Zayden LeBlack

The smell of gunpowder filled the air.

Black cars completely blocked the road, while dozens of armed men surrounded the LeBlack family's convoy.

Zayden maintained his firm posture, even when surrounded.

The dark suit was already stained with blood in places. One man fell at his feet. Another was disarmed with a sharp blow. A third tried to strike him from behind.

He wasn't afraid.

It never had one.

But even the mafia boss knew that quantity was also a weapon.

A blade pierced his side.

Pain made his body tremble.

He clenched his teeth, holding the wound with one hand while the other still pointed the pistol at the enemy ahead.

Another coup.

Another man appeared.

This time, Zayden fell onto one knee.

The criminals smiled.

"Finally..."

"Catch LeBlack alive."

"The rest can die."

She was watching everything from a few meters behind.

Breathe calmly.

Cold stare.

The pistol was already in his hand.

The men didn't even consider her a threat.

The silent wife of the mafia boss.

The woman who never said a single word.

Then she took a step forward.

His voice came out low.

Hoarse.

As if it hadn't been used in years.

"Leave... my husband... alone."

Silence.

Nobody moved.

Not even the enemies.

Not even the men of the LeBlack family.

Not even Zayden.

He slowly raised his head.

That voice...

It couldn't be.

His eyes met hers.

It was exactly as he remembered it.

The same voice of the girl who ran through the mansion's hallways when they were children.

The same voice that called his name.

The same voice that disappeared years ago.

Before anyone could react...

The first shot rang out.

She punched one of the kidnappers in the forehead.

The second one fell with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The third man tried to reach her, but was shot before he could even raise his weapon.

She walked without hesitation.

Every shot was precise.

Every movement is calculated.

In just a few seconds...

All that remained were bodies scattered across the asphalt.

Silence returned.

She walked over to Zayden.

He bowed down before him.

He took a white handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it against the wound in his abdomen.

His eyes never left hers.

He wanted to ask.

I wanted to understand.

I wanted to know why.

But no words came out.

She simply helped him to his feet.

As he always did.

As if nothing extraordinary had happened.

...

Hours later.

The LeBlack mansion was strangely silent.

The doctors had already left.

The injury did not put Zayden's life in danger.

He now sat on the library sofa, his shirt open to reveal the bandages covering the cut.

She entered the room carrying a tray.

Hot tea.

Medications.

Some cut fruit.

She placed everything on the coffee table and began to organize each item with her usual calm demeanor.

Zayden watched her in silence.

From the ambush.

From those four words.

He couldn't think of anything else.

She really had spoken.

It wasn't a dream.

It wasn't the effect of blood loss.

She could speak.

It always was possible.

She realized he was watching her.

He raised his eyes for a moment.

The two remained like that.

In silence.

Like always.

After a few seconds, she simply gently pushed the teacup towards him, indicating that he should drink it before it got cold.

Zayden smiled slightly.

He picked up the cup.

"Thanks."

She simply nodded.

Nothing had changed.

And at the same time...

Everything had changed.

He didn't ask any questions.

He didn't ask why she spoke again.

He didn't ask why she had chosen silence for so many years.

If she was ready to tell, one day she would.

If you weren't...

He would wait.

How he waited all those years.

As she gathered the empty tray to leave the library, Zayden closed his eyes for a brief moment.

A thought crossed his mind.

"I hadn't forgotten... "

"Her voice is still exactly as I remembered it. "