Nowhere to Hide

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The cold night air stung Leah’s lungs as she ran, her boots crunching against the gravel path behind the observatory. Marcus was ahead of her, moving swiftly and effortlessly like running in the movie. He ran like someone who had spent his whole life escaping.

Gunshots rang out behind them. A bullet flew past Leah , snapping a branch off a nearby tree. Leah gritted her teeth. Whoever those men were, they weren’t just trying to scare them—they were trying to kill them.

"Faster, Detective!" Marcus called over his shoulder. "Or do you want to find out what happens if they catch us?"

Leah shot him an annoyed look, her breath coming in short gasps. "Shut up and keep running!"

Marcus chuckled, as if the danger didn’t bother him at all. Even now, in the middle of being chased, he was still irritating.

A tall chain-link fence blocked the path ahead. Without slowing down, Marcus jumped onto it and climbed up quickly. Leah followed, her fingers gripping the cold metal as she pulled herself up. As she swung her legs over, a bullet hit the fence below her, making it shake.

Marcus landed first and reached up as Leah jumped down. His hands steadied her for just a second before she pulled away, ignoring the strange warmth of his touch.

"This way," Marcus said, leading them into the thick trees.

The darkness swallowed them. The sounds of their pursuers grew fainter, but Leah knew they weren’t far behind. She followed Marcus through the dense forest, ducking under branches and stepping carefully over uneven ground.

After several minutes of running, they finally reached a clearing. An old, abandoned warehouse stood in front of them, its metal walls rusted and covered in graffiti.

"In here," Marcus said, pushing open a side door.

Leah hesitated for a second but then stepped inside. Marcus followed and locked the door behind them with a heavy metal bar.

The silence inside was deafening.

Leah leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath. "What the hell just happened?"

Marcus brushed dust off his jacket. "We got ambushed. Didn’t you notice?"

Leah shot him an annoyed look. "No kidding. Who were those men?"

Marcus leaned against a stack of crates, his expression turning serious. "People who don’t like loose ends."

Leah frowned. "And you’re a loose end?"

Marcus let out a short laugh. "Let’s just say I stole something they really, really want back."

Leah crossed her arms. "That notebook you showed me?"

He nodded. "It’s not just names. It’s proof—money transfers, locations, contacts. Enough to bring down some very powerful people."

Leah narrowed her eyes. "And let me guess—you didn’t steal it to do the right thing. You stole it because it was worth something."

Marcus smirked. "You think so little of me, Detective."

Leah scoffed. "I think realistically. You’re a thief, Marcus. You don’t play hero."

Marcus didn’t argue. Instead, he stood up straight and walked toward her, closing the distance between them. Leah tensed but didn’t step back.

"Here’s the thing, Detective," he said in a calm voice. "I could’ve run tonight. I could’ve left you back there to deal with those men on your own. But I didn’t."

Leah held his gaze, her heartbeat still unsteady. "Why?"

Marcus watched her closely for a long moment before sighing. "Because I need you."

Leah blinked. "Excuse me?"

He smirked. "Not like that. Well, not yet, anyway."

She rolled her eyes. "Marcus."

His expression turned serious again. "You’re a cop. You have resources, connections. And whether you like it or not, those men will come after you too now. You saw them. They won’t just let you walk away."

Leah clenched her jaw. She hated that he was right.

"So what are you saying?" she asked.

Marcus gave a slow, knowing smile. "I’m saying we work together. You help me take them down, and in return, I’ll give you everything you need to lock them up for good."

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