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CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

Knight

After four weeks of watching through cameras, stalking her movements like some kind of digital voyeur, she’s here. I stay in the shadows while she enters. The way I stalked her through my apartment that first night—though this time, I’m not armed, and prepared to kill. I’m just ... waiting for the right moment.

She hesitates, like she’s testing the air for danger, before stepping inside.

“I don’t know why I’m here.” Her voice carries that mix of quiet and steel I’ve missed more than I care to admit. “Your message said no games, but this feels like one.”

Guilt crawls up my spine, and I move stealthily across the room. Her head tilts slightly, a subtle acknowledgment of my presence, but she doesn’t turn and face me.

“You know, normal people just call.” She drops her bag beside the door. “They don’t hack library computers to get someone’s attention.”

“When have I ever been normal?” The words come out rough. “Besides, phones are overrated. Anyone can make a call.”

“Oh, I forgot. You prefer stalking through cameras and sending large, unwanted, bank deposits.” Her voice is ice. “How’s that working out for you?”

“Stalking is such an ugly word. I prefer creative reconnaissance.” It’s a weak deflection, and I know it.

“ Really? That’s the defense you’re going with?” She turns, and the anger in her eyes is impossible to ignore. “The cameras mysteriously reposition every time I work late, obscene amounts of money appear in my account every couple of days, and you’re standing here making jokes?”

“It’s what I do best ... Well, that and surveillance. I’ve really perfected my camera angles.” The joke falls flat. She doesn’t smile.

“Stop it!” She steps toward me, her fury crackling in the air like a live wire. “You don’t get to stand there making jokes after four weeks of silence. You pushed me away, then watched me through cameras like some kind of creep . And when you decided watching wasn’t enough anymore, you sent money. Now what? You think you can hack my computer and summon me here, and everything will be fine?”

“Would it help if I said I was wrong?”

“About which part? Pushing me away? The surveillance? The money? There are so many fuck-ups to choose from, Knight.”

I’m close enough to her now to feel the heat radiating from her body. “All of it. Though I maintain the camera work was artistic.”

“This isn’t funny.” Her fingers curl into fists. “You don’t get to joke your way out of this one.”

“Humor’s my best defensive mechanism. I’m also good at brooding silently in dark rooms.”

“Trust me, I noticed.” Her voice could freeze hell. “I especially enjoyed the part where you went from making love to me to pretending I didn’t exist. Really showed off your range.”

Her words are a blade I can’t dodge.

“Eva—”

“No.” She throws one hand up, palm facing me. “You don’t get to use my name like that. Like you haven't done anything wrong.”

“Would you have talked to me if I tried?”

“We’ll never know, will we? Because instead of acting like an actual adult human being, you decided hiding behind cameras and throwing money at the problem was easier than having an actual conversation.”

“When you put it that way, it does sound somewhat disturbed.”

“ Somewhat ?” Anger drives her forward until she's in my space now. “Try completely and utterly insane . What did you think was going to happen? That I’d just accept the money? Pretend not to notice the cameras? Wait patiently while you worked through your issues from a safe distance?”

“I was thinking more along the lines of coffee. Maybe dinner.” I try to smile, but it’s weak, faltering.

“Will you stop it!” Her voice cracks like a whip. “You want to joke about this? Fine. Let’s talk about how you went from having me in your bed to treating me like a threat. About how you pushed me away then couldn’t even commit to staying out of my life properly.”

“I never claimed to be good at keeping boundaries. I’m a hacker. Being in places where I don’t belong is my forte.”

“You never claimed to be good at anything except hacking and sarcasm.” She jabs a finger into my chest. It sends a jolt of pain through my shoulder. “Why am I here? Why now? Because watching through cameras stopped being enough? Because you got bored playing long-distance stalker?”

“Because I miss you.” The truth slips out.

“Missing me isn’t enough.” She doesn’t miss a beat, her voice dropping lower. “Not after everything you’ve done. If you want something from me, you need to earn it. Stop deflecting. Stop hiding behind jokes. Stop pretending this is anything except you being too afraid to actually face what’s happening between us.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“You’re a liar.” She’s fucking relentless in her fury. “You’re terrified. That’s why you pushed me away. It’s why you hide away in this fucking fortress instead of actually dealing with feelings like a normal person.”

“Normal is overrated.”

“So is obsessing over camera feeds instead of talking to me, but that didn’t stop you.” Her hand fists in my shirt. “Tell me what you really want.”

“You want the truth?” My voice breaks, but I don’t care. “Fine. I can’t sleep because every time I close my eyes I see you walking away. I can’t focus because I’m too busy checking camera feeds to make sure you’re safe. I can’t—” I shake my head.

“Can’t what?” She tightens her grip. “Finish the fucking sentence.”

“I can’t stop needing you.” The words erupt as a shout. “There! Are you happy now?”

“No.” She doesn’t let go. “Because you’re still trying to control everything. Still dictating terms, and acting like only you have the right to decide what happens between us.”

“Then you tell me what happens next.” My hands find her waist. “Tell me how to fix this.”

“That’s not how this works.” She pulls back, but I don’t let go. “You don’t get to push me away then decide when I come back. If you want this… if you want me … then you need to fight for it.”

“I don’t know how.”

“Neither do I.” Her voice softens, but the steel remains. “But I’m done watching you watch me through cameras. Either let me in completely or let me go. No more halfway.”

“Those are my only options? No chance of a write-in vote?”

“You really can’t help yourself, can you?” She shoves me hard enough that I stumble back. Pain explodes through me. I manage not to let it show on my face. “Everything is a joke to you.”

“Not everything.” I catch my balance, my shoulder protesting the movement. “Not you.”

“Then prove it.” She starts for the door. “When you figure it out, you know where to find me. I’m sure your cameras can point the way.”

“Eva—”

“ Four weeks, Knight.” She doesn’t turn back. “Four weeks of silence broken only by mystery deposits and creepy surveillance. You don’t get to joke your way back from that.”

She turns and walks out. The sound of the door closing behind her echoes through the apartment, and I’m left staring at the empty space she occupied moments ago.