Jace didn't look away.

River's words settled in the space between them like an unspoken history, sharp and heavy. The restaurant noise faded around them. Jace had never been good at reading people, but even he could tell River hadn't just said that to sound dramatic. He meant it.

"Then why are you still here?" Jace asked softly.

River sat back, the candlelight catching the faint scar on his jaw. "Because someone's trying to hurt you. And I want to know why."

Jace studied him. There was no false charm, no empty flattery. River was too real, too blunt and maybe that was why the world already believed the lie. It was easier to think Jace Maddox had fallen for a man like River Hale than to believe he could ever be truly alone.

Their plates sat untouched.

Outside, the photo ops had already been taken, Jace walking in with River's hand on his lower back, a brief glance exchanged as they entered the private dining room. Sasha had probably already approved the captions.

Jace reached for his glass of water. "You've worked security before?"

River gave a small nod. "Private contracts, mostly low-risk."

"And before that?"

River's gaze darkened slightly. "Army. Six years."

"What happened?"

"Wrong mission. Wrong people. Wrong choices." He picked up his fork but didn't eat. "Got me discharged. Officially, it was dishonor. Unofficially, it was a cover-up."

Jace was quiet for a moment. "You lost someone."

River stiffened, just slightly. "Yeah."

There was a pause before Jace spoke again. "A teammate?"

River's jaw tensed. "More than that."

"I'm sorry," Jace said, and for once, he meant it without hesitation.

River gave a small nod. "You don't strike me as the sentimental type."

"I'm not. I just... understand what it means to lose someone and still feel the echo of it."

River leaned forward a little. "You don't sleep well, do you?"

Jace blinked. "What makes you say that?"

"You flinch when doors open. You check your reflection twice before you walk into a room. And your eyes have that look."

"What look?"

"The one people get when they don't trust the ground beneath them."

Jace's throat felt tight. He didn't know why he asked. He hated personal conversations. But something about River made him curious. Made him want to understand.

He cleared his throat. "I wasn't always like this either."

River looked up. "Like what?"

"Distant, obsessive, controlled."

"You seem like a guy who's been that way all his life."

Jace almost smiled. "It got worse after my father died."

River leaned a little. "Suicide, right?"

"That's what they said."

"You don't believe it?"

Jace shook his head. "He was careful. Smart, cold, maybe, but not weak. He left no note, no warning. One day he was gone, and the next day, I was CEO."

"You think someone killed him."

"I know someone did. I just can't prove it. Yet."

River didn't respond for a long time. Then he asked, "You think it's connected to what's happening now?"

"I think someone's playing a long game. First my father. Now me."

River exhaled slowly. "You think it's Crane?"

"Could be. But if it is, he's playing it too clean. Nothing obvious. Just pressure. Media hits. Quiet buyouts. And now this, someone breaking into my home like it was a joke."

River tapped his fingers against the table. "Then we find out who benefits if you break. Who's waiting to take your place if you fall."

A waiter walked past their table. Jace straightened his posture, putting his calm, controlled mask back on.

When the dinner was over, they stood side by side as Sasha's car pulled up. Jace glanced toward the flashing lights. Reporters were shouting, cameras were rolling. The lie they had agreed on was alive and breathing.

River opened the car door for him. Jace paused before getting in.

"You don't have to act when no one's watching."

River gave a small smirk. "I'm not doing it for the cameras."

That silenced him.

They rode back in silence. River sat stiffly, arms crossed, eyes on the road ahead. Jace kept stealing glances, wondering how this man, who seemed built from scar tissue and anger, had become the face of his fake romance.

Back at the penthouse, Sasha was already waiting inside.

"That was beautiful," she said, scrolling through headlines. "People are eating it up. The stoic billionaire and his guarded protector. It's romantic, tragic, and mysterious. You're gold right now."

Jace took off his coat and tossed it on the couch. "Let's just hope it works long enough to keep Crane quiet."

River leaned on the wall, arms folded. "And if it doesn't?"

"Then I lose the company."

Sasha looked up sharply. "That won't happen. Not if we stay ahead. But we need consistency, more appearances. A story. You two should stay in the same room now. Not just for the press but for your safety."

River raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Jace didn't flinch. "Fine."

River let out a forced laugh. "You want me to move into your room?"

"Unless you'd rather I move into yours."

