I lay in bed, my eyes closed but my mind wide awake, listening to the soft rustling of clothes as Marcel moves about the room. It’s late, or maybe it’s early—I’ve lost track of time, the events of the day blurring together in a haze of fear, anger, and desperate relief. The exhaustion weighs heavy on my body, but my thoughts refuse to quiet, racing with the consequences of my choices. I hear him approach the bed, each footstep a comforting yet terrifying reminder of his presence. The mattress dips as he slides in beside me, the warmth of his body radiating across the sheets. For a moment, I stay still, my breathing even, not ready to face him yet. With everything that’s happened, everything that could have happened, it feels like there's a physical pressure on my chest, a burden I’m not sure I’m strong enough to bear. Suddenly, I feel his strong arms around me, and he pulls me into him, his steady heartbeat thumping against my back as he holds me close. The scent of

I sit on the couch in my study, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my sweater as I avoid Katherine’s gaze. This is our third session this week, and I can feel my walls going up, my defenses rising with each well-meaning question. How many more of these is Marcel gonna make me sit through? “Mercy,” Katherine says softly, her voice calm and soothing. “Can you tell me about your parents?” I chuckle humorlessly, a bitter sound that grates on my own ears. “There isn’t much to say,” I mutter, my eyes fixed on the pastel yellow plush rug beneath my feet. “They’re dead.” She doesn’t flinch at my bluntness, doesn’t recoil from the harshness in my tone. Instead, she leans forward slightly, her eyes filled with a compassion that makes my chest ache. “How did they die?” she asks gently. For a moment, I’m tempted to tell her everything, to spill the secrets that have been festering inside me for so long in hopes that I’ll be left alone. But I ca

⊰ Marcel ⊱ I sit at the head of the conference table, my gaze sweeping over the faces gathered before me. Levi, Santiago, and Guillermo flank me on either side, their expressions carefully neutral. Across from us, Ben and Pablo, the two CIA agents who have infiltrated my organization, the men who used my wife as a pawn in their game. It’s been a week since Mercy’s breakdown, a week of watching her struggle through therapy sessions, of holding her as she cries herself to sleep. A week of barely contained rage simmering beneath my skin. But I keep it in check, my face a mask of calm control. I need to play this smart, need to turn the tables on these bastards who think they hold all the cards. It’s time to settle the score. “So,” I begin, leaning back in my chair, my tone deceptively casual. “Where are we with the nano-drones?” Pablo clears his throat, meeting my gaze with a confidence that sets my teeth on edge

I sit at the dinner table, my gaze fixed on the shimmering surface of the lake visible through the large windows of Santiago’s and Alessandra’s lake house. It’s the same place where Marcel and I exchanged our vows, where we promised to love and cherish each other through every obstacle. Now, as I sit here, Marcel beside me, I can’t help but feel a hollow ache in my chest. We’ve barely spoken a word to each other since our heated confrontation last night. Alessandra’s laughter rings out, drawing my attention to the head of the table. She’s glowing, her hand resting on Santiago’s arm as she leans in to whisper something in his ear. They look so happy, so in love, and for a moment, I envy them. I long for the easy intimacy they share. Why am I so fucking miserable..? As the meal progresses, the conversation flows round me, but I feel myself drifting, my mind wandering to the dark places I’ve been trying so hard to escape. I push the food around

⊰ Marcel ⊱ I pace the length of the foyer, my heart pounding in my chest, my blood pulsating in my ears. Every second feels like an eternity, every moment stretching out into a lifetime of fear and uncertainty. Where the hell are they? What’s taking so long? I did the best I could to stay calm, but the second I saw the call come in from Mercy’s phone, I knew something was wrong. The thought of her out there, in danger, while I was stuck here, helpless…it’s maddening. This is why this needs to end. She can’t live like this. I can’t live like this. The sound of tires screeching outside snaps me out of my thoughts, and I’m moving before I even realize it, my feet carrying me towards the front door. I yank it open just as the familiar black SUV comes to a halt, my eyes scanning the vehicle for any sign of Mercy. In the next second, the back door flies open, and there she is, her face pale and streaked wit