Noah zipped his suitcase shut, neatly checking the contents one last time. A plane ticket to New York lay waiting on his bedside table. He'd traced Mike Liu’s parents to Flushing, Queens. It had become clear someone was methodically hunting down everyone connected to Mike’s death, and Noah intended to find answers before more bodies turned up, but first he needed to know more about Mike himself and why Black Lotus killed him.

  His phone vibrated sharply, snapping his attention away from the luggage. It was the tracking app he'd discreetly installed on Vivian’s phone—a precaution, or so he'd convinced himself. Doll Face might have returned to her quiet life, but he couldn't shake the urge to watch over her, even from afar. Who else was going to make sure she stayed safe?

  Glancing at the alert, Noah’s eyes narrowed. Vivian was close. She was directly outside his apartment. Confusion and cautious hope flickered through him as he quickly pocketed his phone and headed downstairs.

  Before he could even speak, Vivian closed the distance swiftly, colliding gently against him, her hands gripping the fabric of his shirt tightly. Noah’s breath caught, his arms immediately enveloping her, pulling her close. Her shoulders rose and fell rapidly as she pressed her forehead against his chest, forcing slow breaths until her trembling subsided. Noah’s grip tightened slightly, holding her firmly as he waited quietly.

  After a moment, Vivian slowly stepped back, her gaze dropping briefly to the floor, cheeks tinged faintly pink. “Sorry,” she muttered softly, clearing her throat awkwardly. Her eyes lifted again, sharpening, urgency returning as she met his concerned gaze directly. “Three guys attacked me on campus. I think I lost them, but I’m not sure.”

  A sharp surge of rage flooded through Noah, a cold fury settling deep within him. He guided her quickly into the elevator, hitting the button for his apartment floor, his voice firm and reassuring. “You’re safe now.” Vivian nodded gratefully, wrapping her arms around herself as the elevator doors closed.

  Inside the apartment, Noah quickly secured the door, double-checking each lock and peering out the windows with practiced efficiency. He guided Vivian carefully to the couch, urging her gently down. Kneeling in front of her, he studied her face closely, eyes dark and intense.

  “Where exactly did this happen?” he asked quietly, his tone serious.

  Vivian inhaled deeply, recounting the encounter—how the men had subtly blocked her path, the moment she realized she was trapped, her desperate escape, and finally how she'd managed to evade them. As she spoke, Noah gently lifted her chin, turning her face slightly to inspect a scrape along her cheekbone.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Relief crossed his features briefly when he found nothing serious. Yet his eyes darkened dangerously again at the thought of her attackers

  Noah’s jaw tightened visibly, dark anger simmering beneath his composed exterior. “They shouldn't know about you. Mochi is gone, and at worst, they should’ve found me first.”

  Vivian’s eyes widened, sudden realization dawning. “You think they know about what happened at the KTV?”

  He nodded slowly, a shadow crossing his features. “I’m pretty sure they do.”

  But how? Who could connect Vivian to the situation with Mochi?

  Noah began mentally charting connections, lines spreading out clearly in his thoughts like an intricate, branching image. Each person represented by a single dot, each connecting line a potential path of information.

  The lines connecting Vivian to the incident at Orchard Alley KTV were minimal: Mochi, himself, Lucas. Mochi was dead. Lucas? Noah knew the type: the guard dog was so stupidly loyal he’d die before he gave her up. Besides, if it was Black Lotus, they would have sent their own men.

  He traced it back further, the lines connected to Lucas: Black Lotus, Vince. Nothing there.

  Lines connected to himself: Marcus, Vince’s murder.

  Then, there it was, the line connecting him to Vivian again: Vince’s murder.

  Noah’s mind traversed the connections from there. Vince’s murder had 4 connections: Jay Lin, Vivian, himself, and…

  Noah’s heart sank.

  Vivian stared at him, her eyes seemed to be tracking his thoughts.

  “The police,” Noah said quietly.

  Vivian was confused, “you want to call the police?”

  “No,” Noah shook his head, his eyes meeting hers with quiet realization. “Whoever is behind this, behind Sammy, Vince’s murder, Marcus’s death —they have to be connected to the police.”

  Vivian’s eyes grew large. “My interview. And, it explains how Sammy knew to get me from campus. They have my address.”

  Noah ran a shaking hand through his hair. This changed everything. Explained everything. The quick pivot away from the case, the lack of noise around a Black Lotus murder, the silence around Serena going missing.

  Vivian shivered, pulling her arms protectively around herself. Noah knelt in front of her, gently placing a comforting hand over hers. Their eyes met, an intense moment passing silently between them.

  “Where’s your guard dog?” Noah finally asked softly, breaking the silence.

  “He called,” Vivian whispered, eyes still wide with residual shock. “He's in Chicago. Serena’s phone pinged there, and he’s following the lead.”

  Noah’s expression darkened immediately, eyes narrowing slightly with suspicion. “Interesting timing. They attack you precisely when your guard dog is conveniently away.”

  Noah watched her silently, thumb lightly grazing over a scrape on her cheek, his gaze sharp and assessing. Vivian’s breathing slowed, her eyes locked steadily on his.

  After a moment, Noah shifted slightly, a small, teasing smile softening his intense expression. His voice held just enough humor to disguise the seriousness beneath. “Viv, I’m gonna have to ask you a pretty big question.”

  Vivian looked at him warily, expecting one of his usual inappropriate quips. Instead, Noah’s lips curled slightly, eyes steady with sincerity, yet edged with humor.

  “Will you disappear with me?”