Paul stood amidst the wreckage, his gaze fixed on the gaping hole Evan had blasted through the ceiling. His mind reeled, caught between a mix of shock and anger.
The scene around him was a mess, his men lay scattered across the floor, groaning or unconscious, and Suri was gone.
As the adrenaline from the chaos began to ebb, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He hesitated momentarily, dreading the conversation he knew was coming. Reluctantly, he pulled out his phone and answered the call.
Richard's voice boomed through the receiver, sharp and impatient. "So, what's going on? Did you catch that bitch? One of the hidden cameras on-site went off."
Paul struggled to find words, his hand shaking under the weight of failure. Richard's voice cut through his thoughts once more, demanding an answer. "Paul? I asked you a question. It's over, right?"
Paul swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "It's... over."
Richard chuckled darkly on the other end. "Oh, you took care of her that easily, huh?"
"No!" Paul snapped, his voice cracking. "I mean, it's over for us!"
A tense pause followed before Richard's tone turned cold and skeptical. "What the hell are you talking about? Did you smoke some weed, or are you drunk?"
Paul's breathing quickened as he tried to explain, panic creeping into his voice. "I'm not drunk or high! It's Suri... she escaped!"
"WHAT?!" Richard's voice exploded through the phone. "How?! Was she prepared for this?"
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"No..." Paul hesitated as the memory of the armored figure flashed in his mind.
"It was Evan. He showed up... in some kind of suit, like an Iron Man suit. He broke in and took her away."
Silence stretched between them, Richard processing the impossible scenario and when he finally spoke, his voice was low and dangerous.
"WHAT THE FUCKKKK!"
The words faltered in his throat, a question hanging there, unspoken. He wanted to tell her to stop, to leave this dangerous life, but something stopped him. It wasn't his place to ask her that.
But then, Suri's following words took him completely by surprise.
"Okay, I will quit..."
Evan's eyes widened behind the visor, his heart racing. "What did you say?"
"I said I'll quit. From today, I'll live with you. I had decided this a while ago... today just pushed me to make the decision sooner."
Evan's shock was palpable. He hesitated, searching for words to say something, but before he could react, Suri spoke again, asking him to open the hatch.
Without a word, Evan complied. The suit slowed, halting their ascent, and the hatch opened, exposing them to the vast night sky. The world below seemed distant, nothing but a glittering patchwork of lights.
And then, before Evan could process anything further, Suri leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips.
Her lips met his with a sudden, fierce intensity, her fingers gripping the edges of his suit as she pulled him closer. It wasn't a gentle kiss—it was raw, full of emotion. And Evan didn't pull away either.
Instead, he let himself sink into the moment, his arms wrapping around her as the sleek metal of the suit cradled her body, holding them both afloat in the sky.
He wished he could make this moment stop for eternity, feeling his heart racing in his chest.
"What a pleasant feeling?"
He could hear the wind howling around them as the city stretched out far below like a distant dream. Above, the moon shone brightly across the sky with numerous twinkling stars as if gracing them with blessings.
The faint sounds of the city hustle and bustle rose from below, but at that moment, all of that faded into silence. There was nothing but just the two of them.
The cold, biting air, the weightlessness of floating high above the world, and the warmth of their shared passion as Suri's kiss deepened.
All of this was now etched into an unforgettable memory.