Chapter 13
The Kiss Interrupted
Wren had learned that the real danger in a crisis appeared after everyone claimed to understand it. The city buzzed with a frantic energy in the wake of the abandoned wedding. People hurried past, their expressions set in grim determination. Clipboards clutched tightly in their hands, phones pressed to ears, they wore the confident masks of those who thought they had the situation under control. But Wren sensed the cracks in their facade, felt the tension in the air every time someone dodged a straightforward question.
Beside her, Luca stood as a steady presence, close enough that they could be mistaken for a couple. The warmth of him was palpable but he didn’t reach out, didn’t close the gap. That restraint was a lifeline for Wren, a choice to maintain distance instead of pretending it didn’t matter.
“An almost-kiss or a first kiss interrupted by a direct threat,” she murmured, her voice low and steady as they scanned the room.
“Then we make them show us where it leads,” Luca replied, his eyes narrowing in focus.
They were following the one detail that everyone else had overlooked: a time stamp on a report, an access card that had gone missing, a single line in a chart that didn’t align with the person who had compiled it. June had warned Wren that the truth wouldn’t come wrapped in a neat package—it would be hidden within the ordinary, obscured by layers of complexity.
As the next door swung open, Wren felt her pulse quicken. The proof they sought could be their salvation, but it also threatened to draw their loved ones into the chaos. Luca caught the flicker of doubt in her expression before she could mask it. His hand found the small of her back, warmth radiating through the fabric of her shirt, grounding her for a moment before it went still.
“Tell me what you need,” he asked, his voice low and steady, cutting through the noise of the world around them.
This time, Wren hesitated, her mind racing. For the first time since the disaster had unfolded, she didn’t have a plan to offer. She looked into Luca’s eyes, seeing the control he was willing to cede, the trust he placed in her. It was a powerful choice, and she felt the weight of it. Instead of formulating a strategy, she took a deep breath, drawing strength from his proximity. They were a unit, and it was time to move forward together.
A sharp knock echoed through the corridor, three distinct strikes followed by the sound of a bolt sliding open. Wren’s heart raced, adrenaline flooding her senses. She exchanged a quick glance with Luca, his expression a mix of determination and concern.
“Ready?” he whispered, and she nodded, her throat dry.
The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room beyond. An office, cluttered with papers and old files, the scent of stale coffee lingering in the air. Wren stepped inside, eyes darting around, absorbing the details. A flickering fluorescent light cast shadows that danced across the walls, creating an unsettling atmosphere.
“Check the desk,” Luca urged, his voice low as he moved to the side, scanning the room for any sign of danger.
Wren approached the desk, her hands trembling slightly as she rifled through the papers. Most were mundane, but then she found it—a folder marked with a red sticker. She pulled it out, heart pounding as she flipped it open. Her breath caught in her throat. Inside were reports, names, dates—everything they needed to connect the dots.
“Luca,” she breathed, urgency lacing her voice. “Look at this.”
He stepped closer, peering over her shoulder. As he read, the tension in the room thickened. “This is it. This is proof,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Before Wren could respond, a sharp sound echoed from the hallway. She froze, the gravity of their discovery weighing heavily on her. Luca’s expression shifted, a flicker of alarm crossing his features.
“Wren,” he said, urgency coloring his tone. “We need to move. Now.”
The door slammed shut, the bolt sliding back into place with a resounding finality. Wren’s pulse quickened as the unmistakable sound of footsteps approached from the other side.
“Someone’s coming,” she whispered, panic creeping in.
Luca’s gaze locked onto hers, the air charged with unspoken understanding. “We can’t let them find us with this. Hide it,” he urged, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Wren quickly shoved the folder into her bag, her heart racing as the footsteps grew louder. They were out of time.
“Get ready,” Luca said, positioning himself beside the door.
Wren nodded, her breath hitching in her throat. The moment of truth was upon them, and she could feel the weight of their choices pressing down, every heartbeat echoing the uncertainty of what lay ahead.