CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 281 RYAN’S SECRET

The wind whispered around them as Liam dove sharply through the sky, his wings slicing through the air like blades. The cold night pressed against their faces, and Vanessa’s grip on his arm tightened slightly. She tapped his hand once.

"Down there," she said quickly, her voice raised over the rushing wind.

Liam gave a brief nod and folded his wings partially, angling downward in a sharp dive. The buildings grew larger beneath them until the rooftops blurred past their sides. At the last second, Liam extended his wings wide, flaring them out with precise control. The wind caught them like sails, slowing their descent with ease as he landed gently in a quiet alleyway, the soft rustle of feathers filling the silence.

Vanessa staggered slightly as her boots touched the ground, her legs trembling from the sudden transition. She instinctively brought one hand to her stomach, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

"That’s... definitely something I’ll never get used to," she muttered.

Liam gave her a small smirk but didn’t respond. His eyes scanned the surroundings, and then she pointed forward. "There," she said, her finger aimed across the street. "Detective Ryan’s house."

Liam followed the direction she was pointing. It was a small, two-story home nestled between other plain-looking buildings, nothing particularly unique about it—except for the faint glow from the sitting room window. Warm yellow light spilled through the blinds, and the otherwise silent street made it feel isolated.

He turned back toward her and raised a brow. His eyes flicked to her outfit.

"You’re going like that?" he asked.

Vanessa knew exactly what he meant.

Her suit, slightly scuffed and dusty from the earlier battle, and her face was completely exposed—no mask, no visor, nothing to hide who she was anymore.

She gave a small, resigned nod. "It’s too late now. Everybody knows."

Liam’s brows knitted together. He didn’t understand. He hadn’t heard the things Clark had said earlier—hadn’t been there when it was revealed that the SWAT and police knew exactly who she was beneath the mask. Her real identity wasn’t a secret anymore. Her cover was shattered.

But she didn’t bother explaining. There wasn’t time. Instead, she stepped out of the alley and waved him forward. "Come on."

Liam hesitated for only a second, then followed. He had no reason to fear Ryan. From everything he knew, the man was just a detective—no powers, no secrets. Just a regular human doing his job. Still, his guard remained up.

They crossed the dimly lit street quickly. The city felt strangely calm, almost frozen. After everything that had happened, every confrontation and explosion, the quietness felt eerie.

Vanessa reached the door and knocked firmly once.

Liam heard movement almost immediately—shuffling footsteps from inside, cautious and hesitant. The door opened slightly, just a crack at first.

Detective Ryan’s tired face appeared in the gap. His eyes locked onto Vanessa, and they widened instantly.

"V-Vanessa?" he stammered.

There was disbelief in his voice, as if she wasn’t supposed to be standing in front of him. She looked so different, her identity laid bare. Her long hair was a mess, her suit partially unzipped at the neck, showing signs of exhaustion.

But she didn’t wait for a welcome.

She stepped forward, grabbing Liam’s wrist and dragging him inside without another word. Ryan stumbled back, caught off guard. The moment they were in, Vanessa slammed the door shut and locked it with a sharp twist.

"Wait, wait—Vanessa, what the hell is going on?" Ryan demanded, stepping back with his hands half-raised.

She turned to face him, eyes serious, her tone rushed. "Ryan, listen to me. I know you might’ve seen or heard something about me—probably a lot of things—but you can’t believe any of it. Not until I explain."

Ryan folded his arms and leaned slightly against the wall, eyes flicking between her and Liam.

"I don’t know what to believe," he said slowly. "But what I do know is that your name is all over the blacklist now. You, Liam, and the girl with green eyes—Lana. You’ve all been flagged as high-risk threats."

Liam’s eyes narrowed slightly but he didn’t speak. Ryan continued, "And someone leaked your identity. Vanessa."

Liam sat silently in the dimly lit sitting room, leaning back against the wall near the entrance door. His arms were crossed over his chest, one leg stretched out while the other remained bent, heel resting on the ground. The glow from a flickering lamp in the corner barely reached him, casting shadows across his sharp features.

It had been five minutes now.

Five long, drawn-out minutes since Vanessa and Detective Ryan had disappeared into the room down the hallway, the door clicking shut behind them. Liam hadn’t moved once in that time. He just sat, listening.

He wasn’t interested in eavesdropping. Whatever they were talking about clearly didn’t concern him. He wasn’t a fool—he could guess it was about Vanessa’s identity, her status, maybe some secrets she had buried long before he even entered her life. Maybe Ryan knew things he wasn’t supposed to. Maybe he didn’t.

Either way, Liam didn’t care.

If it didn’t involve him or the mission, then it wasn’t his business.

But still... five minutes was a long time.

The door finally creaked open, and Liam turned his head slightly, his sharp blue eyes narrowing as he watched the two of them step out together.

Ryan looked more tired. The lines on his face were deeper, his eyes darker. Vanessa, on the other hand, had that focused glint back in her gaze—the one she wore whenever her mind was already three steps ahead. She didn’t look shaken. Just resolved.

They didn’t say anything at first.

Liam didn’t ask any questions either.

He watched the two of them silently, noting the subtle shift in their energy. They weren’t angry. It wasn’t tense between them. But there was something they were both holding back from him. Whatever it was, he’d already made peace with it. If it wasn’t being shared, then it wasn’t his to know.

Vanessa didn’t stop. She headed straight toward him by the door, brushing past the edge of the couch with quiet steps. Ryan lingered behind, walking back toward the small kitchen area where the smell of food still hung in the air.

"Be careful," Ryan said casually without turning around. "I won’t cover for your ass next time."

His tone wasn’t exactly angry, but there was a bluntness to it, a weariness. Like he was reminding her this wasn’t going to be a regular arrangement.

Vanessa didn’t respond.

She simply reached the door and pulled it open, the night breeze instantly drifting into the room and brushing against Liam’s face.

Liam stood but didn’t immediately follow her. He lingered for a second longer, eyes fixed on Ryan’s back.

The man was stirring something in a pot like none of this mattered, like he hadn’t just allowed two fugitives into his home. Liam couldn’t figure out what was so not normal. But he filed the thought away, gave one last look, and then stepped outside.

The door shut quietly behind him.

Vanessa was already standing a few feet away, her arms crossed under her chest as she stared out into the night.

"He doesn’t work for the government," she said suddenly, turning to face Liam.

Liam looked at her calmly.

He could already guess that was what they’d been talking about behind the door. The fact that Ryan wasn’t panicking, that he hadn’t tried to alert anyone or call in backup—it all made sense now. Ryan wasn’t part of the official machine anymore. Maybe he never really was.

But Liam didn’t need her to explain. He wasn’t interested in peeling back secrets that didn’t belong to him.

"Whatever’s between you two," he said flatly, "it’s your secret. Not mine."

His voice was calm, unreadable.

Vanessa blinked, slightly surprised by how direct he was. But as usual... he was right.

What could she really say? Ryan’s past? His real motives? Whatever he told her in confidence wasn’t something Liam had asked for, and trying to drag him into it would only piss him off.

So she didn’t.

She closed her mouth and nodded slightly, stepping closer to him.

Liam held out one arm as his other hand slid around her waist. She didn’t resist. His grip was firm but secure.