The door closed behind Joseph.
Silence stayed in the room for a second longer than usual.
Then.
Leo's eyes shifted.
Straight to Liam.
He adjusted his glasses slowly.
"…You were tense."
Liam didn't respond.
Leo leaned slightly forward.
Studying him.
"…Why were you mad?"
Maya looked between them.
Curious.
Anthony crossed his arms.
Marcus just watched.
Elena stayed quiet.
Liam finally looked up.
Calm.
Empty.
"…Nothing."
Leo didn't look convinced.
"…No."
He shook his head slightly.
"That wasn't nothing."
A pause.
"…You reacted."
Liam's eyes narrowed just a little.
Leo continued.
voice still calm.
"…Because of Emma Elarat?"
Silence.
The room shifted again.
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"…Oh?"
Anthony smirked slightly.
"Don't tell me–"
Liam cut him off.
"…Watch your mouth."
Quiet.
But sharp.
That alone.
made Anthony stop talking.
Leo's gaze didn't move.
"…So it is."
Liam stared at him.
"…You're thinking too much."
Leo adjusted his glasses again.
"…Maybe."
A small pause.
"…Or maybe you're thinking too little."
That line sat there.
Marcus spoke this time.
"…If you're hiding something…"
Elena finished softly.
"…You'll get killed before you act on it."
Liam stood up slowly.
Chair scraping lightly.
"…Relax."
He looked at all of them.
One by one.
"…I'm here, aren't I?"
Maya tilted her head.
Smiling slightly.
"…For now."
Liam smirked faintly.
"…That's enough."
Leo kept staring.
Not convinced.
Not even close.
"…We'll see."
Liam turned away.
Walking toward the window.
Hands in his pockets.
Outside.
the city was quiet.
Inside.
tension stayed.
Unspoken.
And Leo.
was still watching him.
A few hours later.
The place was quieter.
Everyone doing their own thing.
Liam stood up.
"…I'm heading out."
Leo's voice came immediately.
"…Where?"
Liam didn't even look back.
"…Nowhere."
A small pause.
Then.
the sound of a chair moving.
"…I'll come with you."
Liam finally turned.
Brows slightly furrowed.
"…Why?"
Leo adjusted his glasses.
Calm as ever.
"…Why not?"
Silence.
Liam stared at him for a second.
Measuring.
Thinking.
"…Fine."
They left together.
Outside.
the air felt different.
Open.
But tense.
They walked side by side.
Liam with his hands in his pockets.
Relaxed.
Casual.
Leo.
watching everything.
"…You do this often?"
Leo asked.
"…What?"
"…Walk around with no destination."
Liam shrugged slightly.
"…Sometimes."
They kept walking.
Through streets.
Past people.
Shops.
Noise.
Life.
Liam looked like he was just wandering.
No purpose.
No direction.
But Leo.
was watching closely.
Every turn.
Every glance.
Every pause.
"…You're not random."
Leo said suddenly.
Liam didn't react.
"…You're going somewhere."
A small smirk formed on Liam's face.
"…Maybe."
Leo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Or maybe you already know where you are."
They stopped at a crossing.
Liam looked ahead.
For a brief moment.
his expression changed.
Serious.
Focused.
Then.
back to normal.
"…Relax."
The light turned green.
They walked again.
----
They stepped back into the hideout.
The door shut behind them with a dull click.
Liam walked in like nothing happened.
No tension.
No hesitation.
He dropped himself onto the couch.
Relaxed.
Like he'd just come back from a normal walk.
Leo stayed standing for a moment.
Watching him.
Then slowly sat down too.
Maya glanced over.
"…Took you long enough."
Liam didn't answer.
Then.
Elena's voice.
Soft.
But sharp underneath.
"…Liam."
He looked at her.
"…Yeah?"
She tilted her head slightly.
Eyes locked on him.
"…Yesterday."
A small pause.
"…You sneaked out."
The room got quieter.
"…Where did you go?"
Liam didn't even blink.
"…Nowhere."
A shrug.
"…Just walking around."
He leaned back slightly.
Casual.
"…That's a habit of mine."
