Chapter 20 - The Choice
As the heavy glass door clicked shut behind Viktor, the tension in the cafe seemed to suck all the oxygen from the room. Sadi rushed around the counter, grabbing Vincent’s arm, her fingers digging into the wet fabric of his jacket.
"You can't go there," she pleaded, tears spilling over her eyelashes. "It's a trap, Vincent. He's an old monster who wants to drag you back down into the dark. Let him go. Let's just leave."
Vincent looked down at her, his dark eyes softening beneath the heavy strain of the evening. He reached up, his large, calloused hand gently cupping her cheek just as he had done on the balcony months ago.
"If I don't go, Sadi, he will hunt us for the rest of our lives," Vincent explained, his voice steady and resolute. "There can be no peace while a predator like Viktor walks these streets. I built this city to protect what matters to me. And you matter more than my own life."
"Then I'm going with you," Sadi said fiercely.
May you like
"No," Vincent answered firmly. "You stay here with Paulie. If I don't return by midnight..." He paused, his jaw tightening. "...live your life, Sadi. Remember the coffee."
Before she could protest further, he pressed a deep, fierce kiss to her lips—a silent vow etched in desperation—before turning and walking out into the stormy night.
