Location: Dorm Room – Late Afternoon
Leo kicked his sneakers off and threw himself onto the bed, stretching out like he had all the time in the world.
"Dude, you really know how to do nothing," Ash teased, tossing a bag of chips at him from across the room.
Leo caught it one-handed. "What can I say? I'm a professional." He grinned, tapping the bag open.
Ash flopped down next to him, propping his head up with his elbow. "You're an artist of doing absolutely nothing," he agreed, pulling up a streaming site. "Alright, movie night. What are we watching?"
Leo thought for a second. "Something stupid."
Ash's lips curved into a playful smirk. "So, basically your life."
Leo rolled his eyes, but his smile was easy. "You're lucky I like you."
They spent the next few hours watching cheesy action films and laughing at the ridiculousness of every plot twist. Ash kept a running commentary of sarcastic one-liners, and Leo matched him with witty comebacks. It was a simple kind of fun. The world outside seemed so far away in moments like these. They weren't mafia sons, or targets, or anything but two college guys being idiots.
They paused the movie halfway through when Ash got up for snacks, leaving Leo to stretch out again and relax in the soft glow of the TV. His mind wandered, but only in pleasant, hazy circles. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd felt this light—like he wasn't carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
But then the silence outside the room reminded him.
His phone sat face-up on the nightstand, its screen dimmed, and for a brief moment, Leo thought about checking it.
No. He wasn't ready. Not tonight.
Instead, he reached into the drawer of his nightstand, pulling out the pack of cigarettes Nox had given him. The familiar gesture, the feel of the box, comforted him in a strange, reckless way. For the first time, Leo didn't think about the consequences. He just thought about the moment.
Ash reappeared in the doorway, holding two cans of soda. "So, what's the verdict? Movie or no movie?"
Leo shot him a playful look, hiding the cigarette behind his back. "Movie. Of course."
They continued, but the warmth of the night felt colder now, somehow.
Location: Roof – Late Night
It was well past midnight when Leo finally slipped away.
The cool night air hit his skin like a slap, but he welcomed it. He'd been drowning in too much comfort lately, and for once, he wanted to feel something sharp.
The roof was empty, save for a few broken chairs and forgotten cans. Leo stepped over them, walking towards the ledge. It felt almost wrong to be out there at this hour, like a strange mix of rebellion and freedom.
He pulled the cigarette from his pocket, flicking it free of its wrapper. As he lit it, the first drag was harsh, the smoke harsh in his lungs, but it was good. He held it in for a moment before exhaling slowly, watching the thin tendrils disappear into the air.
Leo leaned back, staring at the stars. His mind was lighter than it had been in years. But as he stared up at the night sky, his thoughts began to shift. His father. His life.
Had he really been free these past few days? Or was it just a brief escape from a reality he couldn't outrun?
Leo shook his head. No point in thinking about it now.
He didn't notice the car pulling up below the dorm. Didn't see the familiar figure standing in the shadows of the streetlight. Didn't even feel the tension that rippled through the night.
But the weight of the moment was already shifting. His father was close. And no matter how far Leo tried to run, he was always going to be caught.
Location: Madrid – Abandoned Warehouse – 04:20 AM
Nox had the perfect vantage point.
He watched Ortega's men in silence, waiting. The night felt stretched thin, like it was just a few moments away from breaking.
The mission was nearing its peak.
Nox had planted the virus. The Ghost was already beginning to realize the slow erosion of his control.
A small part of him relished the thought of taking the Ghost down. The man had been playing both sides for far too long. But Nox's focus had always been razor-sharp. He never let the personal mix with the professional.
Tonight, though…
The tension in the air felt like something more. Something about this night was different.
"Contact," his earpiece crackled. The voice of his handler, smooth and measured, echoed through. "We need you to stay on target. No distractions."
Nox exhaled sharply. "Understood."
He stepped forward, disappearing into the shadows, knowing that there would be no second chances.
This would be the end. The Ghost wouldn't make it out of this one.
The mission was almost over.
But there was a certain silence he couldn't shake.
It wasn't fear. But something darker.
Something personal.
Location: Dorm Rooftop – Moments Later
"Dad?"
The voice was cold, controlled, like it always had been. Leo turned as he heard the figure approach from the shadows.
His father's silhouette loomed in the doorway, just out of the light. Leo's heart dropped.
The cigarette hung from his fingers, but Leo didn't bother hiding it. "What are you doing here?"
The older man took a step forward, his expression unreadable. "I tried calling. You didn't answer."
Leo shrugged, blowing out a stream of smoke. "I'm fine. Just needed to clear my head."
His father didn't move. "You think I don't know what's going on?"
Leo's breath hitched, but he recovered quickly. "I'm not doing anything wrong."
His father took another step, closing the distance. "Leo, I'm not here to lecture you. But this life—you can't outrun it. It will catch up to you."
Leo's eyes narrowed. "It already has. But I don't care. Not now. Not tonight."
His father's face softened, just for a moment. Then he stepped back. "You've always been stubborn. But don't make the same mistakes I did."
Before Leo could say anything else, his father was gone.
Leo stood there, the cigarette burning to its end in his fingers, the city lights twinkling below him. His father's words echoed in his mind.
But they felt like they belonged to someone else.
Not him.
End of Chapter 42