As Seraphina stepped out of her office, Ezrin and Kieran were already waiting.
Their presence was impossible to ignore—Ezrin, sharp and unreadable, Kieran, cool but observant.
Before she could say anything, Kieran's gaze flickered over her attire.
"Not bad, Vail. Almost looks like you belong here."
Seraphina smirked. "Almost?"
Kieran chuckled. "We'll see after tonight."
She shook her head but didn't hide the small smile that tugged at her lips.
Ezrin, standing beside him, didn't react. But he had seen the exchange.
And he said nothing.
As they stepped outside, a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of them, its polished surface reflecting the dim streetlights.
Ezrin stepped in first, followed by Seraphina and Kieran.
As soon as the doors shut, the engine purred to life, the car slipping smoothly into motion.
Behind them, two security cars followed, their presence subtle but unmistakable.
The drive was silent, the weight of the mission settling in.
The closer they got, the heavier the air became.
They weren't just heading to an abandoned facility.
They were walking into a trap.
And they knew it.
The ride to the facility was silent. No unnecessary words. Just the weight of what was coming.
The abandoned psychiatric institute loomed before them, its cracked walls and shattered windows standing like the remnants of something long forgotten. Weeds pushed through the pavement, vines clung to the structure.
It looked lifeless.
But they all knew better.
Ezrin's voice cut through the quiet. "We move in, find what we need, and get out."
No wasted time. No hesitation.
Seraphina nodded once, her grip tightening on her weapons.
With that, they scattered.
Seraphina moved toward the west wing, where the patient files and medical records were stored. While Kieran disappeared into the basement—checking tunnels, exits, and possible ambush points. Ezrin made his way to the main building—searching the admin offices and security systems.
Everything was going smoothly.
Too smoothly.
A sharp, piercing sound shattered the quiet.
Seraphina froze.
Kieran stiffened.
Ezrin's jaw tensed.
Not triggered by them.
It was manual.
Someone had turned it on.
Ezrin's voice came through the comms, calm but edged with something darker.
"We're not alone."
Kieran cursed. "Of course not. And here I thought we'd get through one mission without someone trying to kill us."
Then—footsteps.
Fast. Organized. Coming from every direction.
The realization hit a second before it happened.
They were surrounded.
Seraphina's west wing doors slammed shut. Heavy boots pounded toward her from both ends of the corridor. Shadows moved, figures emerged.
Kieran's tunnels filled with noise. A metal door crashed open, figures stepping through with guns raised.
Ezrin turned slowly, already expecting them. He caught the glint of weapons just beyond the shattered office glass.
Nowhere to run.
No time to think.
Ezrin's voice cut through the comms. "Engage."
And just like that—the fight began.
Seraphina didn't wait.
Gunfire erupted.
She dropped low, dodging the first bullet before raising her own gun. One shot. Straight to the chest. The man crumpled.
She spun, grabbing a nearby metal cart and shoving it hard toward the second attacker. He stumbled—just enough time for her to land a clean shot to the head.
But the third was too fast.
A bullet grazed her shoulder as she lunged behind an overturned desk, reloading in a single fluid motion.
Kieran was already fighting.
The first man lunged, but Kieran grabbed his arm, twisting it sharply until he heard a sickening snap.
The next attacker swung, but Kieran dodged, grabbing a rusted pipe from the ground and slamming it into the man's ribs.
Two down. More coming.
Ezrin was calm. Too calm.
Two men rushed him at once. Big mistake.
He sidestepped the first, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him into the nearest wall. The second barely had time to react before Ezrin's gun was pressed to his skull.
One shot. No hesitation.
Another figure crept from behind, but Ezrin already saw the reflection in the glass.
He turned, grabbing the attacker's wrist and twisting—forcing the knife into his own gut.
Cold. Efficient. Deadly.
Seraphina emerged from the west wing, gun still in her grip. Her breathing was controlled, her mind sharp.
She saw movement ahead—Kieran stepping out of the basement entrance, Ezrin moving from the main building. They had all made it.
But it wasn't over.
Footsteps.
More.
From the shadows of the decayed structure, another wave of men appeared.
Seraphina cursed under her breath.
Ezrin's jaw clenched, his gun already raised.
Kieran exhaled sharply. "Of course. Why would this be easy?"
The men didn't speak. They didn't need to.
They were here for one thing—to make sure none of them left alive.
Ezrin's voice came through the comms. "Same plan. Engage."
And just like that—the fight continued.
Gunfire erupted again.
Seraphina moved fast, dodging bullets as she fired back with sharp precision. One down. Two.
She turned—too late.
A blade sliced through her arm.
