The night felt heavier than usual
Emma lay in bed staring at the ceiling
Her hand rested over her stomach
A life growing within her
A life now in danger
Damon sat beside her eyes fixed on the door as if waiting for it to be kicked down
He had doubled security
Tripled the surveillance
But it never felt enough
He turned to her
We need to leave the city
Emma looked at him
Leave everything
Just for a while
We go silent
Off the grid
Let the storm pass
She sat up slowly
But your company your board the projects
I will handle it
They can burn if they have to
Nothing is more important than you and the baby
Emma nodded
Her heart still heavy
Her mind still full of Mia
She tried to sleep
But her dreams were sharp
Dark alleys
Red dresses
Whispers behind walls
She woke to find Damon already dressed
A private jet is ready
Pack only what you need
They left in silence
No staff
No notice
Just the two of them
And the quiet hum of a plan taking shape
The plane took them far
To a secluded estate hidden in the hills
Old stone walls surrounded by tall trees and silence
No neighbors
No noise
Only safety
At least that was the hope
Emma walked through the halls
Everything smelled like wood and memory
Like stories once told and never finished
Damon watched her carefully
Worried not just about Mia
But about what this chaos was doing to Emma
She was strong
But she had cracked before
He would not let her fall again
They spent days there
Walking the grounds
Reading by the fire
Cooking together in the old kitchen
But peace is a fragile thing
And one night it broke again
The phone rang
A secure line only Damon used
He answered
Speak
A voice came through
Quiet urgent
We found her
She made a move
She went after the woman from the charity event
The one who helped you expose Marcus
Damon's jaw tightened
Is she alive
Barely
Emma heard every word
She stood still
Her eyes wide
Mia is hunting people
Damon ended the call
Yes
And she is close
Emma sat down
Then we go back
We finish this
Not yet Damon said
Let me go alone
No
Emma stood
If this ends
We end it together
The next morning they returned
Damon called his best investigator
Asked for the full list
Everyone connected to Marcus
Everyone who had been threatened
Everyone now missing
And the list was long
They sat for hours
Sorting through names
Photos
Crossed out lives
And then
A pattern
She is going after those who testified Damon said
One by one
We need to get to the last name before she does
That last name
A woman
Older
Lived by the coast
Changed identity after the trial
Emma insisted on going too
She would not hide again
They drove without rest
The sun falling behind them like a warning
When they reached the coast
Waves crashed loudly
The house was small
Quiet
Too quiet
Damon pulled out his weapon
Emma stayed close
They approached the door
Knocked once
No answer
He opened it slowly
Inside
Shattered glass
A broken frame
Blood on the floor
Emma gasped
She was here
Damon moved quickly
Room by room
Until he found the woman
Alive
Hurt
But breathing
They called for help
And as the ambulance took her away
She grabbed Emma's hand
She whispered one name
Mia's real name
Not Mia
Not the friend from college
But someone else
A name erased from records
She was planted from the beginning
Emma staggered back
So she was never my friend
Never real
Damon looked at her
She was part of Marcus's circle from the start
You were her mission
Emma sat on the step outside the house
The waves roaring in the dark
I want her stopped Damon
I want it to end
And it will he said
We end it at the source
We go to her
Face to face
They waited until the woman was safe
Then drove to the one place Mia could be hiding
Marcus's old estate
Abandoned
Boarded up
But not forgotten
They arrived before sunrise
Fog wrapped the place like a secret
Emma walked with Damon toward the gates
Her steps steady
Her heart cold
This ends today she said
He looked at her
Then we make it count
They pushed through the gates
The air thick
The silence deeper than before
Inside
They heard movement
Footsteps
Laughter
And then she appeared
Mia
Wearing white
A twisted smile on her face
Welcome home she said
Emma stepped forward
This ends now Mia
No more games
Mia's eyes sparkled with madness
You took my brother
You took everything
You destroyed him Damon said
He destroyed himself
And now you are doing the same
Mia pulled a knife
You destroyed my family
Emma's voice was steady
And you used me
Used every tear
Every laugh
All of it a lie
Mia lunged
Damon moved faster
He knocked the knife from her hand
Held her to the ground
Police are outside he whispered
You are done
She struggled
Screamed
But the war was over
They left as the sun rose
Hand in hand
Hearts still beating
But finally free
Emma looked at Damon
Now we can breathe
He kissed her forehead
Now we can live