The heavy weight of anticipation hung in the air as Kye Perez stood at the threshold, his black tactical gear strapped tightly against his lean frame. His dark clothes blended seamlessly with the night, making him look like a shadow ready to move at a moment's notice.
“Good to see you again, Mr. Perez,” Aliyah’s father greeted, extending a firm hand. His voice carried the gravitas of someone accustomed to command, but also a hint of warmth that softened the edges.
Aliyah leaned against the cold wall, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her piercing green eyes narrowed, locking onto Kye’s smug grin as he returned the greeting. The sight of his infuriating smile made her pulse quicken—not from excitement, but from irritation.
Kye’s gaze shifted smoothly to meet hers, amusement flickering like a flame in his dark eyes. “Aliyah,” he said casually, voice low and steady, “hope you’re ready for what’s coming.”
She rolled her eyes, pushing off the wall with controlled impatience. “Ready? This mission is mine, no question. Just don’t get in my way.” Her words cut sharp, edged with a warning.
“Aliyah, ease up,” her father interjected, his tone firm as he placed a protective hand on her shoulder, pulling her close with an arm around her. “Don’t mind her—she’s just in a foul mood.”
Kye’s grin widened, eyes flickering back to Aliyah as she remained tense under her father’s embrace. “No worries, sir. I’m sure we’ll have a good time tonight.”
Her father chuckled softly, pressing a quick kiss to the top of Aliyah’s head. “I know you two will. Don’t mess this up.” There was a sharpness in his warning, a subtle reminder of the stakes.
“We won’t disappoint,” Aliyah promised, her voice steady but her mind already racing with the task ahead.
“Good. And don’t forget dinner tomorrow,” her father added with a warm smile, shaking Kye’s hand once more.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Kye replied, stepping aside to open the door. “Ready?” he asked, looking back at her.
Instead of answering, Aliyah planted a quick kiss on her father’s cheek, then adjusted the gun secured at her side. She followed Kye out, her boots clicking sharply against the pavement as they headed toward the waiting car.
The car ride was tense and wordless. Kye sat behind the wheel, one hand gripping the steering wheel firmly, the other resting on the console. The hum of the engine filled the silence, a steady drone against the backdrop of the restless night.
“Could you slow down?” Aliyah snapped suddenly, irritation bubbling to the surface.
Kye’s nostrils flared as he cast a sidelong glance her way. “Or you could shut the fuck up,” he shot back, his voice sharp and unapologetic.
Aliyah twisted in her seat to face him fully, heat rising in her chest. “You know what? I never wanted you here. I could handle this mission solo.”
Kye scoffed, his tone dripping with bitter sarcasm. “Like I’d want to be stuck spending the night with a whining bitch.”
She snapped a curse, but before she could finish, a sudden, violent pop shattered the moment—the tire blew out beneath them, the car jolting as Kye wrestled control and steered it to a stop on the shoulder.
“Fuck!” Kye exclaimed, slamming his fists on the steering wheel, frustration radiating from every tense muscle.
Aliyah grabbed her phone, but her face fell as she saw the dreaded notification—no signal. “Shit. No service.” Her voice was barely a whisper, the reality sinking in.
Kye threw the door open and stepped out into the cool night air. “This wasn’t on me,” he snapped, voice low and angry. “It’s a trap.”
Aliyah followed reluctantly, her boots crunching on the gravel beside him. The dense forest loomed on either side of the narrow road, its shadows thick with mystery and menace. Above them, the night sky was a black canvas dotted with cold stars.
Kye moved to the trunk, rummaging through their gear with a growing sense of urgency. The sudden slam of the trunk echoed sharply, drawing Aliyah’s attention.
He turned to her, eyes blazing with frustration. “No spare tire. We’re stuck.”
Aliyah’s heart quickened. “So, what now?” she asked, stepping back until her body pressed against the car behind her as Kye advanced.
“I don’t know,” he admitted, brows drawn tight. “But we wouldn’t be in this mess if your damn mouth kept quiet.”
“Don’t pin this on me,” Aliyah bit back, teeth clenched. Her back hit the cold metal of the car as Kye’s looming form boxed her in.
His hands braced on the car, caging her in. “You’re the one who’s telling your father this story. You’ll take the fall.”
“Me? This was your fuck-up!” she hissed, eyes burning with anger as his face inched closer.
His breath ghosted over her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. “I’ll kill you right here. Bury you in these woods where no one will hear your screams,” he whispered, voice low and threatening.
Aliyah sucked in a sharp breath, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills. Then, with a surge of defiance, she shoved him away. “Go fuck yourself,” she spat, voice trembling with a mix of fear and fury.
Kye stepped back, his expression softening for a brief moment before a sly smile curved his lips. “We have to cross the woods. The warehouse is on the other side.”
“Walk through the woods?” Aliyah echoed, pushing herself off the car, the cold metal leaving a trace on her skin.
He looked down at her with a dangerous gleam. “Get ready, princess. It’s going to be a long, rough night.”
Aliyah took a deep breath, steadying herself against the gnawing anxiety. The forest before them was thick and ominous, the path uncertain and fraught with peril. Yet beneath the tension and anger, an unspoken understanding flickered—they needed each other to survive what was coming.
They gathered their gear silently, the night swallowing their movements as they stepped into the shadowy embrace of the trees. The crunch of leaves underfoot was the only sound, punctuated by distant hoots and the whisper of the wind through the branches.
Every step deeper into the woods tightened the knot of unease in Aliyah’s stomach, but also ignited her determination. She wouldn’t let this mission—or Kye—get the better of her.
Side by side, their uneasy alliance began its grueling test, the forest closing in around them like a living, breathing trap.