𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 - 𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚔𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚠

I discover who the Shaw are

Isabella's POV

Weeks went by, and Deckard and I kept a low profile. We stayed out of sight, learning more about each other, and the world around us. I had become a little more comfortable with the idea of disappearing. There were no more questions, just the sound of our footsteps in the dark as we trained. The constant news reports and the outside world felt like distant memories.

I ran every day—hard. Not for exercise, but to clear my head. When I found a black car parked nearby, my first instinct was to run away. But then I remembered the first rule Deckard had drilled into me: Disappear into the shadows. I stopped myself, and instead, I let the moment pass, blending in like a ghost.

I kept my eyes off the news for a while, but one evening, I couldn't resist. I glanced at the headlines, and my stomach sank.

"WorldHack Building Attack: Everyone Dead, One Person Missing or Dead."

"One Person Dead for WorldHack; Everyone Else is Worried."

I knew the truth. I knew Deckard was still alive, and so was I. These stories were lies, and I couldn't let anyone believe them. I quickly texted Mia, Letty, and Brian, telling them not to believe what they heard in the media. I couldn't explain everything, but I reassured them that I was alive.

Later that evening, I went for a walk to clear my head. I didn't expect anything, but as I passed a street corner, I saw two figures trailing me. My heart skipped a beat—no time to panic, I've got this.

I ducked into a dark building, the coolness of the concrete against my skin offering a brief moment of comfort before the danger caught up.

The footsteps of the two men grew louder. I pressed my back to the cold wall, waiting. They were close.

When they arrived, I could hear one of them muttering to the other, "Come on out, miss. You got nowhere to hide."

I smirked, stepping out from my hiding place, my voice calm as I replied, "Actually, you're the one who needs to hide."

I moved quickly, faster than they expected. In a flash, I disarmed one of them, wrenching the knife from his hand, and with one swift kick, I sent him tumbling to the ground. As he looked up at me in shock, I crouched down, my voice cold but full of purpose.

"Tell your boss I'm coming for her. And tell her not to pick a fight with me."

His eyes widened as I punched him square in the jaw. With one final glance, I turned on my heel and ran back to where I was staying with Deckard.

Deckard was waiting outside when I arrived, his gaze scanning me carefully.

"What happened?"

I caught my breath, a half-smile tugging at my lips. "I knocked him out."

Deckard's face softened with approval. "Good."

But then, his expression shifted. He moved closer to me, his tone serious as he spoke. "Listen, Isa... if we get your code back for Cipher, everyone who wants to kill me will come after you. I need to tell you everything, because I like you more than you know."

I met his gaze, nodding. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I could see the weight of his words in his eyes. I followed him inside, my heart pounding.

Deckard began to tell me his story—his past. He shared everything: his rise through the military ranks, his dangerous life as a mercenary, the betrayal by his best friend, and the heartbreaking moment when he was forced to kill Brixton in self-defense.

I listened quietly, my heart heavy.

"Wow, that's a lot to take in," I said, finally breaking the silence.

Deckard nodded, a slight sigh escaping him. "I understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore."

I took his hand, my grip firm and sure. "Decks... I would never walk away from you. You saved me. You gave me a chance to live. And the truth is, my life... well, it hasn't been great. But I've always put on a brave face."

I paused, looking into his eyes. "It's time I stop pretending, isn't it? Let's get the codes back from Cipher. And by the way, I put a tracker on the men."

Deckard smiled, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "I knew you were smart."

We moved forward with the plan, each step bringing us closer to the truth, closer to the chaos that awaited us. But it wasn't just about the codes anymore—it was about me becoming the person I needed to be.

The day passed in a blur of training, strategy, and preparation. By lunchtime, Deckard and I were in the gym, breaking a sweat and pushing ourselves to be better.

Deckard stopped for a moment, his expression intense as he looked at me. "Bella," he said softly, his voice low. "I don't want you to lose who you are, but you need to be tough, you need to be brave. Can you do that?"

I stood there, my heart racing. "Yes, I can. With your help."

We spent the rest of the day training harder than ever before, until we both collapsed onto the mat, laughing. It was in that moment—sweaty, tired, and with an adrenaline rush pumping through my veins—that something shifted. We came together, lips meeting in a kiss that was full of heat and passion. It wasn't just about the danger we were in or the mission—it was about something deeper.

The kiss turned into more. We made our way to his bedroom, where the world outside seemed to disappear. It was just him and me—our bodies entwined, hearts racing.

I was falling in love with Deckard Shaw.

As much as I tried to fight it, to convince myself I wasn't ready, I knew it in my bones. We were in this together, and I was no longer afraid to face the future—whatever it held.