Chapter 21: Shadows of the Past
The morning sunlight streamed weakly through the long drapes, casting golden stripes across the safe house's polished floor. Elara stood by the window, her arms wrapped around herself. Last night's kiss still lingered on her lips—tender, grounding, real—but the weight of what lay ahead hadn't disappeared.
Lucien entered the room with a phone in one hand and a file folder in the other. His shirt was slightly rumpled, his dark hair tousled, but his expression was all business.
"I found him," he said.
Elara turned quickly. "Leontis's son?"
Lucien nodded and handed her the file. "Nikolai Leontis. Changed his last name to avoid ties to his father. He's been off the grid for five years, but he resurfaced in Lisbon three months ago. Under a fake identity. He works for a private security firm."
Elara flipped through the pages—photo IDs, surveillance shots, travel records. "How do we reach him?"
Lucien's jaw tightened. "We don't. Not directly. He hates his father more than I do. If we approach him the wrong way, he'll disappear again."
She paused, scanning his face. "What are you planning?"
"I'll go alone," Lucien said. "You stay here. It's too risky for both of us to be seen."
"No." Elara's voice was firm. "You don't get to make that choice for me anymore. We do this together."
Lucien looked at her—really looked—and she could see the hesitation flickering in his eyes. He wasn't used to letting anyone in. But this was different. She was different.
"Alright," he finally said. "Together."
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Later That Day – The Journey Begins
They left the safe house under new identities—Lucien now "Gabriel March," a venture capitalist; Elara, "Sophie Leigh," his assistant. The jet was discreetly chartered, no paper trail. Within hours, they were soaring toward Lisbon.
The plane's cabin was quiet. Elara sat across from Lucien, flipping through the dossier again. "What do we know about Nikolai's relationship with his father?"
Lucien leaned back, his fingers laced behind his head. "He was groomed to take over the Leontis empire. Brilliant strategist. But when he uncovered evidence of human rights violations in their overseas dealings, he threatened to go public. His father had his name erased from the family line. Then tried to have him killed."
Elara swallowed. "So we need to convince a man who's spent his life in hiding to help us take down the father he escaped from?"
"Exactly," Lucien said grimly. "We're not offering him safety—we're offering him revenge."
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Lisbon – Midnight
The city glimmered with life. Cobblestone streets reflected the golden haze of streetlamps as the couple slipped into the quiet alley behind a private nightclub.
Lucien checked his watch. "Nikolai's supposed to arrive in five minutes. His team does freelance protection for some of the VIPs here. He won't come through the front."
They waited in silence.
Footsteps echoed. A tall figure emerged from the shadows—dark jacket, close-cropped hair, eyes as cold and precise as a blade. Nikolai.
He noticed Lucien immediately, pausing mid-step.
"You've got two minutes to explain why I shouldn't walk away," he said, voice low and sharp.
Lucien stepped forward. "Because I know what your father did. And I want to burn him down just as much as you do."
Nikolai's gaze flicked to Elara, then back to Lucien. "You brought your girlfriend?"
"She's the reason I'm still alive."
Nikolai didn't blink. "You're either desperate or stupid. Probably both."
Lucien held out a flash drive. "This contains proof of your father's offshore accounts, shell companies, and the assets he uses to blackmail board members. I need you to confirm it. And I need your help to release it when the time is right."
Nikolai stared at the drive, unmoving.
"You've got one chance," Lucien added. "Help me end this. And we'll both walk away free."
A tense silence stretched between them.
Finally, Nikolai reached out, snatched the drive, and slipped it into his coat. "I'll be in touch."
He turned and walked away.
Elara exhaled for the first time in minutes. "Do you think he'll help?"
Lucien watched Nikolai disappear into the night.
"I think we just lit the first spark of war."
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