A sharp sting. Warmth spreading.
Her body reacted before her mind did—a swift elbow to her attacker's ribs, followed by a shot straight through his skull.
But the damage was done.
Her hiss of pain sounded through the comms.
For a split second, Ezrin and Kieran froze.
Then—
Ezrin's voice, sharp and controlled.
"Status."
Seraphina gritted her teeth, adjusting her grip on the gun.
"Still standing."
Kieran exhaled through the comms. "Try to keep it that way."
Ezrin didn't respond.
But his bullets hit harder after that.
The fight wasn't over—but they needed to get out.
Seraphina's arm throbbed, but she ignored the pain. She wasn't about to slow down.
Ezrin's voice came through the comms. "Exit plan. Now."
Kieran, kicking the last attacker to the ground, checked the surroundings. "Tunnels are blocked. We need a different way out."
Seraphina scanned the area quickly, her mind working fast. The only open route was through the north side of the building, but that meant cutting across open ground—a risk.
Ezrin didn't hesitate. "We go north. Move."
Seraphina ran, matching his pace. Kieran was just behind, covering their rear.
As they reached the hallway leading outside, gunfire erupted again.
Seraphina dropped low, returning fire. One shot, two. She didn't miss.
Kieran muttered, "We are never coming back here."
Ezrin led the way, taking down two more men as they burst through the north exit.
The cold night air hit them instantly, but there was no time to stop.
Their getaway car was parked near the tree line—but more figures were approaching.
Ezrin didn't slow. "Kieran. Drive. Seraphina, cover the right."
Kieran sprinted ahead. Seraphina and Ezrin moved together, covering both sides as more bullets rained toward them.
Seraphina's wound burned, but she kept moving.
Kieran started the car.
Ezrin and Seraphina jumped in.
The moment the doors slammed shut, Kieran hit the gas.
Gunfire followed them, bullets scraping the sides of the car, but soon—they were gone.
Only when they were miles away did the tension start to ease.
Ezrin finally glanced at Seraphina's arm. "You're bleeding."
Seraphina smirked, leaning her head back against the seat. "Not dying, though."
Ezrin said nothing.
But he was remembering. Every. Single. Detail.
The drive back to Oblivion Division was silent.
Kieran focused on the road, his grip firm on the wheel. Seraphina sat back, exhaustion settling in, but her mind was still sharp. Ezrin hadn't said a word since the escape.
She stole a glance at him. His gaze was fixed ahead, his posture as rigid as ever.
But his silence wasn't just silence.
It was calculation. Contemplation. Control.
As soon as they arrived at Oblivion Division, Kieran muttered, "I'll handle security." He left them alone.
Seraphina pushed open her door and stepped out, but before she could take another step, Ezrin's voice cut through the air.
"Come with me."
It wasn't a request.
Seraphina hesitated for half a second before following.
He led her through the dim corridors—not to the debriefing room. Not to his office.
To the medical wing.
She sighed. "It's just a scratch."
Ezrin didn't look at her. "Sit."
She huffed but complied, perching on the medical cot as he pulled out the first aid kit.
"You didn't tell me you were hit until I asked," he said, unwrapping the gauze.
Seraphina smirked. "Didn't seem important."
Ezrin's jaw tightened slightly. He took her arm, gently but firmly, dabbing at the wound with antiseptic.
Seraphina flinched, sucking in a breath. "You could be a little less brutal."
His lips curled slightly. "And you could be a little less reckless."
Silence stretched between them.
His fingers were warm against her skin, methodical as he wrapped the bandage securely.
Seraphina watched him—noticed the way his hands moved with precision, the way his focus never wavered.
Ezrin Holloway never wasted time on unnecessary things.
And yet, he was doing this himself.
She tilted her head slightly. "Didn't know you cared."
Ezrin finally looked up. His gaze met hers. Intense. Calculated. Unreadable.
"I remember everything, Vail."
Her breath caught for just a second.
Because she knew what he meant.
The compliment from Kieran. The fight. The way she had said, "Not dying, though."
Ezrin didn't forget. Not a single thing.
She could feel the weight of his words settle in the air between them—undeniable. Unspoken.
He finished tying the bandage and stepped back.
"You're done."
Seraphina smirked and left the room without another word
But her mind was still stuck on that moment.
Because for the first time—Ezrin Holloway hadn't just looked at her as an asset.
He had looked at her like she was something else entirely.
As the door clicked shut behind Seraphina, Ezrin remained still.
His gaze lingered on the space she had just occupied, fingers flexing slightly before he clenched them into a fist.
He should've let someone else handle her injury. He knew that.
