Midnight Code

The air inside the penthouse was thick with the hum of Laila’s laptop, lines of code flashing across the screen as she worked through Khaled’s firewalls with precision. Aziel stood behind her, arms crossed, his sharp gaze analyzing every move she made. They were making progress—too much progress.

A sharp knock at the door shattered the quiet intensity.

Aziel’s eyes snapped to Laila. “Expecting someone?”

Laila shook her head, already closing her laptop. Aziel’s hand rested on his concealed firearm as he strode toward the door. He checked the security monitor—and froze.

Standing outside, dressed in elegant but subtly dangerous attire, was a woman Laila didn’t recognize. But the way Aziel’s grip tightened on the doorframe told her everything she needed to know.

“Who is it?” Laila whispered.

Aziel exhaled sharply. “My past.”

Laila’s heart skipped a beat. This was bad.

With a calculated breath, Aziel unlocked the door. The woman stepped inside like she owned the place, her dark eyes scanning Laila before settling on Aziel with an unreadable expression.

"Aziel," she purred, a slow smirk curving her lips. "Miss me?"

Laila didn't move, her mind already racing through possibilities. The ex-wife? A former ally? Or worse—an enemy?

Aziel’s jaw clenched. "What are you doing here, Samira?"

The woman—Samira—tilted her head. "Oh, come on. No 'welcome back'? No 'how have you been'?" She stepped closer, her gaze flicking between Aziel and Laila. "Or maybe you’re too busy playing house?"

Laila folded her arms. “If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, leave.”

Samira laughed, slow and deliberate. "Oh, she's feisty. Cute." Then, with a sudden shift in tone, she turned to Aziel. "I came with a warning. Khaled is moving faster than you think. And if you're not careful, he won’t just destroy you. He’ll destroy her too."

Silence.

Laila felt the weight of Samira’s words settle in the room.

Then Samira smiled—sharp, knowing. "But don't worry. I can help."

Aziel's expression was unreadable. "Why would you help us?"

Samira leaned in just enough for her perfume to linger in the air. "Because, darling…" She turned her gaze to Laila, eyes flickering with something dangerous. "I don’t like sharing what was once mine."

The tension in the room snapped like a live wire.

Laila narrowed her eyes. "Then you should probably leave before you embarrass yourself."

Samira’s smile twitched, but she recovered quickly. “Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

Laila stepped forward, unbothered. “Neither do you.”

Aziel finally moved, stepping between them, his voice cool. "Enough." His gaze cut to Samira. "Tell me what you know about Khaled, or get out."

Samira’s smirk returned, but there was something darker beneath it. “Alright, Aziel. I’ll help.” She glanced at Laila. “For now.”

With that, she turned, walking toward the door—but not before brushing her fingers along Aziel’s arm in a way that made Laila’s blood simmer.

The door closed behind her, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

Laila exhaled, shaking her head. “She’s insufferable.”

Aziel ran a hand through his hair. “You have no idea.”

Laila crossed her arms. "You should’ve warned me you had a lunatic in your past."

Aziel smirked. "Would it have changed anything?"

Laila glared at him before turning back to her laptop. "No. But I would’ve had popcorn ready for this mess."

Aziel chuckled, but his expression sobered as he watched the screen. The real game had just begun.

And now, they weren’t just up against Khaled.

They had a wildcard in play.