all around his mother's past? Is she here to ruin him, or is she caught up in something beyond her control?"You seem distracted," Mia said, leaning in slightly. "Everything okay?"Mia asked with a raised eyebrow, clearly intrigued, "Oh? About what regarding me?"Noah raised an eyebrow and hesitated for a moment before deciding to go for it. "Who are you really, Mia? What's your connection to Marcus? To my mother?"Mia's eyes widened, and for the briefest moment, Noah caught the flicker of something—perhaps fear?—before it was masked by a smile."Is this what you're really concerned about?" she asked, her tone more defensive now. "I am merely a woman trying to get to know you, Noah. There's nothing more to it."Noah leaned in, voice low but forceful. "I don't believe that. I know you are hiding something. As a matter of fact, I simply need to get the truth."The smile fading off Mia's lips, and Noah caught a glimpse of the woman behind the mask, just as torn as he was. But before she could respond, the door to the café slammed open and a man dressed in dark suit walked in.Noah instinctively sensed that something was very wrong.His eyes scanned the room before zeroing in on Mia. The next moment, he was walking toward her without a word, but his authority is as good as a shout.Mia's face lost all its color. "No," came out of her trembling lips, "please-no."Noah popped out of the seat, bewilderment and indignation swelling in his chest. "What is going on here?"The man did not bother to reply. Instead, he grabbed Mia by the arms and dragged her out of her chair."Noah shouted with a deserved step forward. "Let go of her!"Turned around to face him, the man remained stone-cold. "You're getting in the way kid, this is between us."He violently shoved Noah aside and proceeded to send him crashing to the floor with equal measure. Mia met his gaze for a brief moment before deep regret flooded her features as she was pulled from the cafe."No!" Noah yelled, scrambling to his feet.But it was too late. Mia had vanished, and the man who took her had disappeared into the night.----To Be Continued...