The walls around me felt like they were closing in. My father’s warning played on repeat in my mind: Stay away from both men. Trust no one. But how could I trust even myself now?
Memories I thought were solid-of him tucking me in at night, laughing at the dinner table, teaching me how to ride my bike-started to feel distorted, like faded photographs with cracks running through them.
I sat on the edge of the bed in Xavier’s estate, clutching the crumpled note in my hand. My entire life felt like a lie wrapped inside another lie, and I was tangled in the middle of it. Who was my father really? And how deep had he sunk into this world of shadows?
I had to know. And I couldn’t stop until I uncovered the truth, no matter how ugly it was.
I picked up the leather journal from the drawer, flipping through its worn pages. It wasn’t my father’s writing-it looked more like old business records, lists of transactions, names, and dates. But there were two names that kept appearing: Ethan Harris and Xavier Reed.
My heart sank as I pieced together the timeline. Ethan’s empire didn’t rise from nowhere. It was built on shaky foundations-foundations that included dealings with Xavier and my father.
I traced a finger over the ink-stained pages, realizing something terrifying: My father had been more than just an unlucky man who got in over his head. He had been part of this game.
And now, I was trapped in it too.
A knock on the door made me jump. I shoved the journal back into the drawer just as Xavier walked in, his presence filling the room like a storm cloud.
“You look pale,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “What did you find?”
“Nothing.” I forced my voice to stay steady, even though I could feel the tremor in my hands. “Just old records.”
Xavier stepped closer, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “You’re lying.”
“Yeah, well,” I muttered bitterly, “seems like I’ve had a lot of good teachers.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. He just stared at me for a moment longer, and I had the uncomfortable feeling that he could see right through me-like he always did.
“I need answers,” I said finally, crossing my arms to steady myself. “The truth about my father. All of it.”
“I already told you the truth.”
“No.” I shook my head. “You told me your version of it. And Ethan gave me his. But neither of you is telling me everything, and I need to know the whole story.”
Xavier’s expression darkened. “The truth won’t set you free, Alyssa. It’ll destroy you.”
“I don’t care.” I met his gaze, unflinching. “I have nothing left to lose.”
Before Xavier could respond, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I grabbed it, my heart racing as I saw the message flash across the screen:
Unknown Number: I know what really happened to your father. If you want answers, meet me tomorrow. Alone.
I stared at the message, my pulse thundering in my ears. The text was followed by an address-somewhere in the outskirts of the city.
“Who is it?” Xavier asked, his voice low with suspicion.
I locked my phone and slipped it into my pocket. “No one.”
“Alyssa,” he warned, his tone turning sharp. “Don’t lie to me.”
I took a step back, putting distance between us. “I need space, Xavier. I need to think.”
His gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained guarded. “You can’t do this alone. You’ll get yourself killed.”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But at least I’ll go down knowing the truth.”
Xavier’s mouth pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t argue. He just stood there, watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
“Be careful, Alyssa,” he said quietly. “This world doesn’t forgive mistakes.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I muttered, brushing past him toward the door.
The air outside the estate was cold and sharp, biting at my skin. I wrapped my arms around myself as I walked to the edge of the driveway, my mind spinning with possibilities. Who had sent the message? Could it be someone from my father’s past? Or was it another trap, designed to lure me deeper into this web of deceit?
My gut told me to ignore the message-to stay out of it. But my heart refused to let go. If there was even a chance I could find the truth, I had to take it.
I hailed a cab and gave the driver the address. The city blurred outside the window as we sped toward the unknown. I tried to calm my racing thoughts, but every mile we traveled brought new questions.
Who was my father? The man I remembered was kind and gentle, a hardworking businessman who loved me more than anything. But the man in Xavier’s files was someone else entirely-a man tangled in deals with criminals and killers.
And what about Ethan? Had he really killed my father, or was Xavier twisting the truth to suit his own agenda?
I pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the window, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me.
The cab stopped in front of a rundown building on the outskirts of the city. The address from the message. I paid the driver and stepped out, my heart thudding in my chest.
The street was quiet-too quiet. The kind of quiet that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I walked to the door, my fingers hovering over the handle. Every instinct told me to turn around, to leave and never look back. But I couldn’t. Not when I was so close to the truth.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was dark, lit only by a flickering overhead light. A figure sat at the far end of the room, their face hidden in shadow.
“You came,” the figure said, their voice low and smooth.
“Who are you?” I demanded, my pulse hammering in my ears.
The figure shifted, stepping into the light.
“My name doesn’t matter,” they said. “What matters is that I know the truth about your father’s death.”
I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to scream. “Then tell me.”
The figure smiled, a slow, knowing smile that sent a chill down my spine.
“All in good time, Alyssa,” they said. “But first, you need to understand-everything you think you know is a lie.”