chosen. She wore a dark trench coat, hood up, as if shielding herself from the truth she was about

ut something deeper than

-

00

e city's glow and the flicker of a nearby candle. He looked... tired. Not the polis

," he sai

e stayed near the doo

flinch. "You'v

wer

im when he uncovered financial fraud tied to Fred. Before he could go public, he v

ged, stepping closer. "What

y back evidence-security drives with encrypted data that could clea

opped it on the table between them

trail yourself. I left breadcrumbs for you...

ared a

ked. "Why not go

"Because I didn't tru

n them like smoke-fra

r phone buzzed.> Unknown: Th

r sleeve. Sniper.Kelvin saw it too.He lunged forward and pull

-

e's

em through a drone feed from a blacked-out S

just scaring her,"

f Veronica walks away now, everythin

iella snapped. "You t

ane whispered. "

-

ca's A

hing odd. The hotel footage had metadata inconsistencies. Timec

ed.He picked up his ph

ds to kn

-

iew. His arm was bleeding-a graze from the bullet.As they moved toward the exit, she looked at him

ca... I need to tell you something. I wasn't just your friend. I was hired-to watch you. B

nd her, Kelvin's voice cut through the w

-

oom was too wh

t in her arms. A boy-pink-skinned and wide-eyed, with a shock of

red it lik

ni

ot right away. The tears came slowly, as if her body had

rate, last-ditch attempt to salvage something that was already crumbling

.. t

ni

sbelief, both awe and f

se?Fred's... or Kelv

t wasn't in question anymore-not after everything. Not after watching him bleed to protect

idn't eras

if he demanded a paternity

utside for hours, refusing to leave even after being told she "wasn't ready fo

r, brushing her lips

whispered. "You're mine. And I'll protec

-

That

charm armor. Just him, raw and quiet. He paused when he sa

is gaze. "His

ser, his voice thi

ng him. "I don't k

d, softly. "It doesn

stopp

nd looked down at Daniel with

s legacy, Veronica. But for the first time... I w

's breat

me I want to be in his life

'm making. Not because it's easy. Bu

ines and moonlight and the scent of newb

know the

kson had lied to survive, yes

hs, Veronica let herself lean into

o