To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 69

A chill shot through Elara, a sense of dread crashing over her like a cold wave.

She watched as Lina crouched by the storm drain, clutching a tiny, transparent bag bundled into a ball and pressing it tightly against the metal grate.

"If you hurt my brother again, I'll drop this down there!" Lina's voice trembled, on the verge of tears.

"No, wait!"

Elara lunged forward but was yanked back, held in place by one of the attackers.

In that split second, Lina let go.

The bag slipped silently through the darkness, disappearing into the depths below without a trace.

Elara's eyes widened in shock, her voice caught in her throat.

The three men in black, satisfied with the outcome, spun around to make their escape.

Brian reacted instantly, tackling two of them before they could get away, but the last one managed to slip free.

"You idiot!" Elara stamped her foot in frustration.

Lina flinched at her outburst, shrinking into herself, her lips turning a worrying shade of blue.

"I… I was scared…" Lina's breathing quickened, panic rising in her eyes. "I couldn't let them hurt you or Brian…"

"Don't yell at her!" Brian shot Elara a warning look as he rushed to grab his phone from the car. He wrapped an arm around Lina, pulling her close.

"Are you alright?" His tone shifted in an instant, fierce one moment, gentle the next.

Elara watched him fuss over his sister, a strange smile flickering on her lips.

So this is what it feels like when your heart finally goes numb, she thought.

Lina clung to Brian's shirt, breaking down completely. "Brian, I was so scared… scared you'd get hurt, scared something would happen to Elara…"

"Shh, it's okay. I get it. Just breathe, Lina." Brian stroked her back, comforting her while simultaneously texting for help.

Only once Lina had calmed down did he turn to look at Elara.

She crouched by the storm drain, her back to them, fingertips digging uselessly at the holes in the metal cover. Her slender frame seemed even smaller, huddled there.

Brian remembered suddenly—Elara was always the timid one. The kind of woman who, while walking with him, would cling to his arm and whisper, "Let's go," whenever a couple of dogs started fighting nearby. Now she stood so far from him, as if there was an ocean in between.

Elara grinned and took it. "Thank you, ma'am."

She handed the janitor five crisp bills.

The woman's face lit up. "No problem at all! If you ever need anything, just let me know."

Easy money, she thought—five hundred for sending a text, another five for holding a little bag. She could do this all day.

Elara drove out of the underground lot and headed straight for Ignition Dynamics.

Summer was still at her desk when Elara walked in, clearly surprised to see her back so soon.

"I texted Brian an hour after you left. Didn't he come looking for you?"

"Oh, he came—brought his sister, too. Even managed to put on a little show for me."

Summer raised her brows, but Elara just shrugged, calm as ever.

Handing over the bag with the battery fragments, she said, "Nearly cost me my life tonight. Keep it safe."

Summer took the bag, eyes narrowing. "Was it the same person who nearly killed you at the studio last time?"