Arizona’s gaze was fixed on the papers strewn across her desk, a reflection of days spent immersed in her father’s world of deceit.

Each document, meticulously organized, spoke of a larger mystery that gripped at her conscience. The weight of the Night Shade deal loomed over her, haunting her dreams and fueling her drive to uncover the truth.

It was no longer just about exposing her father’s wrongs; it was about confronting the betrayal she felt each time she uncovered another piece of evidence.

Ethan’s arrival broke her intense concentration. His familiar presence brought a momentary relief. He approached her desk, his eyes moving from the scattered papers to her weary face.

"Good morning," he said softly. "Dr. Lee came by, but I felt fine, so I told him he could leave."

Arizona’s focus remained on the documents as she replied, “You should have let him examine you

Ethan's gaze softened as he noticed the strain etched on her face. "Did you sleep at all? You look exhausted."

"I slept enough all my life,Ethan."

He moved closer, his eyes scanning the papers scattered on her desk. "What's going on?"

"After you've told me about that crate I started searching. Nothing was odd or illegal but I found this" she stood up as she handed a thin papper to him
"I found a note hidden among these papers. It references Night Shade Cargo Industries-something I've heard my father mention before,it's a cover name."

"So a cover for what?What is he smuggling?"

"I think the crate you found is not contraband cargo.That's why I was looking for you the day my father beat you. How did the tabacco smell?"

"It's a rather odd question don't you think?"

"Please,indulge me this."

“It was smoky, with a hint of something spicy,” Ethan said, rubbing his temples. “I can’t pinpoint what exactly.”

Arizona’s eyes narrowed. “That sounds like oriental tobacco. It’s my father’s favorite.”

"So?"

"It was not smuggling. It was payment.Money and tabacco only for N.Shade.Night Shade is my father."

"Payment for what?"

"That is what I'm trying to find.It's pretty bad if he decided to use his cover name.He is so well conected that he could do everything he want in San Francisco and no one would care."

Ethan glanced out the window, where "If Night Shade Cargo Industries is operating in San Francisco, there must be a trail somewhere—paperwork, financial records, or even informants. "

Arizona nodded, her eyes focused. "We need to be smart about our approach. The city’s network of docks,  could offer clues, but they could also be a significant danger.My father is everywhere"

Ethan picked up the note again, examining it closely. "Let’s start by looking into the addresses and names associated with Night Shade Cargo Industries."
"Yes, but to get those documents, I need access to the office at the docks. I can't go there this week—my father believes I'm in Paris."

Ethan’s expression softened. "You’re right. We need to be cautious. Let’s lay low this week. I’ll recover, and we can plan our next move carefully."

Arizona nodded, relieved. "Good.If we rush, we could end up making things worse."

Ethan moved to sit down, wincing slightly as he settled into a chair. "I’ll take this time to rest and gather my strength. Meanwhile, you can keep digging through what we have here. Maybe there’s more in these documents that you’ve missed."

"You need to rest,Ethan.There is no need to wrap your head around this dor now."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "I know. But I can't just sit here and do nothing. "

"We will,but first let's all rest this week."she whispered softly to herself

And so they did. For the next few days, they lived as if the world outside didn’t exist.  Each morning, they gathered for breakfast, enjoying a false sense of a normal life.

Their days settled into a odd routine: l breakfasts with freshly brewed coffee, long afternoons filled with Arizona working hard in her office and evenings spent preparing simple yet comforting meals. Diana’s laughter began to fill the house, a stark contrast to the tension that had gripped them before.She read ecerything that Arizona gave her, her nose often buried in books, and her conversations with Thatcher grew more frequent as she teased him disturbing his usual order.

Ethan found solace in this routine, but there was an feeling that he couldn't shake. The calm felt deceptive, as if it were merely the eye of a storm. "I can't remember the last time I had such a peaceful breakfast," he remarked one morning, savoring a bite of toast, yet a part of him remained on edge, wary of the quiet.

Diana smiled, her eyes softening. "It’s nice, isn’t it? For a moment, it feels like everything is okay."

Ethan forced a smile, trying to mirror her happiness, but his thoughts kept drifting to the looming danger. He feared this serenity was just the beginning to something worse

But as the week progressed and Sunday came,the urgency of their mission lingered in the background.Some of Ethan's strength returned, and the determination in Arizona's eyes grew sharper.

That night, Ethan headed to the bedroom full of hope that somehow he will bring Conrad down.He's deep thoughts were abruptly stop as he entered and unexpectedly saw Arizona int a bathrobe, the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the window and illuminating her figure.It began clear to him rhat maybe he could not handle all unexpected things.

The moonlight draped her skin, highlighting her small figure with a delicate glow. Ethan had never seen her like this; she looked to him like a ghost from another realm, haunting his mind and soul with her beauty.

The loosely tied robe hugged her waist more snugly, emphasizing the graceful curve of her body. Her chestnut hair fell in soft waves down her back. Her silky skin, illuminated by the moon’s glow, gave her an appearance of a delicate porcelain doll—fragile yet hauntingly beautiful.

