I was back in Xavier’s mansion, but it didn’t feel like a homecoming. The grand marble floors and towering windows weren’t comforting-they were prison bars disguised as luxury.
Xavier stood at the edge of the room, swirling a glass of whiskey. He hadn’t taken his eyes off me since we arrived. His gaze was unreadable, a mix of triumph and warning.
“Do you understand now, Alyssa?” His voice was low, measured. “There’s no running from this. You belong here-with me.”
I forced a smile, one that didn’t reach my eyes. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
He gave a satisfied nod, but I could see the lingering suspicion in his gaze. Xavier wasn’t a fool. He’d expect loyalty, and anything less would cost me my life-or Ethan’s.
“Good,” he murmured, setting the glass down. “Things will be easier now that you’ve accepted where you belong. No more games. No more distractions. Just us.”
I swallowed the bitter taste rising in my throat, but I gave nothing away. Let him believe he’s won.
That night, Xavier tightened his grip, shadowing me everywhere. Every time I reached for my phone, his eyes followed me, and every conversation with his men was a test. His possessiveness wrapped around me like a velvet noose-soft, but suffocating all the same.
But I still had one sliver of freedom-Ethan.
Late that night, when Xavier finally left me alone in the bedroom, I crept to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I pulled my phone from my pocket and quickly typed out a message.
Alyssa: I’m inside. Xavier thinks I’m his. Are you still in position?
It took only a second for the reply to come through.
Ethan: I’m here. Just say the word, and I’ll pull you out.
A shiver ran down my spine. It was reckless-keeping communication open with Ethan-but it was the only lifeline I had. I couldn’t afford to trust either man fully, but I could use them both.
I quickly deleted the messages, erasing every trace of the conversation. Xavier didn’t need to know. Not yet.
The days passed in a blur. Xavier’s control tightened with every passing hour. Every move I made was monitored-who I spoke to, where I went, what I wore. He acted like I was his possession, not a partner.
“I want you with me at all times, Alyssa,” Xavier instructed one morning as we sat in his study. He leaned back in his leather chair, eyes dark with warning. “You understand why, don’t you? You’ve proven… unreliable in the past.”
I bit down on my frustration, offering him a slow, sweet smile. “Of course. I’m right where you want me.”
His gaze flickered with approval, and for a moment, I could see the dangerous satisfaction swelling in him. Let him think he’s in control.
But every step I took under Xavier’s watchful gaze was a step closer to the edge. I could feel the walls closing in, and I knew it was only a matter of time before one of them-Ethan or Xavier-forced me to make a choice I couldn’t escape.
It was on the third day that I found it-the letter that changed everything.
I had been exploring the mansion, wandering aimlessly, pretending to admire the grandeur while secretly mapping out escape routes. The door to my father’s old study had been locked since the day of his death, but today, it stood ajar, as if inviting me inside.
Curious, I slipped through the door, the scent of leather and aged wood washing over me. His desk sat untouched, papers and books gathering dust-a relic of the man he once was.
I ran my fingers over the surface, brushing away years of neglect. And that’s when I found it-a small envelope, tucked beneath an old ledger. My heart skipped a beat as I pulled it out, the familiar scrawl on the front making my chest tighten.
Alyssa.
My hands trembled as I tore open the envelope, revealing a single page inside. My father’s handwriting filled the page, each word burning into my mind.
My Dearest Alyssa,
If you’re reading this, I am gone. There are things you don’t know, secrets I never had the chance to tell you. You’re in the middle of a war far more dangerous than you realize. The men around you-Xavier and Ethan-they are not what they seem.
But you are not alone.
There is someone I trusted, someone who owes me a debt that only you can collect. This ally can help you escape the life you’ve been forced into. Seek them out, and they will protect you.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to guide you. But you are stronger than you know, Alyssa. Use that strength. Survive.
I love you always,
-Dad
The letter slipped from my fingers, landing softly on the desk. My heart pounded in my chest, a wild, erratic beat. A secret ally. Someone my father trusted. Someone who could help me escape both Ethan and Xavier.
Hope flickered inside me-real, tangible hope. This wasn’t just a way out. This was freedom.
I folded the letter carefully, slipping it into my pocket. My mind raced with possibilities. Who was this ally? How would I find them? And, more importantly, how could I escape long enough to reach them?
I was still lost in thought when the door behind me creaked open. My heart leapt into my throat, and I spun around-only to find Xavier standing in the doorway, his expression dark and unreadable.
“What are you doing in here?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
I forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look as shaky as it felt. “Just… reminiscing. I miss him.”
Xavier’s gaze lingered on me for a moment too long, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. He didn’t believe me-not entirely-but he let it go. For now.
“Dinner’s ready,” he said quietly. “Don’t keep me waiting.”
I nodded, slipping past him and out of the room. But as I walked away, I could feel his eyes on my back, cold and calculating. He knew something was off. And if I wasn’t careful, he’d figure out exactly what it was.
Back in my room, I pulled out the letter again, reading it over and over until the words blurred together. My father’s message was clear-I had to find this ally.
But how? With Xavier watching my every move and Ethan waiting in the shadows, there was no room for mistakes. One wrong step, and it was over.
The phone in my pocket buzzed-a message from Ethan.
Ethan: We need to talk. Xavier’s growing suspicious. If we’re going to take him down, we need to move fast.
I clenched my jaw, torn between the two men who had dragged me into this mess.
But for the first time in weeks, I saw a third option-an escape neither of them expected.