The Silent Witness

xpected

The cold wind cut through her, but it did little to numb the storm inside her. The events of the past fe

trusted Leandro. She had trusted Dorian. And yet, they were both pushing her

urn around to know who it was. Leandro's presence was unmistakable, like a shadow that stretched across eve

e air, smooth as always, but there was an edge to it

ce between them grow with each passing second. The man who had once been her protector,

his voice softer now, but still carrying that d

never wanted to hurt me? Then why didn't you tell

something like guilt, but it was fleeting, swallowed quickly by the cold, calculating look that u

she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "You lied to m

wanted to comfort her. But she flinched, taking a step back. "D

a sadness there-a sadness Lia had never seen before. It was as if he had realized something to

our future. You can't see it no

't trust you anymore, Lean

oed from below, followed by the sound of gunfire. Lia's heart raced

s eyes narrowed, and he stepped back, pull

ng Sands o

plosion rocked the foundation. Lia's pulse pounded in her ears as the

gency in his every step. But she didn't trust him. Not anymore.

d, chaos met them. The lobby was a warzone-gunfire echoed, p

o muttered, pulling

gunfire and taking cover behind pillars. She could hear shouting i

asked, her voice shakin

d another corner, he stopped, his eyes flicking to something in the distance. Lia

as D

wasn'

eir faces obscured by dark sunglasses. They weren't jus

as she took a step back. "Dorian

, his body tense. "Stay behind

shed past him, her heart poun

ing with betrayal and confusion

omething softened in his gaze. "Lia, it's not what you thin

ughts. "You're working with them," she said, h

his voice cold now. "Leandro's been lying to you. He's been us

of lies-a web she hadn't even seen until it was too late. She felt a wave

n't know what you're talking about, Dorian," he spat. "You'r

nch. "I never lie

xplosion rattled the windows. The walls creaked and groaned under the pressure, and

The explosion had thrown everything into disarray. The air was

an said, grabbing Lia's arm and pu

Leandro-Dorian-the truth-it w

trayal

ays. Her thoughts were scattered, fragments of truth and lies colliding in her head. Leandro had been hiding things from her-thi

e street. The sounds of sirens blared in the distance, but everything else w

demanded, her voice breaking. "What do you want from me? You're telling me ev

ia," he said quietly. "But the truth is, you're in too deep now. Leandro's vision for the f

think I don't know that?" she snapped, her voice raw. "You think I didn't

ened. "I was tryin

boiling over. "You're just as bad as him. Maybe

her with a mixture of regret and resolve, as if he were weighing

, Lia. But it's too late for t

. She had trusted both of them, and now she was caught

zed one painful truth: the only way to survive was to carve ou

f you," Lia whispere

word, she turned