Sasha clapped her hands. "Perfect. Tomorrow, we'll leak a photo of the shared space. Just something subtle. Maybe Jace in a hoodie for once."

"Absolutely not," Jace said.

"Fine. A robe, something soft."

River was trying not to laugh. Jace hated that he noticed.

Later that night, Jace sat on the edge of the bed while River dropped his bag on the floor. The bedroom was massive, quiet and minimal, just how Jace liked it. There was plenty of space. Still, the air felt tight.

"You can take the left side," Jace offered.

River kicked off his boots. "You don't have to pretend to be polite now."

"I'm not pretending."

River pulled off his shirt, exposing scars that looked old but violent. Jace tried not to stare. He didn't ask. River didn't offer.

"Do they all ask?" Jace asked suddenly.

River looked over. "Ask what?"

"About the scars. About what you've been through."

"Most people just stare. Then pretend they didn't. You're the first person who asked like you actually gave a damn."

"I don't know what I give a damn about," Jace muttered.

"That's the problem with people like you," River said. "You feel everything, but you pretend like you don't."

They both got into bed, fully clothed, backs to each other and the silence stretched.

Then River's voice cut through the dark.

"You said someone's playing a long game."

Jace's eyes stayed on the ceiling. "Yes."

"Then we need to figure out who."

"I'm trying."

River paused. "Let me help."

Jace turned his head slightly. "Why?"

River's voice was low. "Because if you fall, I fall with you."

Morning came slowly.

The sun peeked through the blackout curtains, but neither of them moved. Jace lay perfectly still, staring at the ceiling. River was already awake. He hadn't slept much. His body was still trained to listen, for movement, for danger, for the sound of something off.

He didn't know what was more uncomfortable, sharing a bed with a man he was supposed to be faking a relationship with... or the fact that he hadn't minded as much as he should have.

Jace didn't snore. He didn't toss or turn. He slept like someone who'd trained himself not to take up space. Controlled even in sleep. That bothered River more than it should've.

At exactly 6:00 a.m., Jace got up, went straight into his closet, and returned already dressed in a black button-down and fitted slacks like it was a uniform. In a way, it was.

"Sleep well?" Jace asked casually.

River shrugged. "You breathe too quietly."

Jace gave him a look. "That's the complaint?"

"I like knowing the person next to me is alive."

Jace blinked. Then, just for a second, he smiled. "I'm told I sleep like I'm preparing for an ambush."

River smirked faintly. "Fits your vibe."

Downstairs, Sasha was already waiting with two coffees and a digital tablet loaded with chaos.

"We have three new headlines," she said as they sat around the sleek kitchen island. "One of them is a fanfiction about your forbidden love. You're apparently married in an alternate universe."

"Delightful," Jace muttered.

"You die dramatically in it," she added. "River carries your body into the rain."

River lifted his brows. "At least I'm strong in the fictional version."

"Also, Crane called a surprise board meeting for tomorrow. He's pushing the narrative that you're distracted. Emotional. Unfit to lead."

"I'm not surprised," Jace said.

"He's moving faster than expected," Sasha added. "If we're going to fight back, we need something powerful. Something bold."

Jace sipped his coffee. "Like what?"

Sasha hesitated. "A public statement. Together, not just walking into a restaurant or looking cozy. You sit down, you talk about each other. You make it real."

Jace stiffened. "No interviews."

"You need this, Jace. If you don't take control of the story, Crane will."

River leaned back in his chair. "What would we even say?"

Sasha's grin grew. "Leave that to me."

She handed them each a folder. Inside were cue cards, talking points, a story she'd already crafted.

How they met.

How long they'd been "secretly" dating.

Why they kept it private.

Jace flipped through the pages. "You want us to memorize this?"

"Adjust it however you want, just make sure you agree on the details. The public loves consistency. If one of you says you met six months ago, and the other says it was eight, they'll sniff out the lie."

River sighed. "This just keeps getting worse."

"No," Sasha said, standing. "It's just getting started. The interview's in two days. The studio's secure and for the love of God, wear something soft. Leather jackets and full suits scream billionaire robot."

"I'm not wearing anything beige," Jace muttered.

"Beige would kill your brand," Sasha agreed. "But maybe a sweater, Cashmere. You need to look like you have emotions."

She left, her heels clicking behind her.

Jace leaned forward, rubbing his temples. "I don't do interviews. I don't lie well."

River looked at him. "You're doing pretty well so far."

