Twice Taken: 19. Shadows Behind Us

The early morning light filtered through the blinds, casting slatted shadows across Elena’s apartment. Despite the sunlight, the room felt heavy, a lingering echo of the chaos from the warehouse. Max sat on the edge of the sofa, arms crossed, jaw tense, while Elena stood by the window, tracing her reflection in the glass as though trying to see a version of herself untouched by the recent storm.

“I keep thinking we’re done,” she said quietly, her voice brittle. “But Dante… he didn’t just threaten us. He planned for contingencies. Every step we took, he had anticipated.”

Max’s gaze softened, though his concern didn’t fade. “We neutralized him. That’s the first step. The rest… we handle methodically. One threat at a time.”

Elena turned, eyes wide. “You make it sound so simple. But the truth is, he’s left traps everywhere. Emails, hidden accounts, blackmail plans… We don’t even know the full extent.”

Max stood, crossing the room to stand behind her. His hand res