"So, you're saying Evan is also related to me?"

The shock was evident on Ember's face as she looked at Richard and his investigation board. He had just told her about his theory of Evan Sinclair and Lorenzo Blackwood being the same person.

She hadn't been expecting that, and it was taking her some time to process the truth. It was insane how intricately she was connected to both the crime families she had been chasing initially due to her article.

If Evan was also connected to her, then he would have known about everything and still put her in that position. In fact, he encouraged her to chase that story himself.

It was almost as if he wanted her to get noticed by the Blackwoods and Ranaldinis. But what motive could there be behind it?

"The way I see it, a lot of this could have been avoided if these two families hadn't gone against each other in the first place," Tim remarked, leaning back in his chair although his eyes were fully focused on the board. Jason also analyzed all the information they had gathered about the crime families so far.

"Ideally, yes, but that's not what happened, and here we are," Richard replied, his blue eyes flickering to Ember.

"Did you have any luck finding Victor Sullivan?" She asked, and both of them shook their heads. The man had vanished without a trace, suggesting that perhaps his identity was also fake.

Jason spoke up, "I have contacted my friends in Ireland. But they haven't found anything either."

"We should talk to Sinclair," Damian spoke up, just then entering the room. They turned to see him step in, but it seemed he had heard most of the conversation already. "There's no way he wouldn't know what his family is planning if he really is this Lorenzo Blackwood."

Richard knew he was right, but revealing that they knew Evan's secret wasn't a smart move either. It would put him on guard, and if he was involved with the case to the extent that he suspected, then it would be much more dangerous to have him anticipate their next move.

"We need to be strategic about this," Richard said after pondering on Dami's suggestion, his tone firm and resolute. "Confronting Sinclair directly could backfire. We need to understand his motives before we make our move."

"If he's playing for both sides, then he must have an endgame. What does he stand to gain from all of this?" Jason asked.

Ember shook her head, the puzzle pieces swirling chaotically in her mind but making no sense whatsoever. "I don't know. It doesn't make sense. Why would he push me to investigate the crime families if he knew it would put me in danger?"

"Maybe he wanted to draw attention away from himself," Tim suggested, his finger ticking against his chin thoughtfully. "Or perhaps he needed you to uncover something specific, something he couldn't get to on his own."

"All we know so far is that he was apparently killed in a raid by the Ranaldinis." Richard started piecing together the information for her because even though the brothers were aware of everything they had found out, they had let her in on the secret just then. "That would give him a motive to strike against them. But from everything we have deduced so far, he doesn't seem to be helping out the Blackwoods either. We can't be sure of which side he really is on or if he has become a third party, orchestrating both families' downfall."

"But why me? He gave me the task to investigate them even though he likely knew it would cause such chaos."

"Poetic justice," Jason mumbled, flecked blue eyes locking with Tim, who seemed to have gotten his point.

"Todd probably means that you are the only person linking both the families who is still alive," Damian added, "he could have involved you so both would get targeted and meet their end at the hands of someone who was connected to both of them."

"Or rather, someone who was a product of the feud that intensified between them in the first place," Richard mused, "Actually, that makes sense now."

Ember didn't know what sense they were talking about. All she could assume was that Evan had intentionally used her as a pawn and put her in a difficult situation to execute some revenge plot.

The thought that he had used her made her feel angry as there was a time when she considered him a friend and trusted him.

Richard turned to Ember, his expression softening to see the shadow clouding her eyes. "Ember, I know this is a lot to take in, but we need you to stay strong. You're the key to uncovering the truth."

Jason nodded, stepping closer to her, "We'll keep you safe. But you have to promise to be careful. If Evan knows we're onto him, he might try to use you as leverage. So you must stay here at the Manor, no exceptions."

She understood the weight of the situation herself and knew they were saying so for her own benefit.

"I promise to be careful and I'll stay at the Manor," she replied. She knew the road ahead would be treacherous, but she had the support of the Waynes—a family she had come to trust and rely on.

"Good. Jason and Tim, I need you two to come with me. Damian, I will keep you updated but you must stay with Ember here," Richard wrapped up the files that he had placed in front of them, the resolve in his eyes indicating that he was onto something.

The three of them left with Damian and Ember alone in that room. Emerald green locked with her olive eyes fleetingly before he looked away again, feeling somewhat awkward in that heavy silence.

"Are you okay?" Damian asked quietly, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Ember turned to him, her expression thoughtful. "It's just... A lot to take in. Finding out about Evan, or Lorenzo, it's like everything I thought I knew has turned upside down."

He nodded, understanding her conflict. "I know. But you're not alone in this. We'll get to the bottom of it together."

She paused, seeing the genuine look in his eyes that would often overwhelm her. "You know, sometimes I think you guys are doing too much. This is not your fight, and I don't want you to come to harm due to me."

"Grayson is working on this case. But we would be just as involved otherwise."

"Otherwise?" She asked, noticing that he looked away briefly as if to gather his thoughts, "What other reasons could there be for you all to help me out?"

The fundamental reason that they were the Bat vigilantes and keeping Gotham and its innocent citizens safe was their priority, he thought. But he couldn't possibly tell her that. It was a secret their family went to great lengths to keep.

Damian took a deep breath, clearly weighing his words. "It's not just about the case, Ember. We care about you. You've become important to us and are more than just another person in need of help."

She paused, thinking about his reply. His ears had started to turn pink just like that time when they had gone out for a morning walk with Titus. Whenever he was about to say something that hinted at him caring for her, his ears would turn red.

But Ember wanted to be sure, not willing to risk anything based on mere assumptions. "Am I that important to all of you or just someone in particular?"

He opened his mouth to speak, yet the words seemed to fail him, and he couldn't voice out what was in his heart. All he could say was, "Maybe some of us care a bit more than others."

Her heart skipped a beat at that remark. "What do you mean?"

Damian hesitated, then took a deep breath. She should know what he meant as it was futile to keep their feelings buried for one another. Deep down they could feel the magnetic pull that made them gravitate toward each other but so far they had only chosen to ignore it.

Life was too short to waste on contemplating things without even taking a risk. And for the Waynes, life was not only short but dangerous. They seldom had enough time on their hands.

Perhaps it was about time to put an end to that obliviousness and face the truth. And Damian wanted to be the first to acknowledge it.

"I care about you. More than I probably should, given the circumstances. But I can't help it."

It was clear that he had not expected himself to voice that out either. But the words had been spoken, and even though Ember was surprised at first, she knew that she couldn't deny her feelings either.

"Damian, I... I think I feel the same way," she mumbled, stepping closer to him when he did not attempt to pull apart. "When or why, I don't know. But it just happened..."

Her olive eyes looked up in his overwhelming emerald, taking in the subtle mix of emotions on his usually expressionless face. The red from his ears was slowly taking over his cheeks and he wanted to take her hands in his and gently taste those tangerine lips.

Standing so close to each other, only one thing seemed to be the right course of action to take at the moment. His eyes searched hers and then, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers in a short, chaste kiss.

Her eyes fluttered shut, her hand finding its place on his shoulder as he pulled her closer by the waist.

However, they were interrupted by Richard's voice shortly after, who came rushing into the room as if he had forgotten something. They pulled apart immediately and saw that the eldest brother was talking frantically to someone on his phone. As soon as the call disconnected, he turned to face them, his blue eyes fraught with worry.

"Grayson, what happened?" Damian asked, his protective instincts immediately kicking in.

"It's Evan," Richard replied, his voice tense. "He escaped."

***