Maya smirked.
"…At night?"
Anthony chuckled.
"…Interesting habit."
But Elena.
didn't smile.
"…Oh really?"
She stepped a little closer.
"…Because I saw you."
Silence.
"…From the window."
Leo's eyes shifted slightly.
Now fully focused.
Elena continued.
voice still calm.
"…You weren't walking randomly."
A pause.
"…You were heading somewhere."
Liam didn't move.
"…And from that direction…"
She pointed slightly.
"…The only thing there is—"
A small smile.
"…Emma Elarat's building."
The room froze.
Maya's smirk faded.
Anthony straightened.
Marcus looked up.
Leo.
was already watching Liam.
Closely.
"…It's about a mile away."
Elena added quietly.
Silence.
All eyes on Liam.
Waiting.
Liam exhaled lightly.
Ran a hand through his hair.
Then looked at Elena.
No panic.
No fear.
Just.
a faint smile.
"…You've got good eyes."
Liam said.
Another pause.
The tension—
rose instantly.
The air snapped.
Liam's eyes shifted.
Not to their faces—
to their hands.
To where the guns were.
"…Oh."
A quiet breath.
He moved first.
Fast.
His hand shot toward one of the guns.
SMACK.
Elena's hand struck his wrist sharply.
Knocking it away before he could grab it.
No hesitation.
Anthony lunged in.
A straight, heavy punch aimed for Liam's face.
Liam tilted his head.
just enough.
The punch sliced past.
He stepped back instantly.
Creating distance.
Marcus came in next.
Fast.
Aggressive.
A combo.
two punches.
Liam raised his arms.
thud—thud
Blocked both.
But Marcus didn't stop.
Another swing.
Liam shifted.
barely avoiding it.
then stepped back again.
They were closing in.
No space.
No breathing room.
Then.
Leo moved.
Silent.
Precise.
A sharp kick.
aimed straight at Liam's head.
Too fast.
Liam saw it.
but.
THUD.
The kick connected.
Clean.
His head snapped slightly to the side.
But.
he didn't fall.
Didn't even step back.
Just.
stood there.
Still.
Slowly.
he turned his head back.
Eyes locked on Leo now.
Quiet.
Then.
a faint smile.
"…Not bad."
Blood slightly at the corner of his lip.
He wiped it.
Looked at it.
Then back at them.
"…So this is how it is."
Now.
he wasn't relaxed anymore.
His stance changed.
Lower.
Sharper.
Ready.
Five of them.
Against him.
And this time.
Liam stepped forward.
They didn't wait this time.
Marcus stepped in first.
Leo to the side.
Anthony straight ahead.
Three angles.
No escape.
They moved together.
Marcus threw the first punch.
fast, direct.
Liam raised his arm.
THUD.
Blocked.
Anthony followed instantly.
a heavy swing to the ribs.
IMPACT.
That one landed.
Hard.
Liam's body shifted slightly.
but he didn't step back.
Leo came in.
sharp, calculated.
another strike toward the head.
Liam ducked.
barely.
But Marcus was already there again.
a second hit.
this one clipped his shoulder.
They were chaining attacks.
No gaps.
No mercy.
THUD.
THUD.
CRACK.
Blows landing.
Some blocked.
Some not.
Liam's arms moved constantly.
guard up.
redirect.
block.
but three at once.
was different.
Anthony drove a punch into his stomach.
This time.
it landed clean.
Liam's breath hitched.
just for a second.
Leo added another strike.
grazing his jaw.
Marcus pressed in.
another hit.
But.
Liam didn't fall.
Didn't retreat.
He stood there.
taking it.
Enduring.
His breathing heavier now.
A faint bruise forming.
Blood at his lip.
But his eyes.
Still sharp.
Still focused.
Then.
he exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
A small crack of his neck.
"…Got it."
His stance tightened.
This time.
he wasn't just defending.
He stepped forward
into them.
Everything flipped.
Liam moved.
Not reacting anymore.
deciding.
Leo stepped in.
confident.
Big mistake.
Liam dropped low.
grabbed both of Leo's legs.
SLAM.
Leo's back hit the ground hard.
