Ethan's POV
Ethan leaned against the wall of his penthouse, his phone pressed to his ear as Daniel's voice crackled on the other end.
"She has the files, sir," Daniel reported. "Whoever tipped her off knew exactly where to direct her."
Ethan's grip tightened on the phone. "And the man at Pier 47?"
"Dead," Daniel replied grimly. "Shot execution-style. It's a message."
Ethan's stomach churned. This wasn't just about control anymore. It was about silencing anyone who got too close, and Sophia Hart was their next target.
"I need you to double security around the penthouse," Ethan said. "And track down the source of that tip. Whoever's pulling these strings wants a war."
"Yes, sir."
Ethan ended the call, tossing the phone onto the marble counter. His eyes drifted to the couch where Sophia sat, the folder open on her lap. Her brow furrowed as she studied the documents, her lips pressed into a thin line of determination.
She was relentless, he'd give her that. But her determination was going to get her killed if he couldn't stay one step ahead of whoever was hunting her.
"You're staring," Sophia said without looking up.
Ethan pushed off the wall, crossing the room to stand in front of her. "You should rest."
She snorted. "Rest? Are you serious? I just found out your company is tied to human experimentation and murder. Forgive me if I'm not in the mood for a nap."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "It's not my company anymore."
"That's a convenient excuse," Sophia shot back, closing the folder with a sharp snap. "You're still responsible, Ethan. You might not have pulled the trigger, but you built the weapon."
Her words hit harder than he wanted to admit. She wasn't wrong.
He crouched down in front of her, his gaze level with hers. "Do you think I don't know that? Do you think I don't see their faces every time I close my eyes? I'm not asking for your forgiveness, Sophia. I'm asking for your cooperation. If we're going to take them down, we need to do it together."
Sophia's eyes searched his, the fire in them flickering with uncertainty.
"What's your plan?" she asked finally.
Ethan exhaled, rising to his feet. "There's a man. Victor Langston. He was one of the lead scientists on Project Eclipse. If anyone knows how deep this goes, it's him."
"Where is he?"
Ethan's expression darkened. "In hiding. But I have a contact who might know how to find him. It's risky, and it's going to put both of us in their crosshairs."
Sophia stood, her chin lifting defiantly. "I've been in their crosshairs since the moment I started this story. What's one more risk?"
Her bravery bordered on recklessness, and Ethan couldn't decide if he admired it or hated it.
The meeting was set for midnight at a secluded diner on the outskirts of the city. Ethan drove in silence, his mind racing with possibilities.
Sophia sat beside him, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed out the window. The tension between them crackled like electricity, unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.
"You don't have to come," Ethan said finally.
Sophia turned to him, her expression unreadable. "You don't get to decide that."
He didn't respond. He knew better than to argue with her when she had that look in her eyes.
When they arrived, the diner was almost empty. A flickering neon sign cast a dull red glow over the parking lot, and a lone trucker sat at the counter inside, nursing a cup of coffee.
Ethan led the way to a booth in the back, his senses on high alert. His contact, a wiry man named Marcus, was already there, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"Blackwood," Marcus greeted, exhaling a cloud of smoke. His eyes flicked to Sophia. "This the journalist causing all the trouble?"
Sophia bristled, but Ethan placed a calming hand on her arm. "She's with me," he said firmly.
Marcus shrugged. "Your funeral."
Ethan slid into the booth across from him, Sophia following suit. "We're looking for Victor Langston," Ethan said without preamble.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Langston? That's a dangerous name to be throwing around."
"Do you know where he is or not?"
Marcus hesitated, taking a long drag of his cigarette. "I might. But information like that doesn't come cheap."
Ethan reached into his coat, pulling out a thick envelope. He slid it across the table, and Marcus snatched it up, thumbing through the bills inside.
"Langston's holed up in an old lab," Marcus said, lowering his voice. "Abandoned facility in Ravenswood. But be careful. He's paranoid as hell. Has a lot of security."
Ethan nodded, his mind already working out the logistics.
As they stood to leave, Marcus grabbed Ethan's arm. "Word of advice? Don't trust anyone. Langston's not the only one with eyes on you."
The drive back to the city was tense. Sophia broke the silence first.
"Do you trust him?"
"Marcus?" Ethan shook his head. "Not even a little. But he's the only lead we've got."
Sophia frowned, her fingers drumming against the armrest. "And what happens when we find Langston? Do you think he'll talk?"
Ethan glanced at her, his expression grim. "He'll talk. One way or another."
The determination in his voice sent a chill down Sophia's spine.
Back at the penthouse, Ethan's phone buzzed with a message from Daniel. He read it quickly, his blood running cold.
"They know," he muttered.
Sophia looked up from the couch. "Who knows what?"
"About Marcus," Ethan said, his mind racing. "They're watching him. And if they're watching him, they'll come for us next."
Sophia's face paled. "What do we do?"
Ethan's jaw tightened. "We move fast. Pack a bag. We're leaving in an hour."
Sophia didn't argue, and as she disappeared into the guest room, Ethan stared out at the city below.
The noose was tightening, and the shadows of hi
s past were closing in. But this time, he wasn't just fighting for himself.
He was fighting for her too.