"Did you know I shot a man last night?" I say casually to Freya, my hands steady as I chop the onions in front of me. The sharp sting of the onion fumes brings a tear to my eye, but I blink it away.

Freya pauses, her gaze settling on me- not shocked, but curious. She tilts her head as she rolls up the sleeves of her black hoodie, preparing to wash the dishes.

"Why?" she asks, her voice calm, though I catch a flicker of intrigue beneath it.

"He thought it'd be funny to grab my ass and call me a 'uptight whore' when I pushed him away. So..." I shrug, the knife slicing cleanly through the onion. "I shot him in his hands. Let's just say he's a left hander now"

She lets out an amused chuckle before she resumed washing the dishes. "He deserved it"

Before I could respond, the sound of a door slamming echoed through the house, followed by heavy, angry footsteps. I froze, the intensity of the noise making my heart race. Freya looked up, her brow furrowed in concern.

"That's Davina," I said, wiping my hands on a towel. "She sounds—"

Before I could finish, Davina burst into the kitchen, her face flushed with anger. "Elora, we need to talk."

Freya looked between us, her eyes wide with concern. "What's wrong, Davina?"

Davina ignored Freya's question, her focus solely on me. "I just found my ex going through my laptop and—" She stopped abruptly, her eyes darting to the flash drive in her hand. "He was copying files. I don't know what he was looking for, but I grabbed this before he noticed."

I reached for the flash drive, but Davina held it tightly. "He had files about you, Elora. I'm not sure what's on it, but I knew I had to bring it to you."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my calm. "Thank you, Davina. You did the right thing."

Freya looked between us, clearly puzzled but trying to stay out of the escalating situation. "Is everything okay? Do you need my help?"

Davina shook her head, her anger still palpable. "No, Freya. This is something between us. I just... I need to know why my ex was so interested in Elora."

I glanced at Freya, who nodded understandingly. "Alright, let's handle this."

I turned back to Davina, my mind already racing through the implications of what might be on that flash drive. "I need to check what's on it. I need to know what kind of trouble I'm dealing with."

I mindlessly moved toward the sink, Freya stepping aside to let me pass. After washing my hands, I quickly darted out of the kitchen, clutching the flash drive tightly. My footsteps were hurried as I made my way up the stairs, my fingers gripping the handrail for support.

What could he possibly want from Davina's laptop? The urgency of this situation was clear, and knowing how dangerous my line of work can be, I understood why Davina would have rushed from work to bring me something so significant.

I twisted the handle and pushed open the door to my office, stepping inside with a racing heart, dreading what secrets the flash drive might hold. My gaze was immediately drawn to the couch in the corner of the room where someone was lying. To my surprise, it was Fernando, his large frame stretched out on the cushions.

A soft smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I admired how peaceful he looked. His presence was a comforting contrast to the turmoil I felt.

"Matt?" I called, using the nickname reserved for those closest to him.

"Matthias?" I repeated, taking a seat on the small space left of the couch, trying not to disturb him.

Fernando remained still, his breathing steady. "Come on, I know you're not really asleep. You're horrible at faking it," I teased.

He continued to ignore me, one hand tucked under his head, the other resting across his stomach. I tried pinching him awake, but he didn't budge. He was used to my playful harassment, and though it usually irked him, today he seemed unfazed.

"Why are you like this?" I whispered with a chuckle. Fernando had this endearing habit of finding ways to annoy me just enough to get a reaction. It was his way of showing affection, and I couldn't help but smile at his antics.

Fernando was the first person I truly connected with when I arrived in Italy—the first one who seemed to understand me. Despite his shaky English, he made every effort to comprehend and support me in ways I had never imagined.

His unwavering faith and belief in the Bible might have been at odds with my lifestyle, but he never judged or belittled me. Instead, he offered a kindness and acceptance that meant more to me than I could ever express.

I sat quietly for a moment, simply enjoying the serene sight of him, letting his calm presence soothe the unease that had been building inside me.

I took a deep breath, letting the tranquility of the moment ground me. Fernando's peaceful demeanor was a rare solace amid the chaos of my life. I watched him for a few moments longer, the gentle rise and fall of his chest soothing my frazzled nerves.

I finally decided to get down to business. As much as I wanted to enjoy this serene moment with Fernando, the flash drive needed my attention. Gently, I placed the flash drive on the small coffee table in front of him, making sure not to disturb his rest.

I leaned over and whispered softly, "Okay, Matt, wake up. I need you."

