The gunshots had stopped, but the echo of them still lived in the air.
Dust drifted down from the concrete beams as Arden stepped fully into view, weapon lowered but ready. His eyes never left Julian. Not for a second. Years of restraint, strategy, and silence burned in his chest all at once.
Ife stood frozen between them.
For one terrible moment, she thought Julian might shoot her just to prove he could.
Instead, he laughed.
A slow, almost delighted sound.
"Arden Blackwood," Julian said, spreading his hands. "You really do have a talent for dramatic entrances."
Arden didn't smile. "Let her go."
Julian glanced at Ife, then back at him. "You always skip the pleasantries. That's why you lose."
He gestured, and two guards tightened their hold on the kneeling men. Tomi lifted his head weakly, eyes widening when he saw Arden.
"Boss…" he croaked.
Arden's jaw clenched. "This ends now."
Julian tilted his head. "Ends how? You kill me and walk away with her? You think my world collapses because you're angry?"
"You're already collapsing," Arden said calmly. "You just haven't hit the ground yet."
Something flickered across Julian's face.
Rage.
Then control.
"You taught me once," Julian said quietly, "that love is a liability."
"I was wrong," Arden replied. "It's the only thing you can't buy."
Ife's heart ached at the sound of his voice. He wasn't shouting. He wasn't begging.
He was choosing.
Julian turned to her. "Is that true?"
She lifted her chin. "Yes."
The word landed like a blade.
Julian stared at her, something dark and wounded breaking through his polish. "After everything I gave you?"
"You didn't give," she said softly. "You took."
Silence stretched.
Then Julian smiled—but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Very well," he said. "Let's be honest."
He snapped his fingers.
The guards shoved the prisoners forward. Tomi collapsed, barely conscious.
"Walk away with her," Julian told Arden, "and he dies. Stay—and I let them all live."
Arden didn't hesitate.
"Release them."
Julian's brow arched. "Even if it costs you her?"
Arden looked at Ife.
Really looked.
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she nodded.
"I don't want blood on your hands," she whispered.
That broke him.
Arden turned back to Julian. "Release them. I stay."
"No!" Ife cried.
Julian watched the exchange with quiet satisfaction. "Ah. Love in its purest form."
He gestured.
The guards released the men.
Tomi collapsed fully this time, breathing shallow but alive.
Relief surged through Ife—then terror.
Julian stepped closer to Arden, voice low. "You'll die here."
"Maybe," Arden replied. "But not alone."
That was when the sound of sirens rose again—closer this time.
Julian stiffened.
Victor emerged from the shadows, phone still raised. "Federal task force. Multiple units. Your accounts, your properties—gone."
Julian's face darkened.
He laughed once. Sharp. Unstable.
"Well played," he said to Ife. "You really were the storm."
He stepped back slowly, eyes never leaving Arden. "This isn't over."
He turned and vanished into the maze of concrete just as police flooded the site.
Later, in the chaos, Arden found Ife sitting on the ground, shaking.
He knelt in front of her, ignoring the noise, the blood, the wreckage.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
She laughed through tears. "You stayed."
He brushed his thumb over her cheek. "I'll always stay."
She leaned into him, finally allowing herself to breathe.
For the first time in weeks, they held each other without fear.
But in the distance, Julian watched from the shadows, eyes cold.
This wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.