Morning came without mercy.
Fina woke in a stiff hospital chair, her neck aching, her eyes burning like she hadn't slept in days because she had not. The room smelled of antiseptic and blood and something metallic that clung to her throat.
Madrex lay on the bed, pale beneath the sharp hospital lights, a thick bandage wrapped around his chest. Machines beeped steadily, indifferent to the fact that a bullet had torn through him hours ago.
For her.
The thought made her chest tighten again.
She stood, pacing, stopping, pacing again. Every time she looked at him, the memory replayed... gunshot, impact, his body jerking in front of hers. No hesitation, no warning.
He had moved like it was instinct.
Her fingers curled into fists. He said he wanted to torment me.
And yet...
"Stop walking," Madrex said suddenly.
She froze.
His eyes were open now. Sharp, annoyed and fully awake.
"You are irritating," he added. "Sit."
There it was. No gratitude, no warmth... just control.
Fina swallowed and sat.
"You should be resting," she said quietly.
He scoffed. "I'll rest when I'm done cleaning this mess."
She hesitated. "You… you took the bullet for me."
Madrex turned his head slowly, eyes darkening.
"Don't flatter yourself."
Her heart sank anyway.
"I told you yesterday," he continued coldly. "Don't confuse intention with emotion. You were in my line of sight. I corrected a threat."
"A threat meant for me," she snapped.
"Yes," he said. "Which makes it my problem."
The words hit harder than kindness would have.
Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.
Finally, he spoke again. "You're moving."
Her breath caught. "What?"
"You won't be returning home. Not to your uncle. Not anywhere unguarded." His jaw tightened. "You'll stay in my secured residence. Full surveillance. Restricted exits."
Her pulse spiked. "You're locking me up?"
"I'm containing you."
"That's the same thing!"
"No," he said calmly. "One implies punishment. This is prevention."
She stood abruptly. "You can't do this."
He looked at her like she was naïve. "I already have."
Her voice trembled. "I didn't agree to this."
Madrex's gaze sharpened. "You agreed the moment you ran back to my building the last time."
She flinched.
"You were hunted," he went on. "And you came to me. That's consent enough."
Tears burned her eyes, anger mixing with fear. "You enjoy this."
"Yes," he said without shame. "But that doesn't make it unnecessary."
She turned away, breathing hard.
A nurse entered, clearing her throat nervously. "Mr. Madrex, you'll be discharged within the hour. But no strain..."
"I'll decide that," he interrupted.
The nurse left quickly.
Madrex reached for his phone.
"What are you doing?" Fina asked.
"Finding out who fired the gun."
Her stomach twisted.
His phone buzzed almost immediately.
He listened, expression unreadable.
Then he said something that made her blood run cold.
"Pull the CCTV from three blocks back. I want faces. Especially anyone she knows."
She stared at him. "Anyone I... what?"
He ended the call and looked at her slowly.
"Your friend," he said. "Evan."
Her heart dropped. "What about Evan?"
Madrex's voice was calm. "He was close to the ambush zone. Too close."
"That's impossible," she said quickly. "He left before..."
"Did he?" Madrex cut in. "Or did he make sure you walked exactly where you'd be seen?"
Her head shook, panic rising. "No. Evan wouldn't..."
"You have not seen him in years," Madrex said. "People change."
"You are twisting this."
"Am I?" He leaned back carefully despite the pain. "Tell me, Fina how did he know where to find you yesterday?"
She opened her mouth, closed it and remained speechless...
Madrex watched the realization settle in her eyes and smiled faintly.
"There it is," he murmured. "Doubt."
Her chest felt tight, suffocating. "He said my uncle called him."
"And your uncle told him about the debt," Madrex replied. "And the men who came for it."
Her knees weakened.
Madrex continued, voice low. "That ambush wasn't sloppy, it was deliberate. Someone wanted you frightened, running."
"To you?" she whispered.
He didn't deny it.
Instead, he said, "You don't move pieces unless you know where they'll land."
The weight of it crushed her.
"You think Evan..."
"I think," Madrex interrupted, "that your childhood friend is either very unlucky… or very useful."
She felt sick.
An hour later, they left the hospital through a private exit.
Madrex walked slower than usual, pain clearly cutting through him, but his posture never bent. Fina stayed close without thinking, her hand hovering near him, afraid to touch.
Outside, a black armored car waited.
Guards, they were too many.
"This is insane," she muttered.
Madrex opened the car door and looked at her. "Get in."
She hesitated.
His eyes darkened. "Don't test me today."
She climbed in.
As the car pulled away, the city blurred past the tinted windows. Fina hugged herself, heart racing.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"My residence," he replied. "From now on, you don't leave without me."
Her voice shook. "And if I refuse?"
He glanced at her, expression cold.
"Then I stop saving you."
The car slowed.
She looked up sharply.
Outside, on the sidewalk, it was Evan.
Standing still and watching.
Her breath caught. "Madrex... stop the car."
Madrex followed her gaze. His jaw tightened.
Evan's eyes met hers.
He lifted his phone.
Madrex's voice dropped to a whisper. "Look at him carefully, Fina."
The car rolled forward again.
"No," she said, panic surging. "Please..."
"Look," Madrex repeated.
As they passed, Evan turned slightly just enough for Madrex's security feed to catch the faint glint tucked under his jacket.
A gun.
Fina gasped.
The car sped up.
Her heart slammed against her ribs as understanding crashed into her all at once.
Madrex leaned back, pain flickering across his face, satisfaction darker.
"Welcome to confinement," he said quietly.
"And to the truth."
Behind them, Evan disappeared into the crowd.
And Fina realized the bullet yesterday hadn't ended anything.
It had only begun.