"Oh my God,Ethan"she said while covering herself  "I thought you were in Diana's room"

Caught off guard, Ethan quickly composed himself and said in a soft, apologetic tone, "I'm sorry for the intrusion. I didn’t expect to find you here. I usually don’t see you around when I come to bed, but I should have been more considerate. It’s your room after all."

"It's fine.I usually work at this time but I have a terrible headache.I think I'm just nervous about seeing my father tomorrow."

Ethan, sensing her discomfort, stepped further into the room and lowered his voice. "If you need to talk about it or need anything to help with the headache, I’m here. We’re in this together, you are my ally."

She giggled as she approached him and started gazing into his blue eyes.
"Thank you."

Ethan’s concern was evident. “When did you last get a good night’s sleep? I don’t mean to pry, but you look exhausted.”

Arizona’s eyes were heavy. “I sleep when I can, but the thoughts and guilt never seem to let up.”

She walked over to the couch and sat down. "I’ll just sleep a bit here."

Ethan noticed her choice of sleeping spot and asked, "Why the couch? I’ve never seen you sleep in the bedroom. You always seem to come in after I’m already deep asleep."

Arizona looked up, her expression a mix of resignation and discomfort. "Since you arrived, I’ve been sleeping here. It’s just become a habit. It helps me avoid disturbing you."

"I can take the couch.I slept way worse."

"No.you need to rest."

"But you need to rest too.I am fine with sleeping there."He said with high voice as he guided her gently to the bed

"Sleep here,please,Arizona"

Arizona settled into the bed, adjusting her robe to feel more comfortable. As she lay there, her mind was a swirl of exhaustion and concern. The bed, with its soft linens and the faint scent of smoke reminded her of Ethan. She could hear him shifting on the couch.

She felt a mix of gratitude and guilt—grateful for Ethan's insistence on her comfort but guilty for making him sacrifice his rest.

The sound of Ethan’s attempts to settle on the couch stirred her. She could sense his discomfort and felt a pang of regret that he was enduring it for her sake. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken worries and the weight of their shared mission.

Finally, unable to bear the thought of Ethan suffering on the couch any longer, Arizona spoke up. "Ethan," she called softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "we can share the bed. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable."

Ethan’s response came almost immediately, filled with relief. "Are you sure? I don’t want to impose."

"Yes, I’m sure," she said, her tone firm but gentle.

Ethan slowly made his way to the bed, his movements careful not to disturb her. As he settled beside her, the proximity brought a sense of warmth and reassurance.

"You surely waited to regain the bed,didn't you?"Arizona joked as she faced him gently

Ethan chuckled softly at Arizona’s playful comment. “I guess you could say I’ve been plotting my return to the bed for a while now,” he teased, a lighthearted tone in his voice.

As Arizona studied Ethan’s rough features, her gaze lingered on the bruised spots marring his cheek his less swollen eye and the healing cut across his forehead. Her heart ached to kiss away his pain and make him feel better.

Arizona’s gaze drifted to the ceiling, and her voice softened as she spoke. “My mother designed this ceiling. She always had such grand ideas, even if she drove the workers mad with her demands.”

Ethan glanced at the ceiling, taking in the constellation map. “It’s stunning. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Arizona’s eyes softened with a mix of pride and sorrow. “She had a knack for turning ordinary things into something special. She was brilliant in ways I still admire. But...”

Ethan’s curiosity turned into concern as he noticed the change in her demeanor. “Was?”

Arizona’s shoulders sagged slightly. “She took her own life when I was just five. I barely knew her.”

Ethan’s face softened with empathy. “I’m truly sorry, Arizona. That must have been incredibly hard.”

“She did it here, in this apartment,” Arizona continued, her voice trembling. “My father never spoke of it, leaving me with nothing but whispers and speculation. Some say it was because of an affair he had, others claim she was deeply unhappy. There were even rumors that she might have been murdered.”

Ethan fell into silence, his mind wandering to his own mother’s death. Arizona’s reflections stirred his own unresolved grief, making him feel a profound connection to her pain.

“I think she reached a point where she couldn’t bear the weight any longer,” Arizona said softly. “She must have been exhausted.”

Arizona’s reflection on her mother's strength struck Ethan deeply. The way Arizona spoke of her mother’s burden and her eventual end mirrored Ethan’s own struggle with unresolved grief and the weight of his own loss. Her words seemed to unravel a tight knot of sorrow he had been carrying, making him confront feelings he had tried to bury.

When Arizona’s hand gently squeezed his, Ethan was jolted back to the present. He looked at her, noting how her features had softened in sleep, her breathing steady and calm. Her peaceful state was a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging inside him.

With a tender touch, Ethan took her hand and brought it to his lips. As he pressed a soft kiss to her fingers, a rush of emotions washed over him. He felt a sense of  protectiveness, combined with a deep appreciation for the connection they shared. The simple act of holding her hand and kissing it felt like an intimate promise of support and understanding.

They were both broken souls, each fighting their own battles for justice

With a final, lingering kiss on her hand, he settled into the bed, feeling a sense of calm . As sleep gently overtook him, he held onto the hope that their shared strength  would guide them through the darkness and somehow, maybe, it will protect them.

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