Chapter 61: The Edge Of Us

Elias was already on his feet by the time the second knock came. His muscles were taut, his body still humming from the feel of Lila wrapped around him, but that heat was quickly replaced by something colder, sharper. A problem. There was always a problem. Lila sat up slowly, running a hand through her tangled hair, her skin still flushed, her breath still uneven. Elias could feel the ghost of her fingers on his skin, the way she had clung to him just minutes ago, the way she had whispered she loved him in the quiet of the night. And now, reality was clawing its way back in. Harper’s voice was tight, urgent. “Elias. Lila. Open the damn door.”

Elias grabbed his gun, slipping on his pants, his body still vibrating with the aftermath of her touch. He turned back once, his gaze locking onto Lila’s, reading the same frustration, the same exhaustion. She exhaled, rubbing her temples. “We can’t even have one night.” Elias smirked, despite himself. “I’ll make it up to you.” Lila’s lips twitched, but before she could say anything, Elias yanked open the door. Harper stood there, arms crossed, a deep frown on her face. That wasn’t a good sign. She took one look at them and sighed. “You look like you just had the best night of your life.” Elias arched a brow. “It was.” Lila rolled her eyes, shoving past him, pulling on her shirt as she moved. “What’s the problem?” Harper’s gaze darkened. “Julian disappeared.” Lila stilled. Elias clenched his jaw. “What do you mean disappeared?” Harper exhaled sharply, stepping inside, closing the door behind her. “He was bleeding out. He was barely standing. We thought he’d go underground, but he didn’t.” Lila’s stomach twisted. “Then where the hell did he go?”

Harper hesitated. Then she lifted a burner phone, dropping it onto the table. “We found this.” Lila reached for it, flipping it open, pressing play on the only voicemail saved inside. Julian’s voice filled the room. “You thought this was the end, didn’t you? You thought you won. How adorable. But you should know me better than that by now. I don’t break that easily, love. And neither does your past.” Silence.

Lila’s breath stilled, her fingers tightening around the phone. “What the hell does that mean?” Harper crossed her arms. “That’s the part we’re trying to figure out.” Elias exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. He had expected Julian to retaliate. But this? This was something else. Lila turned, pacing the room, her body tense, her mind already running ahead. She knew Julian. He didn’t bluff. He didn’t talk unless he had something real.

And that meant….

Lila’s eyes widened. Elias saw it before she even spoke. The realization. The fear. Elias stepped forward, grabbing her wrist. “Lila. Talk to me.” She inhaled sharply, looking up at him, her lips parting. “My father.”

Harper’s brows furrowed. “What?” Lila swallowed hard, her pulse hammering. “I never told you everything about him.” She turned to Elias, her fingers gripping his arm. “Julian and my father had history. Before my mother, before me. He always said there were debts to be paid. He always warned me that people like Julian never forget.” Elias’s breath came slow, controlled. “You think he went after your father?” Lila exhaled. “I think he already had him. I think this was never about my sister. I think she was a distraction.”

Harper cursed. “Son of a…” Elias’s jaw clenched. It made sense. Too much sense. Lila ran a shaky hand through her hair. “We have to move.” Elias grabbed her waist, pulling her close, forcing her to stop. To breathe. To feel him. “We do this right. We don’t run in blind.” Lila’s pulse pounded against his touch. “If he has my father”

Elias’s grip tightened. “Then we get him back. But not like this.” Lila inhaled sharply, her body still tense, still vibrating with the need to move, to act. But Elias wasn’t going to let her fall into Julian’s game. Not this time. Harper exhaled, already grabbing her gear. “I’ll start tracking his movements. But you two need to be ready. This isn’t over.” Elias’s fingers curled into Lila’s hip. “It will be.”

Harper shot them a look before slipping out the door, leaving them alone again. Lila let out a slow, shuddering breath, her body still coiled tight. Elias reached up, tracing her jaw, his touch gentle, grounding. “I’m not letting him take anything else from you.” Lila’s breath hitched, her fingers curling into his shirt. “You don’t know that.” Elias tilted her chin up, his lips brushing against hers. “I do.” Lila exhaled sharply, her body pressing into his, seeking warmth, seeking control.

Elias kissed her then, slow, deliberate, deep. Like he was making a promise. Like he was anchoring her to him. Lila sighed against his mouth, her fingers sliding up his chest, curling around the back of his neck, pulling him closer. “Elias.” He exhaled, his hands sliding under her shirt, fingers tracing along her spine. “Tell me what you need.” Lila’s voice was barely a whisper. “You.” Elias groaned, flipping her onto the bed, his body covering hers, his mouth taking, claiming, owning. She gasped, arching against him, her hands desperate, needy, tugging at his skin, his hair, his everything. She needed this. Needed him. Needed to forget everything but the way he made her feel.

Elias whispered against her skin, hot, rough, wrecked. “I’ve got you, baby.” Lila whimpered, her body trembling. “Don’t let me go.” Elias’s grip tightened. “Never.” And then there was nothing but heat. Nothing but hands and lips and bodies tangled together in the dark. Nothing but the way she fell apart beneath him, the way he put her back together. Again. And again. And again. Later, much later, Elias held her against his chest, their bodies tangled, the world still quiet around them. Lila exhaled, her fingers tracing over his scars, her lips brushing against his skin. “I love you.” Elias’s breath hitched. Every time she said it, it ruined him. He slid his fingers through her hair, his voice raw. “Say it again.” Lila smirked against his chest. “You like hearing it, don’t you?”

Elias exhaled sharply. “Damn right I do.” Lila lifted her head, meeting his gaze, something soft and unguarded in her eyes. “I love you, Elias.” Elias pulled her up, crashing his lips against hers, his body pressing into hers again. “I love you too.” Lila’s breath was stolen. She didn’t need anything else. Then the phone rang. Elias tensed. Lila reached for it, her pulse spiking. Unknown number. She answered. And then Julian’s voice. “Did you really think I’d let you keep him?” Lila’s blood ran cold. Elias sat up instantly. “What?” Julian chuckled, slow and dark. “Check outside.” Lila’s breath stilled. She turned to Elias. He was already reaching for his gun. Then the explosion. The world shattered.