Noha's POV
The air was thick with tension as we raced through the back corridors of the safe house. I could hear the distant sound of footsteps growing louder—more of my enemies were closing in.
Every instinct in my body screamed at me to protect Lisa, to shield her from this mess I had brought her into. I had tried to keep her out of it. I had tried to keep her safe.
But now, there was no turning back.
I glanced at Lisa, her face pale, eyes wide with fear but resolute. She wasn't running, wasn't hiding. She was right beside me, determined to face whatever came next. And it hurt—hurt more than anything I had ever felt—to know that I was the reason she was in danger.
"Stay close," I ordered, my voice sharp.
She didn't hesitate. She followed me, footsteps echoing in the narrow hall as we made our way toward the garage.
I had a plan, but I wasn't sure it would work. The enemies I was up against were ruthless, and they wouldn't stop until they had me.
Or Lisa.
Lisa's POV
I could feel my heart racing in my chest as we hurried through the house, the sound of our footsteps mixed with the distant clatter of gunfire.
I didn't understand everything that was happening, but one thing was clear—I couldn't lose Noha. Not after everything we had been through.
He was distant, cold, and often lost in his own world of violence and sorrow, but I could see through that. I could see the person he was underneath the layers of pain.
I wasn't afraid anymore. Not of the danger. Not of the world he lived in.
I was afraid of losing him.
Noha's POV
The garage door slid open with a metallic screech, and we stepped out into the cold night air. My car was parked in the corner, waiting for us, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.
My hands gripped the keys tighter as I motioned for Lisa to get in. She didn't ask questions, just did as I said. I could see the fear in her eyes, but she was still holding it together.
I had never wanted to keep someone out of my world as much as I wanted to keep her out of this. But now, I was starting to realize something: It wasn't just about keeping her safe anymore. It was about something deeper. Something I hadn't allowed myself to feel in years.
I had to protect her, no matter the cost. Even if it meant losing myself.
Lisa's POV
I got in the car, my hands shaking as I buckled my seatbelt. Noha started the engine, and we pulled out of the driveway, speeding through the streets with the sound of tires screeching beneath us.
I didn't know where we were going, but I didn't care. I trusted him.
For the first time since all of this started, I wasn't looking over my shoulder. I wasn't thinking about the dangers or the threats looming over us.
I was just with Noha. And that was all that mattered.
Noha's POV
As we drove, the weight of everything hung heavy in the air. I had been to hell and back countless times, but this—this was different. Lisa wasn't just some girl I had brought into my world. She was everything.
I could feel the change in myself every time she was near. It was like she had become the anchor I never knew I needed.
But there was no way to protect her from this life. No way to shield her from the darkness that was closing in.
We passed through the city, the streets growing quieter as we approached the outskirts. I knew where we were headed—an old safe house. A place where I had kept my enemies at bay in the past.
But even there, I wasn't sure we'd be safe.
Lisa's POV
I kept my eyes trained on Noha as he drove, his expression unreadable, his jaw clenched tight with tension. I wanted to reach out, to tell him it was going to be okay, but I didn't know if I believed it myself.
"Is this your plan?" I asked, breaking the silence, my voice small in the midst of everything. "To run away?"
Noha's eyes flickered to me for a brief moment, but he didn't answer right away. I could see the conflict in his eyes—the battle between keeping me safe and not wanting to drag me any deeper into this world.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low, almost unreadable. "It's the only choice we have right now."
Noha's POV
I didn't want to lie to her. Not anymore. But the truth was, I didn't know what we were up against. I didn't know if running would even help us.
The enemies I was facing weren't the type to just let us go. They were patient. They would wait for us to slip up.
And when they did, they would come for us with everything they had.
I glanced over at Lisa, her face still filled with determination. She had never been afraid to stand by me, even when she didn't understand everything I was doing. And right now, that was the only thing keeping me going.
We were in this together. There was no turning back.
Lisa's POV
The safe house came into view, a crumbling old building hidden behind high fences and overgrown trees. It felt like a fortress, but even in the shadows, I could feel the looming danger.
As Noha parked the car, I turned to him, my heart racing. "What happens now?"
Noha looked at me, his eyes dark with the weight of everything we were facing. "We stay here. For now. But this isn't over, Lisa. It's just beginning."
I nodded, my throat tightening as the reality of our situation hit me. But despite everything, I wasn't afraid.
Because as long as I had Noha, I knew we could survive anything.
Noha's POV
We were out of time. The world was closing in on us, but I wasn't about to let Lisa down. I wasn't going to let anyone take her from me.
This was the point of no return. We had crossed the line, and there was no turning back.