Elena looked up at him slowly, her breath caught in her throat.
"You didn't take advantage of me," she said, voice soft. "I wasn't drunk enough to forget who I kissed."
Devin's jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing. His eyes just searched hers, trying to read the truth in them. Like he didn't quite trust his own memory of that night.
Elena looked away, the tension in her shoulders showing more than she meant it to. "What happened between us… I didn't plan it. But I don't regret it either. I regret how it ended. Like it never mattered."
Devin stepped closer. Two steps now.
"I didn't forget," he said again, quieter this time. "I just didn't know what to do after. I've spent so long keeping people out, I don't know how to let someone in."
She met his eyes again. This time, hers weren't angry or confused... just tired and honest.
"I'm not asking you to fall in love with me," she said. "I just needed to know it wasn't all in my head."
"It wasn't," he said, almost too quickly. Then, softer, "It never was."
The silence stretched between them again, but this time it wasn't uncomfortable. It was full of things they didn't have to say yet.
Devin glanced down, like he was debating something. Then he looked at her again.
"I'm not good with words," he said. "But I'm here now. And I'm not walking away again. Not unless you tell me to."
Elena blinked at him, caught off guard by how steady he sounded. How sure.
She didn't say anything, just shifted slightly on the bed and patted the space beside her.
Devin hesitated just for a second then sat down next to her. Not too close and not too far.
They sat there quietly, the hum of the city just outside the window. And for once, there was no running. No hiding. Just them.
Maybe it wasn't love yet. But it was something.
Something real. Something waiting.
They sat in silence for a while, side by side on the bed. Neither moved. The space between them felt like a live wire.
Devin's elbows rested on his knees, his hands clasped loosely. He stared at her.
"I need you to understand something," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not… safe."
Elena turned her head slowly, watching him.
"I've done things," he said, his eyes still fixed on the floor. "Killed people. I've lived in blood. In revenge. And I'm not done yet."
She didn't flinch.
"I'm a mafia lord," he went on. "People follow me because they fear me. I don't know how to love someone the right way. I don't even know if I can. And I can't promise you anything good, Elena. Being close to me... it'll ruin your peace."
He finally looked at her, and there was something in his eyes she hadn't seen before not fear, but a warning. A desperate kind of honesty.
"You still want to stay near that?" he asked
Elena's throat felt tight, but her voice was steady. "You think I haven't seen darkness? Devin, I've lived in fear too. Maybe not like you, but I know what it feels like to carry weight on your chest every single day. You say you're not good, but… you came looking for us. You kept the tracker. You showed up."
She shifted closer. "That doesn't sound like someone who's beyond hope."
He opened his mouth, probably to argue but she didn't let him. She leaned in quickly and kissed him, It wasn't gentle. It wasn't soft. It was urgent, raw, and unsure like everything she'd been holding in suddenly had nowhere else to go.
Devin froze, just for a moment. Then his hand slowly found her waist, fingers tightening like he was afraid she'd disappear. He kissed her back not perfectly, not with sweet promises, but with the kind of fire he tried to keep buried.
When they pulled apart, his breath was uneven, his forehead resting against hers.
"I don't know what this is," he whispered. "But I don't want to push it away either."
Elena let out a shaky breath, a small, real smile on her lips. "Then don't."
He nodded slowly, eyes still closed. "But I'm warning you, Elena… I'll ruin you if I'm not careful."
She touched his jaw lightly. "Then be careful."
,
Penny pulled out her phone and quickly called the local takeout place she'd ordered from earlier, just to check if the food was ready.
A few minutes later, there was a soft knock at the door. Penny went to open it and took the warm bags from the delivery guy, thanking him quickly.
She carried the food into the living room, where Jonal and Elena were already starting to relax a bit. Devin stood quietly near the door, his eyes scanning the room like always.
"Food's here," Penny said softly, setting the bags down.
Jonal's tired face broke into a relieved smile. "Perfect timing."
They all gathered around the small table, the smell of fried rice and spicy noodles filling the apartment.
Jonal sank onto the couch next to Penny, his hand finding hers naturally. They smiled at each other though tired, but finally together.
Elena and Devin settled into the room nearby, but the pull of the living room's quiet warmth brought them together again. Penny passed plates around while Jonal ate slowly, the tension finally easing.
"So, how long were you two hiding?" Jonal asked Elena between bites.
Elena shrugged, a small tired smile on her lips. "Too long. It's a relief to just sit here, even if it's not safe yet."
Devin watched quietly, his eyes sharp but calm, reading every glance and gesture.
After a while, Jonal set down his chopsticks. "I need a shower," he said, rubbing his neck.
Penny nodded. "Our room's this way," she said, standing and stretching. She motioned toward her bedroom.
Jonal gave her a grateful smile and stood.
"Thanks bby".
As he left the living room, Penny turned to Devin. "Hey, do you want to share a room with Elena, or would you rather just crash on the couch here?"
Devin's gaze flicked to the couch and back to Penny. "I'll take the couch."
Penny shrugged. "Okay, fair."
She looked over at Elena, who had just walked in from the hallway.
"Hey, can you help me get Devin a blanket?"
Elena nodded with a small smile. "Sure. And if he wants to shower, he can use mine."
Penny grinned softly. "See? We've got you covered ".