The knock at the door was sharp and deliberate, cutting through the stillness of the safe house. Caleb tensed, his hand moving instinctively to his gun. Evelyn was already moving, her knife flashing in her grip as she crossed the room.

“You expecting someone?” Caleb asked, his tone cautious.

“Yes,” Evelyn replied simply.

“Mind telling us who?” Caleb pressed.

Evelyn didn’t answer. She glanced through the peephole, her shoulders relaxing slightly. With a quick flick of her wrist, she unlocked the door and stepped back.

The man who stepped inside was young—probably in his late 20s—with sharp features and a quiet confidence that immediately drew attention. His dark hair was styled just enough to look effortless, and his angular jawline was dusted with a hint of stubble. He wore a sleek black jacket over a fitted gray shirt, his slim build balanced by an air of calculated ease.

“Luca,” Evelyn said, her tone neutral but tinged with familiarity.

“Evelyn,” the man replied, his voice smooth and light. His striking gray eyes flicked to Caleb, then Carter, assessing them both with a quick, practiced glance.

“Friend of yours?” Caleb asked, his suspicion evident.

“Something like that,” Evelyn replied.

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Luca raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

Evelyn ignored him, stepping back into the room.

Luca’s gaze shifted to Carter, his smirk widening slightly. “And who’s this? Didn’t realize you were bringing company.”

“Carter,” the mercenary replied, leaning casually against the wall. “And you are?”

“Luca,” the man said simply. “Evelyn didn’t tell you about me?”

“Evelyn doesn’t tell us a lot of things,” Caleb muttered.

Luca chuckled softly, his smirk not fading. “That checks out.”

Evelyn shot them both a look. “Luca’s here to help.”

“With what?” Carter asked, his tone skeptical.

“Keeping us alive,” Evelyn said sharply.

Luca moved to the small table in the corner, setting down a slim black backpack that looked suspiciously expensive. He unzipped it, revealing a sleek laptop and a tangle of cables.

“You always travel light?” Caleb asked, nodding toward the bag.

Luca shrugged. “This is all I need.”

Carter tilted his head, watching him carefully. “What exactly do you do?”

“I make problems disappear,” Luca replied smoothly, powering up the laptop. The faint glow of the screen lit up his face, accentuating his sharp features and pale gray eyes. “Cameras, phones, security systems—you name it, I can crack it.”

Carter raised an eyebrow. “A hacker, huh?”

“Something like that,” Luca said with a faint grin.

Caleb leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. “And how do you know Evelyn?”

Luca’s grin widened slightly, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes—something unreadable. “We’ve crossed paths. She needed someone to help her stay off the radar, and I’m good at making people disappear.”

Evelyn’s expression hardened. “That’s enough.”

Luca held up his hands in mock surrender. “Relax. I’m just here to help, remember?”

Caleb frowned, his suspicion deepening. “So, what’s your angle? Nobody does this kind of work for free.”

“Who says I’m doing it for free?” Luca replied, smirking faintly. “Evelyn’s got her ways of paying me back.”

Carter chuckled softly, the sound low and amused. “Now, that’s interesting.”

Evelyn shot him a glare. “Focus.”