He let out a small groan but didn't open his eyes. "What is it now?" His voice was groggy but carried the familiar warmth that always made me feel at ease.

"I've got something important to deal with. I need your help," I said, a hint of urgency creeping into my tone.

Fernando's tired hazel green eyes fluttered open, and he blinked up at me with a sleepy smile. "You always have the best timing, you know that?" He stretched, his body taking up more space as he reached out to pat the couch next to him. "Come sit with me for a moment before you dive into whatever drama you've brought home."

Despite my initial hesitation, I couldn't resist his invitation. I settled beside him on the couch, feeling the comfort of his presence as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "What's the trouble?" he asked, his voice gentle but concerned.

I took a deep breath and explained the situation—the flash drive, Davina's ex, and the unsettling possibility of what might be on the drive. As I spoke, Fernando listened attentively, his expression shifting from curious to serious.

"So, you think he might have found something dangerous?" Fernando asked, his tone grave.

"I'm afraid so," I admitted. "Davina wouldn't have brought it to me if she didn't think it was important. I need to know what's on this drive and why he was so interested in my personal information."

Fernando nodded, his face resolute. "Alright. Let's see what we're dealing with. But first, let's make sure you're calm and focused. You can't face whatever's on that drive if you're all worked up."

I smiled, appreciating his support. "You always know how to keep me grounded."

With Fernando's reassuring presence beside me, I felt a renewed sense of determination. We both sat up, and Fernando helped me connect the flash drive to the laptop. As the files began to load, I could feel Fernando's calm energy bolstering my resolve.

As the screen filled with documents, we started to sift through the files together, Fernando occasionally offering his insights. His presence was a reminder that even amidst the turmoil, there was still a safe haven to return to.

As I clicked through the files on the flash drive, Fernando leaned in closer, his eyes focused on the screen. The folders were labeled in an unnervingly organized fashion-names, dates, locations—all meticulously categorized. A chill crept down my spine.

The first folder I opened contained surveillance photos of me. Not just random shots, but detailed images of me at various locations over the past few months—meetings, exchanges, even casual moments that felt far too personal to have been observed.

"What the hell..." Fernando muttered under his breath as I clicked through the photos. There were timestamps, locations, and even notes attached to some of them. Whoever had put this together had been studying me, watching me far too closely. It wasn't just casual observation—it was a dossier, a full-on investigation.

I swallowed hard, trying to maintain my composure, but the pit in my stomach only grew. The next folder contained files on my most recent contracts—encrypted, but it was clear they'd been pulled from somewhere they shouldn't have been. There was information about my targets, my methods, even the payments I'd received. Someone had dug deep into my professional life.

But it didn't stop there. Fernando's hand gripped my shoulder, steadying me as I opened the next file. It contained personal information—not just mine, but Davina's and Freya's. Birth certificates, addresses, medical records... everything.

"Whoever did this..." Fernando said quietly, his voice tight with tension. "They weren't just watching you. They were planning something."

"Planning what?" I asked, but I already knew the answer. This wasn't just surveillance. This was blackmail material, and whoever had been working with Davina's ex had clearly wanted leverage—over me, over my friends, over everyone I cared about.

I stared at the screen, my pulse thudding in my ears as the weight of the situation sank in. This wasn't just about me anymore. Whoever had been digging into my life had crossed a line, and now Freya and Davina were in the crosshairs too.

"Matt..." I whispered, my voice barely steady. "This goes way deeper than I thought."

Fernando's fingers tightened on my shoulder, his eyes flickering with the same dread that had settled in my gut. "We'll handle this. You're not alone in this, Elora."

I nodded, trying to focus, but something in the last folder caught my eye. My breath hitched as I clicked on it—a file named simply: Elijah.

The room seemed to freeze as the file opened, revealing a list of dates and addresses. My heart pounded in my chest as a familiar name popped up on the screen. Elijah. My brother. My missing brother.

Before I could process it, a message appeared across the screen in bold letters:

"Time's running out."

And then the screen went black.

My mind spun in a whirlwind, my heart pounding so fiercely it felt as though it might burst from my chest. I pushed myself up from the couch, the weight of everything crashing down on me, drowning out the sound of Fernando calling my name. Every thought, every moment, replayed in my head, consuming me entirely.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me-"

I'm trying my best to remember every chapter but I know that's impossible 😭💔

I've changed a few things but it's only to make the plot better. I hope you enjoyed.

Any thoughts?