Ethan stepped through the door like a storm barely contained. Gone was the man I once knew-the charming manipulator who hid his sharp edges under sly smiles.
This Ethan was harder, colder. His eyes flicked over me with a dangerous edge, like a predator assessing prey.
“Miss me?” he asked, voice low and rough.
I crossed my arms to steady myself. “That depends. Should I have?”
He gave me a twisted grin, the kind that hinted at darkness buried beneath charm. Something in him had shifted-maybe prison had peeled away the last layer of civility he’d been clinging to.
“I have a plan, Alyssa.” His tone was brisk, business-like. “We’re going to take Xavier down. But I can’t do it without you.”
I scoffed. “You expect me to jump back into your arms just like that? You’ve been out of prison for what-a day?”
Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “This isn’t about us. It’s about survival. Xavier will destroy you if we don’t act. He already has you cornered, doesn’t he?”
He wasn’t wrong. Xavier’s grip was tightening around me, but that didn’t mean I was ready to fall back into Ethan’s orbit. How much of this was a strategy-and how much of it was just another power play?
“What’s the plan?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral.
“We hit him where it hurts.” Ethan’s gaze sharpened. “His accounts, his operations, everything he’s built. We dismantle it all. And when the dust settles, there’ll be nothing left of him.”
“And then what?” I narrowed my eyes. “You take over in his place?”
Ethan’s grin was razor-sharp. “I have no interest in Xavier’s empire. I want him gone-for good. After that, we’re free.”
“And you need me because…?”
His expression darkened. “Because you’re the only person he doesn’t see coming. You get me in close, and I’ll do the rest.”
It sounded too simple. Too perfect. Ethan always had ulterior motives, and trusting him now could be my undoing.
“How do I know you won’t turn on me the moment Xavier is gone?” I asked quietly.
Ethan tilted his head, studying me. “You don’t. But if we don’t stop him, he’ll own you-body and soul. Is that the future you want?”
The truth hit me like a punch to the gut. Ethan might be dangerous, but Xavier… Xavier was a different kind of monster.
“Fine. I’ll help, but I need answers, Ethan. No more games.”
“Fair enough.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “But be ready-because once this starts, there’s no going back.”
Just as Ethan was about to lay out the details of his plan, my phone buzzed with a message. The number was anonymous, the message brief but chilling.
There’s a mole in your uncle’s organization. They’re coming for you next.
My stomach twisted. I stared at the screen, trying to make sense of it. Who sent this? And how the hell did they know I’d be a target?
Ethan noticed my expression shift. “What is it?”
I hesitated for a second too long.
“Alyssa.” His voice was edged with warning.
I handed him the phone, watching as his brow furrowed. “A mole? That’s bad. If someone inside your uncle’s operation knows about you…”
“Then I’m as good as dead,” I finished grimly.
Ethan paced, running a hand through his hair. The old Ethan would have cracked a joke or flashed a sly smile to lighten the tension. This Ethan? He was all business.
“We need to move fast,” he said. “This changes everything. If the mole knows about you, they know about our plan. They’ll blow everything wide open unless we find them first.”
“You think it’s one of Xavier’s men?” I asked, though the knot in my stomach told me otherwise. This mole was someone much closer-someone who knew too much.
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Could be. But it could just as easily be someone working for your uncle. Trust me, Alyssa-criminal empires don’t run without betrayal.”
“Great. So now I can’t trust anyone?” I muttered, the weight of it all pressing down on me.
Ethan gave me a grim smile. “Welcome to the real world, sweetheart.”
We both stood in silence, the gravity of the situation sinking in. I’d thought juggling Xavier, Ethan, and my uncle was bad enough-but now there was a wildcard in the mix.
Someone out there wanted me out of the picture, and they were moving in fast.
“We need to figure out who the mole is,” Ethan said, his voice firm. “Before they take their shot at you.”
I nodded, the reality settling like a cold weight in my chest. If I didn’t move quickly, I’d end up dead-and I couldn’t afford to let that happen.
The stakes were higher than ever. If I helped Ethan take down Xavier, I risked my uncle turning on me. If I stayed loyal to my uncle, I’d lose any chance at freedom-and likely my life. And now, with a mole in the picture, everything was about to spiral out of control.
Ethan leaned in, his voice low and dangerous. “We need to hit Xavier before the mole gets to you. Are you with me?”
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. This was a game I didn’t know how to win-but I had to play anyway.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I’m with you. For now.”
Just as Ethan started to respond, the burner phone buzzed again. I glanced down-and my blood ran cold.
The message was short, direct, and terrifying.
They know. Run.
I looked up at Ethan, heart pounding in my chest.
“We have to go. Now.”