? ???????? ???? ?

Alexandra's POV

Two nights.

That's how long it's been since Z and the stranger came into the café, dropped a bombshell on me, and left me reeling.

I barely slept. Every noise outside my window made my heart jump. Every shadow in my apartment felt like a threat.

And now, standing outside the café as the morning chill bites through my jacket, I know one thing for certain-

I can't do this alone.

I don't trust Z. I don't even know who he is.

But if someone is watching me, if Aaron is caught up in something bigger than just running after a dead woman, then I need help.

Even if it means making a deal with the devil.

The Safe House

The drive is silent.

Z's car is sleek, dark, and just like him-unreadable. I don't ask where we're going. I don't ask why he's helping me.

I just watch him.

His grip on the wheel is steady, fingers relaxed. But every time a car pulls up too close behind us, his gaze flicks to the rearview mirror, sharp and assessing.

He's trained.

I don't know how I know that, but I do.

Twenty minutes later, we pull up to an abandoned building. It looks empty, forgotten. But when Z unlocks the door and steps inside, the place is anything but.

Monitors. Files. A wall covered in photographs and maps.

This isn't just a safe house. It's a command center.

A cold shiver runs down my spine.

"How long have you been watching Aaron?" I ask.

Z doesn't look at me. "Long enough."

I take a step closer, scanning the wall. My stomach twists.

There-right in the middle-is a picture of Elena.

And right next to it-Aaron.

I turn to Z. "Why?"

He exhales, like he's debating how much to tell me. Then-

"Aaron isn't the only one looking for Elena." His voice is quiet, measured. "Someone else is looking for her too."

My breath catches.

"She's dead," I say, but the words feel hollow.

Z doesn't respond.

Instead, he pulls something from his pocket. A flash drive.

He hands it to me. "See for yourself."

I hesitate.

But deep down, I know-whatever's on here is going to change everything.

The Footage

I don't remember the drive back.

All I know is that when I finally sit down at my laptop, hands shaking, I almost don't want to look.

But I do.

The footage is grainy, low quality. A security camera feed from an unknown location.

No, not unknown.

My breath catches as the scene comes into focus.

Rows of chairs. A floral archway. A familiar aisle leading up to a priest.

My wedding.

My stomach twists as I watch the moment play out from a new angle.

There's Aaron-standing at the altar, his shoulders tense.

There's me-walking toward him, heart pounding, steps careful.

Then-

Movement.

I freeze.

The camera captures a woman slipping into the back of the ceremony. Her figure is just barely visible through the sea of guests.

She's not just standing there.

She's staring at Aaron.

And the second Aaron sees her-

He stops moving.

His whole body goes rigid, like he's been struck. His hands, once loosely clasped in front of him, tighten into fists.

He doesn't blink. He doesn't react to anything else-not the priest speaking, not me stepping closer.

For a few long, agonizing seconds, it's like the entire wedding has disappeared for him.

Like all he sees is her.

But the guests-

They don't react.

Not one of them turns. Not one of them acknowledges her.

Only Aaron saw her.

A slow, sickening realization washes over me.

This wasn't cold feet.

Aaron didn't freeze because of the wedding.

He froze because he saw Elena.

And then, just as suddenly as she appeared-

She's gone.

I scrub the footage back. Pause it. Stare at the moment before she vanishes.

Was she ever really there?

Or was she just a ghost, lingering at the edges of our lives, haunting Aaron in a way I never understood?

I slam the laptop shut, my pulse racing.

This is impossible.