The night was restless for Ezekiel. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his penthouse, staring at the sprawling city below, lost in the chaos of his thoughts. The whiskey in his hand had long gone warm, untouched since he poured it hours ago. He had been working non-stop, yet no amount of distraction could drown the storm brewing inside him.
He had seen her. Not just a vision or a fleeting memory-but her. She was alive.
It didn’t matter that she denied it. Ezekiel had always been perceptive, reading people like an open book. Her stance, the burn scars, the way her eyes flickered with both fire and restraint-it was undeniably her. But the question gnawed at him-why had she chosen this life? Why had she returned to the shadows instead of to those who cared for her?
The rumors were rampant in the underworld. A masked woman who executed the Sovereign’s dirtiest missions with surgical precision, leaving trails of blood in her wake. The more Ezekiel heard, the more certain he became. This wasn’t just a coincidence. It was Daisy.
“Why, Daisy?” he muttered under his breath, his voice raw. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
Ezekiel had always prided himself on his ability to control situations, to bend circumstances to his will. But she was the one variable he could never predict, never control. And now, she was slipping further away.
The engagement party was the perfect opportunity. Louis’s announcement had made headlines for weeks-his union with Natalie Bishop, a pairing that reeked of strategy rather than love. Ezekiel scoffed at the thought. Louis, once a man of principle, had become unrecognizable.
Ezekiel attended the party not out of obligation but as part of his relentless pursuit of her. Deep down, he knew she wouldn’t resist attending an event of such magnitude. The Sovereign’s influence touched everything, and if she was truly his enforcer, she would be there.
The banquet hall glittered with opulence. Wealthy elites, powerful figures, and the press buzzed around like bees. But Ezekiel’s sharp gaze scanned the room with purpose, dismissing everything that wasn’t her. He moved with an air of calm authority, his tailored suit and cold demeanor ensuring no one dared to interrupt his search.
And then, in the shadows of the grand hall, he spotted her. The mask covered most of her face, but it couldn’t hide the unmistakable aura she carried. She was watching, detached and calculating, her eyes scanning the room like a predator stalking prey.
Ezekiel’s heart pounded in his chest. He had waited for this moment, yet he felt the weight of it now. Without hesitation, he slipped through the crowd, following her as she retreated into the quieter corners of the estate.
“Wait,” he called softly, his voice firm yet tender.
She froze but didn’t turn. Her body tensed as if ready to bolt, but she stayed rooted. Slowly, Ezekiel approached, his steps measured, his gaze unwavering.
“I knew it was you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You can deny it all you want, but I know, Daisy. I know.”
She didn’t respond. Instead, she turned her head slightly, just enough to give him a glimpse of her profile. The burns were faint but visible, etching a story of pain and survival.
Ezekiel reached out, his hand trembling slightly as it hovered near her face. “Who did this to you?” he asked, his voice breaking. “Who made you endure this?”
When she still didn’t respond, Ezekiel’s hand found its way to her cheek. The contact was electric, stirring something deep within both of them. For a moment, she didn’t pull away, allowing the warmth of his touch to seep through her defenses.
“Come back to me,” Ezekiel pleaded, his voice raw with emotion. “I don’t care what you’ve done or what you’ve become. None of it matters. Just come back.”
But the moment shattered as quickly as it had formed. She stepped back, breaking the contact, her eyes hardening. “You’re mistaken,” she said coldly, her voice devoid of emotion.
Ezekiel shook his head, a bitter smile forming on his lips. “You can lie to everyone else, but not to me.”
Without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows. Ezekiel stood there, his chest heaving with unspoken words, his heart aching with unfulfilled longing.
“She’s alive,” he whispered to himself, his resolve hardening. “And I will bring her back.”