Publisher's Synopsis
James paced the small living room of the safe house, his eyes fixed on the stack of files in front of him. The place felt too quiet, too still. Sofia had been asleep for hours, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Ethan's help had gotten them out of immediate danger, but James had always trusted his instincts-and they were screaming at him now.
He ran his fingers through the files Ethan had handed him earlier. The documents painted a murky picture of Sofia's past, more than what she had already told him. Some of the names listed there had been familiar-people he'd heard Sofia mention, names connected to the organization she had once worked for. But there was one file that made his stomach churn: Ethan Black. The man who had saved them, who had promised to protect Sofia, seemed to have connections that went far deeper than he had led on. James closed the folder, his mind racing. Was Ethan truly an ally, or was he playing them for a fool? Every moment spent in Ethan's company now felt like a misstep, a mistake. The tension in the room was palpable as James glanced toward the bedroom door. He couldn't hide his suspicions any longer. Sofia stirred, her soft voice breaking the silence. "James?" He turned, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were heavy with sleep but clouded with the weight of everything they had been through. She had been through so much more than he could ever imagine. Yet there was a distance between them now, a fracture he hadn't anticipated. "I need to talk to you," James said, his voice low but urgent. Sofia rose, sitting on the edge of the bed, her expression soft but guarded. "What's wrong?" James hesitated, trying to collect his thoughts. "I don't trust Ethan anymore. I went through the files. I don't think he's been entirely honest with us." Sofia's face paled. She bit her lip, trying to gather her composure. "I never wanted you involved in this, James. But I didn't think it would go this far. Ethan... he's not who you think he is." James felt his heart race, a mix of betrayal and confusion knotting in his stomach. "Then who is he, Sofia? What aren't you telling me?" Sofia's voice cracked as she spoke, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Ethan is... he's my brother." The words hit James like a punch to the gut. He staggered back, shaking his head in disbelief. "Your brother? But... you never said anything about him." "I couldn't. I had to leave him behind. He's still part of the organization, James," she said, her voice trembling. "He's in too deep, and he... he might be the one pulling the strings behind all this." James felt his world tilt. He stumbled to a nearby chair, sinking into it as the weight of her confession pressed down on him. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? All this time, I've been trusting him... and now you tell me he's a part of all this mess?" Sofia lowered her head, tears falling freely now. "I didn't want you to hate me. I didn't want to drag you into my world, James. I thought I could protect you... but I was wrong." James's anger flared, but there was something else there, something deeper. Hurt. Pain. The woman he loved had been hiding the most important part of her past from him, and now it was unraveling in front of him. Before he could say another word, there was a knock at the door. They both froze, the tension in the room escalating. "Sofia," a voice called from the other side, muffled but unmistakable. "It's Ethan." James stood, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun he had tucked into his waistband. Sofia, however, stayed frozen in place, her eyes wide with fear. "He's not who he says he is," James muttered, his gaze fixed on the door. "Stay back, Sofia."Dive into the danger, secrets, and passion-grab your copy today!