Air knocked out of him instantly.
Anthony rushed.
anger in his eyes.
Liam turned.
grabbed both his arms mid-swing.
locked them.
And.
CRACK.
A brutal knee straight into Anthony's chin.
Anthony's head snapped back.
his grip loosened.
stumbling.
Marcus came in.
fast.
aimed for Liam's face.
Liam raised his arm.
THUD.
Blocked.
Then.
twisted.
caught Marcus's wrist—
Pulled him in.
close.
Too close.
"…Stay down."
Two fingers.
sharp.
precise.
JAB.
Straight into Marcus's eyes.
Marcus screamed.
stumbling back.
hands over his face.
vision gone.
Temporary.
but enough.
Maya hesitated.
Just for a second.
Her eyes.
on Liam.
Not hatred.
Something else.
"…Liam—"
Too slow.
Liam stepped in.
one clean strike.
THUD.
Right into her side.
Kidney.
Not lethal.
But precise.
Maya dropped to her knees.
gasping.
body shutting down from the pain.
Liam didn't look back.
He turned.
and ran.
Fast.
Almost out.
Then.
Arms wrapped around him.
Tight.
Restricting.
Elena.
From behind.
locking him in place.
"…Got you."
Soft voice.
Cold grip.
Liam struggled.
but her hold was perfect.
For a second.
he was stuck.
Then.
"MOVE—!"
He roared.
His body surged.
pure force.
He twisted violently.
dragged her weight.
and slammed backward
Elena lost balance.
fell.
Grip broken.
No hesitation.
She pulled the gun.
aimed.
BANG.
Liam moved.
The bullet missed.
barely.
But.
SCRAPE.
It grazed his leg.
A sharp cut.
Blood.
But he didn't stop.
Didn't slow down.
He ran.
Gone.
Behind him.
silence.
Heavy.
Leo still on the ground.
Anthony dazed.
Marcus blind.
Maya barely breathing.
Elena standing.
gun still raised.
eyes narrowed.
"…He's not normal."
No one argued.
----
The building was quiet.
Too quiet.
Liam stepped inside.
Blood lightly trailing from his leg.
Breathing steady.
but heavier than usual.
The guards saw him.
Recognized him.
Said nothing.
Just stepped aside.
No alarms.
No questions.
Because if he came here like this.
it meant something.
He walked through the halls.
Dim lights.
Empty.
Everyone asleep.
Until.
Emma's office door.
He didn't knock.
Just opened it.
Emma was there.
Working.
Of course.
She didn't look up immediately.
"…You're late."
Calm voice.
Then.
she noticed.
Blood.
His leg.
His arm.
His shirt slightly torn.
A pause.
"…Close the door."
He did.
Silence filled the room.
Emma stood up.
Walked toward him.
No panic.
No rush.
Just.
controlled.
"…Sit."
Liam dropped onto the chair.
Exhaled.
Emma grabbed a small kit.
From the side drawer.
She knelt slightly in front of him.
"…You fought them."
Not a question.
Liam smirked faintly.
"…Yeah."
She rolled up his sleeve first.
Clean.
Precise.
Alcohol touched the wound.
SSS.
Liam flinched slightly.
"…Tch."
Emma didn't react.
"…Don't move."
She cleaned it properly.
Wrapped it.
Then.
his leg.
She lifted it slightly.
Careful.
Her fingers steady.
Cold.
"…Bullet?"
"Grazed."
Liam answered.
She nodded.
Cleaned it.
Slower this time.
The room was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Liam looked at her.
Just… staring.
Emma focused on the wound.
Not looking back.
She finished wrapping the bandage.
Tight.
Perfect.
She stood up.
Finally.
looked at him.
Her eyes calm.
Sharp.
"…you feel better?"
Liam smirked.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
Emma stared at him.
Unmoved.
Emma turned away.
Walking back to her desk.
Simple.
Cold.
But.
She stopped.
For just a second.
"…Next time."
A slight glance back.
"…Knock."
Liam chuckled softly.
"…Yes, ma'am."
And for a moment.
in that silent room.
War felt very close.
Chapter end