𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟗: 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈

The next morning, the sun filtered through the small windows of the safehouse, casting soft beams of light over the sparse furnishings. Leo stretched and blinked awake, feeling the comforting warmth of Adrian beside him. For a moment, he allowed himself to bask in the quiet, the weight of the previous night's revelations still heavy on his mind. But as reality settled in, he remembered the day ahead.

"Adrian," Leo murmured, turning to face him. Adrian's eyes fluttered open, and he gave a soft, sleepy smile. "I have to go to that magazine photoshoot today."

Adrian’s expression immediately shifted, concern flickering in his eyes. "Are you sure that's a good idea? We should be laying low."

Leo nodded. "I know, but I can’t cancel last minute. It’s already been rescheduled twice. If I don’t show up, it’ll raise questions. Plus, I don’t want them thinking something’s wrong."

Adrian sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. "Alright," he relented, though his voice was tight with worry. "But be careful. Don't stay out longer than you need to, and keep your phone on you at all times. Call me if anything seems off."

"I will," Leo promised, leaning in to kiss Adrian's cheek. "It’ll be fine. I’ll be back before you know it."

A short while later, Leo was dressed and ready, his usual energy slightly dampened by the undercurrent of unease between them. He left the safehouse and drove to the location of the photoshoot, trying to push the thoughts of danger from his mind and focus on his work.

The shoot went smoothly. The photographer was professional, the crew efficient, and Leo found himself slipping back into the familiar rhythm of his job. He posed and smiled, projecting confidence even as his mind occasionally drifted to thoughts of Adrian and the perilous situation they were in. But by the time the shoot wrapped up, Leo was feeling more like himself, albeit tired.

After the shoot, Leo decided to stop by a nearby store to pick up some supplies for the safehouse. Adrian had stocked it with essentials, but there were a few things they needed—fresh food, toiletries, and other small comforts that might make the place feel a little more like home.

As he wandered the aisles, gathering items, Leo felt a sense of normalcy creeping back in. The mundane task of shopping was a welcome distraction, and for a brief moment, he could almost pretend that everything was okay.

But as he stood in line to check out, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Leo pulled it out, glancing at the screen. It was a text message from an unknown number. His brow furrowed as he unlocked the phone to read it, his attention focused on the mysterious message.

”We know where you are. Don’t think you can hide from us forever.”

Leo's heart skipped a beat, panic surging through him. He looked around the store, suddenly hyper-aware of his surroundings. There were people going about their business, nothing seemed out of place, but the message had his nerves on edge. He quickly stuffed the phone back into his pocket, intending to rush through checkout and get back to Adrian as fast as possible.

But as he stepped outside into the parking lot, his heart still pounding from the ominous message, a hand clamped down on his arm, strong and unyielding. Leo barely had time to react before another hand grabbed him from behind, a rough voice muttering something in his ear. Panic surged through him as he struggled, but the grip on him was too strong.

"Let go of me!" Leo gasped, trying to twist free, but the men only tightened their hold, dragging him toward a black SUV parked nearby. The store was busy, but no one seemed to notice what was happening. It all felt too quick, too smooth—like they had done this before.

The rear door of the SUV was yanked open, and Leo was shoved inside, the force of it knocking the breath out of him. His phone slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the pavement just as the door slammed shut behind him. He barely caught a glimpse of the men’s faces—cold, emotionless—before a rough hand shoved him down onto the seat, pinning him in place.

As the vehicle sped away, the reality of his situation hit him like a freight train. Leo’s mind raced with fear, thoughts of Adrian, of what might happen next. The SUV's windows were tinted, and he couldn’t see outside, couldn’t tell where they were taking him. His pulse raced, his breath coming in shallow gasps as the full weight of the danger he was in settled over him.

Somewhere, buried under the surge of adrenaline and fear, Leo clung to a single hope: Adrian would come for him. He had to believe that. Because if he didn’t, he wasn’t sure he’d survive whatever was coming next.

𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥...