Kelvin stood by the bed, arranging clothes for John while he took a bath.

John hadn't bathed or shaved in weeks-not since his captivity began.

Timothy stood by the window, a phone pressed to his ear. He had called his boss to let him know he was safe, careful not to raise suspicion.

"Everything is sorted out," he said to Kelvin after ending the call. "I explained the circumstances surrounding John's disappearance to Julius. I told him John had been following a new lead into our enemies' territory expansion."

Timothy moved to the chair where he had once been restrained and sat down. He ran his palm over his wrist, where the restraints had left faint marks, then lifted his head to look at Kelvin.

Their gazes met.

"It looks like he bought my excuse," Timothy continued. "Now all that's left is for us to make the trip to the estate. I'll introduce you to the clan as a new worker assigned to care for the horses."

He narrowed his eyes at Kelvin.

"You do know how to care for horses, right?"

Kelvin snorted. "Of course I do."

Just then, John emerged from the bathroom, looking more refreshed than he had in weeks.

"Nice of you to join us," Timothy said. "You took forever in there."

He quickly filled John in on what had happened in his absence.

Once they had all freshened up and eaten, they moved on to the next phase of the plan.

Kelvin needed to learn the names of the Anderson family members and the roles each of them played.

But before Timothy could begin, Kelvin stopped him.

"Let's get into that when I return from town," he said. "There's something I need to sort out before we move forward."

John and Timothy exchanged surprised looks as Kelvin walked out, got into his car, and drove off.

***

Back in town, Kelvin leaned against his car, arms folded across his chest, watching a beautiful woman in chef's attire speak warmly to customers inside a restaurant.

Mabel Owusu Benson.

Head chef of Maxbryth Restaurant.

Finding her had been easy.

Walking up to her after their one-night stand had not.

He still hadn't called her, even after she had left her phone number taped to his refrigerator.

Weeks had passed, and now here he was, standing in the parking lot, staring at her like a man who had no business being there.

Like a stalker.

She was beautiful.

Patient.

Warm.

Calm.

Everything Kelvin wasn't looking for.

And yet, everything he couldn't seem to stay away from.

He had tracked her here because he knew he owed her an explanation. He needed to tell her he would be disappearing for a while to handle some dangerous business.

That was why he was here.

Waiting for her to close.

He checked his wristwatch one more time.

"Just a few more minutes," he murmured.

Kelvin waited until the last customer walked out.

The restaurant lights had dimmed slightly, leaving only the warm glow above the counter and the soft hum of the kitchen behind her. Mabel stood near the entrance, wiping her hands with a towel as she gave instructions to one of the staff members.

Kelvin should have left.

He had told himself that three times already.

But his feet remained planted beside his car.

Then Mabel turned.

Her eyes found him.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Recognition flickered across her face first.

Then surprise.

Then something quieter.

Something that looked too much like disappointment.

Kelvin pushed himself away from the car.

"Mabel."

She didn't smile.

"Kelvin."

Her voice was calm, but not soft.

That made it worse.

He slipped his hands into his pockets and walked toward her, stopping a few feet away.

"I know I should have called."

Mabel gave a small laugh, but there was no humour in it.

"You think?"

Kelvin looked down briefly.

"I wanted to."

"That must have been difficult," she said. "Your fingers must have been very busy avoiding my number."

He deserved that.

He nodded once.

"I deserved that."

"You deserved more than that."

Her answer came quickly.

Sharp.

But not cruel.

Kelvin lifted his gaze to her.

"I know."

Mabel folded the towel slowly and held it against her chest.

"Then why are you here?"

The question was simple.

Too simple.

Kelvin had prepared for many things. Anger. Accusations. Silence.

But not the way she looked at him now-as if she wanted the truth, even if she already knew he might not give it to her.

"I came to apologise," he said.

"For disappearing?"

"Yes."

"For not calling?"

"Yes."

"For leaving me in your apartment like I was something you regretted?"

Kelvin's jaw tightened.

"No."

Mabel's eyes searched his face.

"No?"

He took a step closer, then stopped himself.

"I didn't regret you."

The words came out rougher than he intended.

Mabel's expression shifted slightly, but she said nothing.

Kelvin continued.

"I regretted how I handled it. I regretted leaving without saying anything. I regretted making you feel like that night meant nothing."

"And did it?" she asked.

Kelvin held her gaze.

"No."

The silence that followed was heavy.

Mabel looked away first.

"That would have sounded better weeks ago."

"I know."

"You keep saying that."

"Because I do."

She turned back to him.

"Then explain it to me."

Kelvin's throat worked.

There it was.

The one thing he couldn't fully give her.

Not without pulling her closer to danger.

"I have things going on," he said carefully.

Mabel stared at him.

"Things?"

"Yes."

"That's your explanation?"

"It's the only one I can safely give you."

Her brows drew together.

"Safely?"