Jace let out a humorless breath. "I built my entire life on staying invisible. Now I'm the center of a fake love story and a corporate takeover."

"You want to back out?"

"No." Jace looked up, jaw set. "Crane doesn't get my company."

River stood and stretched. "Then we practice."

Jace looked at him. "Practice what?"

River grabbed a chair and spun it around, sitting with his arms folded over the back. "Let's pretend. Right now."

"You're serious."

"Dead serious. Come on. I'm your fake boyfriend. Woo me."

Jace stared at him like he'd lost his mind. "I don't woo."

River smirked. "Clearly, but try."

Jace shifted awkwardly. "I'm not going to say anything ridiculous."

"Just answer questions. How'd we meet?"

Jace's eyes narrowed. "You tackled an intruder in my kitchen."

"No," River said. "Not the truth. The lie."

Jace paused. "I hired you for a private event as security. You stayed late, we talked."

River nodded. "And?"

Jace hesitated. "You said something that made me laugh."

River raised an eyebrow. "You laugh?"

"Apparently," Jace said dryly. "That's what we're telling people."

River leaned in slightly. "Then what?"

Jace's voice lowered. "Then I asked if you wanted to stay. You said yes."

River's smile faded. There was something in Jace's voice that didn't feel rehearsed anymore.

He swallowed. "Not bad."

"Your turn," Jace said quietly. "What made you fall for me?"

River opened his mouth, then closed it. He hadn't expected that question. The answer that popped into his mind wasn't fake.

"I saw someone who needed saving," he said slowly. "Even if you'd never admit it."

Jace didn't blink. "And you think that's love?"

River tilted his head. "No. But it's how it started."

Jace's breath hitched. "You're better at this than I thought."

"I've watched enough late-night interviews," River muttered. "They always have that one line that sells it. The one that makes people believe."

The air between them changed. Neither of them looked away.

Then River's phone buzzed. He pulled it out, frowning. "Unknown number."

Jace watched him.

River answered. "Hale."

There was silence on the other end.

Then a distorted voice crackled through.

"You're protecting the wrong man. Walk away, or end up like your unit."

River went still, completely still.

Jace stood. "What is it?"

River didn't answer. The line clicked dead.

Jace took a step forward. "River?"

River stared at the screen, his face unreadable. Then he looked up, his eyes hard and haunted.

"Whoever's targeting you... they know who I am."

Jace had never seen River freeze like that.

He'd watched him disarm a stranger with terrifying speed. He'd seen him move through rooms like a shadow, calculating, alert, composed. But this was different.

River's shoulders were tense. His jaw was locked. And his eyes... there was something in them Jace hadn't seen before.

Fear.

"What did the voice say?" Jace asked, quieter this time.

River didn't speak for a long moment. Then he slid his phone across the table. "They mentioned my unit. No one should know about them. No one."

Jace picked up the phone but found no trace of the number. "Blocked."

River nodded once. "They said I'm protecting the wrong man. That if I don't walk away... I'll end up like the others."

Jace blinked. "The others?"

River leaned against the wall, dragging a hand through his hair. "There were five of us. My squad. Overseas. We were sent into a mission that wasn't cleared. We were told it was surveillance, but it wasn't. Two of them died that night, one lost a leg. The fifth disappeared last year."

"And you?"

"I survived, barely. Got a dishonorable discharge to keep me quiet."

Jace took a slow breath, mind already racing. "You think this threat is from the same people?"

"I think this isn't just about you anymore," River said darkly. "It's about both of us."

Silence settled between them.

Jace walked to the window, looking down at the skyline. Everything felt too exposed now. He'd always known someone was watching. He just hadn't expected them to dig through River's life to do it.

"We have to find out who made that call," Jace said.

"We can't trace it," River replied. "They're good."

"Everyone leaves a trail."

River crossed his arms. "And what if they're baiting us?"

Jace turned, brows drawn. "Then we take the bait on our terms."

River watched him. "You really want to do this?"

Jace turned. "They've already made it personal. I'm not walking away."

River's voice dropped lower. "Then you need to be ready. Because this isn't about money anymore. It's not even about the company. It's war."

They didn't speak much after that.

Sasha called again that evening. The interview was confirmed for tomorrow. Friendly media outlet and safe environment.

"Remember," she said over speakerphone. "Keep it simple. Light touches, little smiles. The story matters more than the details. Make people believe you're in love."

