Chapter — The Breaking Point

Elijah’s POV

Elijah sat in his office, his hands clasped together, his mind running in circles. His decision weighed heavily on him, suffocating.

Mikhail’s words weren’t just a warning—they were a promise. If Valarie didn’t step away from Damien, she would become a target. Elijah had spent years protecting people, upholding the law, but for the first time, the badge on his chest felt like a chain, restricting him from doing what was necessary to keep the woman he loved alive.

His phone buzzed.

Valarie.

He stared at the screen, his chest tightening.

If he picked up, if he saw her, he knew he would crumble. She would see right through him, see the conflict in his eyes, and she would fight him. She would never back down, never walk away from her brother.

Elijah exhaled shakily, his decision solidifying in his mind.

He had to push her away.

It was the only way to keep her safe.

He let the call ring out, staring blankly at his desk.

Then, he did something he never thought he would.

He sent a message.

"Meet me. We need to talk. Alone."

Tonight, he would end this. Even if it meant breaking her heart.

*****

Valarie’s POV

Valarie stood outside the café where Elijah had asked to meet her, arms crossed, her foot tapping impatiently. Something was off. He had ignored her calls all day, and now, suddenly, he wanted to talk? Alone?

Her instincts screamed at her.

She spotted him inside, sitting stiffly at a secluded corner booth. He looked tense, his jaw clenched, hands curled into fists on the table.

Her stomach twisted.

Still, she wasn’t the type to hesitate.

She strode in and slid into the seat across from him, raising a brow. “You avoiding me, Officer?”

Elijah exhaled heavily, rubbing a hand down his face. “Val, we need to talk.”

She leaned back, crossing her arms. “So talk.”

He hesitated. His brown eyes met hers, and for a moment, something flickered there—something raw, broken. Then, his expression hardened.

“I need you to stay away from Damien. From Luca. From all of this.”

Silence.

Valarie stared at him, unblinking. Then she let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Excuse me?”

Elijah’s hands clenched. “Mikhail isn’t just some common criminal. He’s dangerous, Val. He knows who you are, what you mean to Damien. And he’ll use you to hurt him. You need to step away before it’s too late.”

Valarie tilted her head, studying him. “And you know this because…?”

Elijah swallowed. “He—” He hesitated for a second too long.

Her eyes narrowed. “He threatened you, didn’t he?”

Elijah flinched.

“Son of a bitch.” She laughed again, but this time, it was bitter. “And you actually considered listening to him?”

“This isn’t just about me, Val!” Elijah snapped, frustration breaking through. “It’s about you. You think Damien can protect you? You think you’re untouchable? Mikhail has men everywhere! If you keep pushing this, he will kill you!”

Valarie leaned forward, her voice cold. “Then let him try.”

Elijah gritted his teeth, his face twisted with something between anger and desperation. “You don’t understand—”

“No, you don’t understand, Elijah.” She cut him off, her voice steel. “This is my family. My brother. Luca almost died in that bastard’s hands, and you want me to walk away?”

Elijah slammed his fist on the table. “Damn it, Valarie! I was going to propose to you!”

Silence.

The words hit her like a punch.

Elijah exhaled harshly, his eyes burning with frustration, with something deeper—pain. “I was going to ask you to marry me. But how the hell am I supposed to do that when you’re throwing yourself into this bloodbath?”

Valarie’s breath caught.

But then, she inhaled sharply, steeling herself. “Then you should’ve picked someone weaker.”

Elijah’s face twisted, as if she had physically hit him.

He shook his head, standing abruptly. “I can’t watch you die, Val.” His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “So if you won’t walk away… then I will.”

With that, he turned and walked out.

Leaving her sitting there, fists clenched, heart pounding, as everything inside her shattered.

*******

— Fractured Hearts

Valarie sat in her darkened office, staring blankly at the untouched glass of whiskey on her desk. The ice had long since melted, the amber liquid watered down and forgotten.

Her mind was somewhere else. Somewhere eight years in the past.

She could still remember the first time she met Elijah.

She was seventeen—reckless, sharp-tongued, too smart for her own good. He was eighteen, a newly recruited officer in training, already too serious for someone so young. He had tried to stop her from breaking into a suspect’s house, and she had punched him in the face for getting in her way.

He had laughed, even as he bled.

“You’re fucking insane,” he had told her.

“And you’re in my way,” she had shot back.

That had been the start of everything.

Now, eight years later, he had walked away. He loved her , he was gonna propose her.

Her hands trembled as she reached for her phone.

Not Elijah. Not anymore.

She scrolled through her contacts until she found Luca’s name. Her brother. Her baby brother.

She hesitated for only a second before hitting the call button.

It rang once. Twice—

And then—

"Hello!" Ava’s cheerful voice chirped on the other end.

Valarie’s chest clenched.

“Ava,” she exhaled, pressing a hand against her forehead. “Where’s Luca?”

“He’s asleep,” Ava said. “He had a fever, but he’s better now. Should I wake him up?”

Valarie swallowed. For a second, she almost said no. Almost told her to let him rest.

But the loneliness was clawing at her, suffocating her, and if she didn’t see Luca right now, she might just break.

“Yeah,” she whispered. “Tell him to come meet me.”