Kelvin cursed himself inwardly. He had said too much.

Mabel noticed.

Of course she noticed.

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"It means I shouldn't have come here."

Pain flashed across her face before she hid it.

Kelvin hated himself for putting it there.

He turned slightly, as if to leave, but her voice stopped him.

"No. Don't do that."

He looked back.

"Don't come here after weeks of silence, say half of something, then run away again."

Kelvin went still.

Mabel stepped closer this time.

"You don't get to decide for both of us what I can handle."

His eyes darkened.

"You don't know what you're asking."

"And you don't know what I've survived."

That silenced him.

For the first time since he arrived, Kelvin really looked at her.

Not the woman from the club.

Not the woman from his bed.

Mabel.

A woman with her own wounds.

Her own strength.

Her own secrets, perhaps.

"I'm not trying to hurt you," he said quietly.

"Then stop making decisions that do."

The words landed harder than any accusation.

Kelvin looked away.

"I'm leaving town for a while."

Mabel's face changed.

"For how long?"

"I don't know."

"Business?"

He hesitated.

"Yes."

She gave him a look that told him she didn't believe him.

"Dangerous business?"

Kelvin said nothing.

That was answer enough.

Mabel swallowed, then looked past him toward the dark parking lot.

"So this is goodbye?"

"No."

The word came too quickly.

Too honestly.

Mabel looked back at him.

Kelvin took a slow breath.

"I don't want it to be."

Her voice softened, but only slightly.

"Then what do you want, Kelvin?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Because the truth was dangerous.

Because the truth was selfish.

Because the truth was her.

"I want to come back," he said at last.

"To what?"

His gaze held hers.

"To you."

Mabel's breath caught quietly.

For a moment, the anger between them thinned.

Not gone.

Just no longer alone.

Kelvin stepped closer.

"I can't promise you normal," he said. "I can't promise you easy. And I can't tell you everything right now."

Mabel's eyes narrowed.

"That is not a very good offer."

A faint smile touched his mouth.

"I know."

"Terrible, actually."

"I know that too."

She studied him for a long moment.
Then she shook her head softly.

"You are either very honest or very foolish."

"Maybe both."

That earned him the smallest smile.

It disappeared quickly, but he saw it.

And it did something dangerous to his chest.

Mabel looked down, then back up at him.

"I won't wait for a man who only appears when guilt catches up with him."

Kelvin nodded.

"You shouldn't."

"And I won't chase you."

"I wouldn't ask you to."

"But if you come back..."

She paused.

Kelvin waited.

"If you come back, you come back with the truth."

His expression changed.

Mabel held his gaze.

"All of it, Kelvin. Not pieces. Not shadows. Not words that make me ask more questions."

Kelvin looked at her for a long moment.

Then he nodded.

"If I come back," he said quietly, "I'll tell you everything."

Mabel searched his face, as if deciding whether to believe him.

Then she stepped closer and adjusted the collar of his jacket with slow, careful fingers.

The touch was small.

Too intimate.

Too dangerous.

"You look like a man going to war," she whispered.

Kelvin's chest tightened.

"Maybe I am."

Her hand stilled.

"Then come back alive."

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.

"I'll try."

"That's not good enough."

A faint smile touched his mouth.

"It's the most honest answer I have."

Mabel stared at him.

Then, before either of them could think better of it, she rose on her toes and kissed him.

It wasn't desperate.

It wasn't forgiving.

It was a warning.

A promise.

A punishment.

Kelvin didn't touch her at first.

Then his restraint broke.

One hand came to her waist, the other to the side of her face, holding her like he had no right to and couldn't stop himself from doing it anyway.

When she pulled away, her eyes were bright.

"Don't make me regret that," she said.

Kelvin rested his forehead against hers.

"I already regret too many things."

"Then don't add me to the list."

He closed his eyes briefly.

"I won't."

Mabel stepped back before the moment could swallow them whole.

"Go," she said softly.

Kelvin looked at her.

"I'll call."

"You better."

This time, her voice held a little warmth.

Kelvin nodded, then turned toward his car.

He had only taken a few steps when she called after him.

"Kelvin."

He stopped.

She stood under the restaurant light, arms folded, trying to look stronger than she felt.

"If this dangerous business has anything to do with another woman, I'll kill you myself."

For the first time that night, Kelvin laughed.

A real one.

Low. Brief. Surprised.

"No other woman," he said.

Mabel lifted her chin.

"Good."

Kelvin opened his car door, but before getting in, he looked back at her one last time.

For a man who had spent years preparing for revenge, leaving her there felt strangely like the hardest thing he had done all day.

Then he got into the car and drove away.

Mabel watched until his taillights disappeared into the night.

Only then did she let the smile fade.

And only then did fear settle in.

Because whatever Kelvin was walking into...

She had a feeling it was not the kind of thing men came back from unchanged.