Midnight Code

LAILA

Laila exhaled sharply.

Okay. Fine.

She was caught. No more running.

Aziel wasn’t letting her go, and honestly? She was tired.

Tired of dodging. Tired of pretending like this wasn’t serious.

Tired of acting like she wasn’t in deep trouble.

She leaned back against the couch, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the floor.

❝You really won’t let this go, huh?❞ she muttered.

Aziel didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he tilted his head, studying her.

Then, softly—too softly—he said, ❝No, Laila. I won’t.❞

Her throat tightened. He wasn’t joking.

❝You want answers? Fine.❞ She finally looked up, meeting his gaze. Serious now. ❝I hacked that system because someone paid me to.❞

Aziel’s expression didn’t change. Calm. Focused. Watching her every move.

❝Who?❞ he asked.

Laila sighed. ❝I don’t know.❞

Aziel narrowed his eyes. ❝Laila—❞

❝I don’t,❞ she snapped, frustrated. ❝It was an anonymous request. They sent the money. They sent the target. I did the job. That’s it.❞

Aziel’s jaw tightened. ❝And you didn’t think that was suspicious?❞

Laila laughed dryly. Of course, it was suspicious.

But hackers didn’t ask questions. They just delivered.

❝It was supposed to be simple, Aziel,❞ she muttered. ❝Get in. Get out. No one notices. But then—❞

She hesitated.

Aziel leaned in slightly. ❝Then what?❞

Laila swallowed. ❝Then I realized… someone was already there. In the system. Watching me.❞

Aziel’s eyes darkened. ❝Someone else was hacking at the same time?❞

Laila nodded. ❝Yeah. And they were better.

❝They didn’t stop me. They didn’t kick me out.❞

Her fingers curled into fists. ❝They just… watched.**

For the first time in a long time, she had felt exposed. Tracked. Hunted.

And she hated that feeling.

Aziel was silent for a moment, processing. Then, his voice dropped.

❝Laila.❞

She met his gaze.

❝Whoever hired you? They set you up.❞

Her stomach dropped.

She had known. Deep down, she had suspected it.

But hearing him say it? It hit different.

Laila let out a shaky breath. ❝So what now?❞

Aziel’s jaw clenched.

Then, with absolute certainty, he said—

❝Now, habibti? We find out who wants you dead.