He should've focused on the bigger picture—the case, the manipulator, the threat looming over them.
And yet—
His mind kept replaying small details.
The way her expression had shifted when he said, "I remember everything."
The way she didn't argue when he ordered her to sit.
The way his own hands had moved with ease, wrapping her wound, as if it were second nature.
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Seraphina was a calculated risk, an asset, a tool in the mission.
Nothing more.
Yet, for the first time in a very long time, he had noticed something beyond just her abilities.
And that—that was dangerous.
Ezrin exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders back, forcing his thoughts back into control.
This wasn't the time.
This wasn't the place.
But he knew one thing for certain.
Seraphina Vail was getting under his skin.
And he hated that he let it happen.
Sunlight streamed through the curtains when Seraphina's eyes fluttered open.
She stretched, feeling the slight ache in her muscles from the fight, but it was manageable. Nothing she wasn't used to.
Rising from bed, she moved to her wardrobe, picking out something casual yet effortless. She wore Dark jeans, a fitted sweater, and her signature boots. Her hair loosely tied back. Minimal makeup, just enough to erase any signs of fatigue.
She glanced at her phone. A message from Lena.
"I'm outside. You better be ready."
Seraphina smirked. Right on time.
She grabbed her coat and stepped out. Shopping first. Then? Maybe she'd finally allow herself to breathe.
The moment Seraphina slid into the passenger seat, Lena gave her a long, dramatic look.
"You look… alive. Barely. Should I be concerned?"
Seraphina smirked, fastening her seatbelt. "I got my required hours of sleep."
Lena raised a brow. "Define 'required.'"
"Three."
Lena sighed, pulling the car out of the parking spot. "You are a walking health hazard."
Seraphina shrugged. "I make up for it with good food and occasional naps."
Lena shot her a look. "'Occasional' naps do not make up for the fact that you look like you fought a war in your sleep."
Seraphina chuckled. "Not in my sleep, but close enough."
Lena narrowed her eyes. "That wasn't a joke, was it?"
Seraphina only smirked in response, leaving Lena to groan in frustration.
"You know what? I don't even want to know. Let's get coffee first. You clearly need it."
Seraphina leaned back in her seat, exhaling. "That, I won't argue with."
Lena sighed dramatically. "Finally, something we agree on."
The tension from the night before eased just a little.
For a moment, it felt normal.
But only for a moment.
After grabbing their coffee, Seraphina and Lena strolled through the shopping district. The air was crisp, the streets bustling with people going about their day.
Lena, as usual, was dragging Seraphina into stores she had no intention of buying from.
"Try this," Lena said, holding up a sleek black dress.
Seraphina raised a brow. "For what occasion?"
Lena smirked. "For when you finally decide to have a life."
Seraphina rolled her eyes but took the dress anyway, if only to stop Lena's nagging.
Just as she stepped back, she bumped into someone.
A firm, solid impact.
"Oh, sorry," the man said, turning around. Tall, dark-haired, well-dressed. His tone was polite, his gaze sharp but not intimidating.
Seraphina gave a short nod. "No problem."
But the man didn't just walk away. His eyes flickered over her, curious but respectful.
"You're not from around here, are you?" he asked casually.
Lena, standing beside her, smirked instantly.Oh no.
Seraphina kept her expression unreadable. "What makes you think that?"
The man chuckled. "You look like someone who belongs somewhere… sharper."
That made Lena burst into laughter. "Oh, she is! You have no idea."
Seraphina shot Lena a glare, but before she could shut the conversation down, the man spoke again.
"I know this is sudden, but… can I have your number?"
Silence.
Seraphina blinked, thrown off for the first time in a while.
She was about to say no, but—
Lena gasped dramatically."Oh, my God. Yes! Give it to him!"
Seraphina turned to her. "Lena."
Lena placed a hand on her hip. "Look, this is how people get married, Seraphina. Unless you're planning to be a lone wolf forever?"
The man chuckled, clearly entertained. "No pressure. Just a number."
Seraphina sighed. "Fine."
She took his phone and quickly typed in her number, handing it back.
Lena clapped her hands. "Progress!"
Seraphina shot her a look, but the man simply smiled.
"I'll text you," he said smoothly before giving a small nod and walking away.
As soon as he was gone, Seraphina turned to Lena. "What was that?"
Lena grinned. "That, my dear friend, was fate trying to introduce you to something other than murder cases and mysterious bosses."
Seraphina huffed, shaking her head. "I hate you."
Lena looped her arm through Seraphina's. "No, you don't. Now, let's find you some shoes for your date."
Seraphina groaned. She was never hearing the end of this.