"Any tips for pretending we're a happy couple?" River asked dryly.

"You mean besides not looking like you'd rather stab each other?" Sasha teased.

Jace sighed. "We're not exactly the smiling type."

"Then brood romantically," she shot back. "Trust me, the audience eats that up."

Jace stared at the phone after the call ended.

Love. That word felt so foreign it made his chest ache.

*****************

River didn't go to bed right away. He sat on the balcony instead, staring out over the city. The wind ruffled his hair. The scar down his neck caught the light.

Jace joined him without a word, holding out a glass of whiskey.

River accepted it but didn't drink. "You don't strike me as the sharing type."

"I'm not."

River looked at him. "Then why are you out here?"

Jace hesitated. "Because I don't like silence. And I don't like being alone tonight."

River's eyes flicked to him. "You get lonely?"

Jace gave a soft, bitter smile. "More than you'd think."

River finally took a sip. "Lonely doesn't scare me. Never has."

"What scares you?"

River didn't answer for a long time.

Then he said quietly, "Trusting the wrong person."

Jace felt that one, deep in his chest. Because he understood it better than he wanted to.

"I trusted my father," Jace said suddenly. "Even when everyone told me not to. Even when I saw the signs. He died, and I still don't know if he was a good man or just better at hiding."

River was quiet.

"I never wanted to be like him," Jace said, voice low. "Cold, calculating and empty. But sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder if I already am."

"You're not him," River said.

Jace's head turned. "How do you know?"

"Because you still care. Even when you don't want to."

That stopped him. The words hit something raw, something Jace hadn't admitted in years. He cared too much, always had. But caring meant losing control, and control was the only thing keeping him sane.

"You ever think about walking away from all of this?" River asked suddenly.

Jace blinked. "All the time."

"Why don't you?"

"Because if I disappear," Jace said, "he wins and everything I built dies with me."

River nodded once. "Then we don't disappear. We fight."

Jace looked over at him, eyes slightly softer. "You always talk like a soldier."

"I don't know how to stop."

Jace almost smiled. "Don't."

"Go to sleep," River said after a moment. "You'll need your energy tomorrow when we sell the world a perfect love story."

Jace nodded once, turning on his heels and walking away.

***********************

The next morning, the studio was locked down and silent.

Sasha met them at the entrance. She looked sharp, fast-talking, already in full control mode.

"You both look great. Jace, the softer suit is working. River, just keep doing that broody protector thing, it's gold."

"Broody protector?" River muttered under his breath. "I'm not a cliché."

"Yes, you are," Sasha said with a smirk. "A hot one."

Inside the studio, the lights were bright, cameras were set up. A gentle-faced interviewer waited, already briefed on what to ask and what to avoid.

River sat on the couch first. Jace joined him a moment later. The set looked like someone's cozy living room, fake plants, throw pillows, soft lighting.

"You ready?" River asked quietly.

Jace's jaw clenched. "Not even a little."

"Good," River said. "Means we won't sound rehearsed."

"Just follow the script," Sasha reminded through the earpiece. "But if it gets too real... lean in. The public eats that up."

The camera light turned red.

"We're here today with billionaire tech CEO Jace Maddox and his partner, River Hale," the interviewer began warmly. "This is the first time you're going public. Why now?"

Jace shifted slightly. His hands were clasped tightly in his lap, his knuckles turning white. River sat calm beside him, but his eyes kept scanning the room, alert, watching everything.

Jace inhaled slowly and leaned into the mic.

"Because," he began, his voice steady, "some things matter more than privacy. Some people are worth...."

His phone buzzed hard in his jacket pocket and he froze. Sasha's voice cut through the earpiece. "Jace....don't check it now. You're live."

But it was too late. He glanced at the screen and his blood ran cold.

An email alert. Subject line: "KnightFall_Recording.mp4."

And the message: "You should've stayed quiet, Jace. This is your final warning."

He swallowed hard, his heart racing. Next to him, River noticed the shift in his expression.

"What is it?" River murmured.

Jace didn't answer.

Instead, he slowly turned to the camera, stared dead into the lens, and said calmly,

"We're in danger." Jace said quietly.

The interviewer blinked. "I'm sorry... what?"

River sat up straighter, but Jace remained still.

Because just then, the file began downloading, and the first frame that appeared was a blurred image of his father's face, captured only hours before he died.