In Raiden's world, there were no simple choices, only consequences. And I was learning quickly that the price of living in his world was higher than I had ever imagined.
But the truth was, I didn't know if I was ready to pay it.
---
Raiden's Study – A Hidden Truth
The heavy silence that lingered between us felt suffocating. Raiden had just left for another meeting—one I wasn't allowed to attend. The door to his study was closed, and I could feel the weight of everything unsaid pressing down on me. I had been trying to piece together the fragments of Raiden's life, but the more I uncovered, the more I realized how little I knew.
I walked over to his desk, my fingers grazing the edge of the papers scattered across it. A few business documents. A map of the city with marked locations. Then, there it was—a photo of him, much younger, standing beside someone I didn't recognize. The man was older, dressed in a military uniform, and they were both smiling. But what caught my attention was the look of camaraderie in Raiden's eyes. It was a side of him I hadn't seen before.
I traced the photo with my finger, wondering who the man was, but then I felt it—a chill creeping up my spine.
"Aria."
Raiden's voice was low, like a warning. I turned to face him, but he was already in the doorway. His gaze immediately went to the photo in my hands. A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes—something like regret, maybe even fear.
"You shouldn't have touched that," he said, his voice colder than usual.
I lowered the photo back onto the desk, trying not to let my curiosity show.
"Who is he?" I asked softly, stepping toward him. "Someone important?"
Raiden didn't answer right away. He walked over to the desk, his movements stiff. "It's not what you think," he muttered. "That man… he's dead."
I felt the weight of his words hit me. There was a history behind that photo—a history I was still far from understanding.
"I want to know the truth, Raiden."
His eyes darkened. "You don't."
But I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his fists clenched. He was holding something back, and I wasn't about to let him keep it from me.
---
A Shadow in the Dark – The Russian Threat
The next few days passed in a blur of tense meetings and whispered conversations. Raiden barely had time for me, and when he did return, his eyes were always filled with worry, as though something was haunting him. Something he wasn't telling me.
Then, one evening, I received a message. A single line that sent chills down my spine:
"The Russians are moving in."
I knew what it meant. Dmitri Volkov and his men weren't just after a deal anymore—they were after control. And they weren't going to stop until they had it.
I found Raiden in his office, his brow furrowed as he studied a map of the city. His usually composed demeanor was unraveling, and I could see the toll it was taking on him.
"They're getting too close," he said quietly, more to himself than to me.
I stepped closer, unable to ignore the tension that was thick in the air. "What are you going to do?"
Raiden didn't look at me, his focus entirely on the map. "I'm going to fight back."
"And what about me?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. "What happens to me in all of this?"
Raiden's jaw clenched, and he finally met my gaze. "You're not safe here, Aria."
I felt my heart skip a beat. "What do you mean?"
"If they find out about you—about us—they won't hesitate. You'll be a target." He closed the distance between us, grabbing my arms with a firmness that left no room for argument. "I can't protect you if you're this close to everything. You need to leave."
---
Wolfe Manor – A Shattered Heart
The words hit me harder than I expected. Leave? After everything we'd been through? After everything I had seen and felt?
"Leave?" I repeated, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm not going anywhere, Raiden."
His face hardened, his grip tightening on my arms. "You don't get it. You're playing with fire, Aria. If you stay, you'll burn. This life—it's too dangerous. I can't bear the thought of losing you."
I stared up at him, fighting back tears. This was a man who had known nothing but darkness his entire life, and he was trying to protect me from it. But I wasn't afraid of him. I wasn't afraid of what he was.
"I'm not going anywhere," I said again, my voice stronger this time.
Raiden's eyes softened, just for a moment, before he turned away. He didn't want to lose me, I could see it in the way his hand lingered in the air, like he was reaching for something just beyond his grasp.
---
Later – Alone in the Dark
I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Dmitri's cold smile, heard the whispers of the life Raiden had been leading long before me.
The man I loved was playing a game with people who didn't play by the rules. And I was too deep in it now to walk away.
But the cost—could I afford it?
---
End of Chapter 25