Nico wasn't supposed to be in that part of town. His business trip had ended early, and curiosity—or perhaps instinct—had pulled him into the quiet café by the corner of Leighton Street. He needed a moment to breathe before heading back into the chaos of Leon's world.
He ordered an espresso, chose a seat by the window, and let the city's rhythm blur into the background.
Until he saw her.
At first, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him. Ayla? Here?
She sat across from a man Nico instantly recognized.
Viper.
Leon's oldest enemy. The man whose name alone turned heated conversations into declarations of war.
Nico didn't move. He simply watched.
Ayla looked… calm. Her laugh reached his ears, soft and carefree. Viper was smiling—smiling—as he leaned back in his seat and passed her something from a bag. Nico's brows furrowed.
What the hell was going on?
There was no tension between them, no trace of fear on Ayla's face. She wasn't shackled. She wasn't drugged. She wasn't even trying to escape.
She looked happy.
He slowly reached for his phone, eyes still locked on the pair as he messaged Leon:
"You're not going to believe who I just saw."
A second passed.
Leon: "Where?"
Nico: "Ayla. With Viper. At a café in Leighton."
Leon: "What? Are you sure?"
Nico: "I'm staring at her right now. She's laughing with him. Looks relaxed. Not forced."
Leon: "Don't lose them."
Nico locked his screen, heart thudding.
He didn't know what this meant. Was Ayla playing them all along? Had she betrayed Leon, sided with Viper?
No.
That didn't feel right. Ayla had fire, but she wasn't treacherous.
Still… something about the way she smiled, the way she leaned in when Viper whispered something, made a pit grow in his stomach.
He remained still, acting casual as he watched them rise to leave. Viper's hand rested gently at the small of Ayla's back as they exited the café. Nico snapped a photo and sent it to Leon without a word.
He stood to follow. Not close—just enough to make sure he didn't lose sight of them.
Whatever was happening, it wasn't simple.
And something told Nico, this was only the beginning of a much darker storm.