I should’ve known it would come to this. Playing both Ethan and Xavier was always a ticking time bomb-one wrong step, and the whole thing would blow.
But now, with Xavier’s mole watching my every move, the stakes have risen higher than ever. I have no choice. It’s time to make them believe the unthinkable.
If I can’t outfight them, I’ll outmaneuver them. I just need them to think I’ve chosen a side.
The club is dark when I walk back inside, my pulse racing but my face carefully composed. The man watching me earlier will report everything back to Xavier. That’s what I want. I can’t let them catch even a whiff of what I’m really doing.
Sliding into a private room, I shoot Ethan a message:
Me: We’re going dark. No contact until I say. It’s the only way this works.
His response is quick.
Ethan: This better not be a double-cross, Alyssa.
I exhale slowly, my fingers tightening around the phone. He still doesn’t trust me fully, but that’s okay. He’s not supposed to. Not yet.
Now, for the real show.
I call Xavier directly, heart thudding in my chest. The moment he answers, his voice is cold and impatient. “This better be good, Alyssa.”
“It’s Ethan,” I say, injecting fear into my tone. “He’s onto me. I think he knows I’m feeding you information.”
There’s a pause-one of those moments where everything hangs in the balance. Come on, Xavier, bite the hook.
“What exactly are you saying?” he asks, suspicion sharp in his voice.
I lean into the fear. “I had to act fast. I fed Ethan some bad intel. He thinks I’ve set you up-he’s waiting for you at the shipping yard tonight. Alone.”
Xavier lets out a low chuckle. “You’ve got guts, Morgan. You might just be useful after all.”
I smile tightly, though my heart is hammering. The trap is set. Now all I need is for both men to take the bait.
Hours later, I stand on the rooftop of an abandoned building across from the shipping yard. From up here, I have a clear view of both Ethan’s men and Xavier’s crew. They move like predators circling each other, waiting for the first sign of weakness.
I take out my phone, snap a few photos of the meeting in progress, and send them directly to Ethan.
Me: Xavier took the bait. Just like I said he would. Now do your part.
Seconds later, I get a reply.
Ethan: You better not screw this up, Alyssa. If I find out you’re double-crossing me-
Me: Relax. I’ve got this.
I tuck the phone away, my breath coming faster. I’ve just sold one lie to two monsters. And if either of them finds out the truth before I’m ready… I’m dead.
As I leave the rooftop, the sharp buzz of my burner phone shatters the silence. I glance at the screen-it’s my uncle.
I swallow hard and answer. “What do you want?”
His voice is smooth but full of warning. “You’ve been very busy lately, Alyssa. Playing with fire.”
I grind my teeth. “I’m handling it.”
“Are you?” he asks, amusement laced with menace. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re playing both Ethan and Xavier. And that’s a dangerous game-even for you.”
I roll my eyes. “Spare me the lecture. What do you want, Uncle?”
His tone turns colder. “It’s time to decide, Alyssa. Either you take control of the family business, or I will.”
I grip the phone tighter. This is the last thing I need right now-another power struggle.
“And if I say no?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Then you’ll be removed.” His words are chillingly casual. “Permanently.”
I clench my jaw, fury burning through me. He’s always been waiting for this-waiting for me to slip, to give him a reason to cut me out.
“I’ll think about it,” I say through gritted teeth.
“You have 48 hours,” my uncle replies smoothly. “After that, you’re either with us, or you’re gone.”
The line goes dead.
I toss the phone onto the bed and sink into the chair by the window, rubbing my temples. Ethan and Xavier are one thing, but my uncle is a whole different beast.
If I don’t take control of the family business soon, he’ll eliminate me-just like he did to anyone else who got in his way.
But taking control means committing to this life-fully and without hesitation. It means becoming exactly the kind of monster I’ve been trying to escape.
Can I do that? Can I become that ruthless?
The burner phone buzzes again, snapping me out of my thoughts. It’s a text from Isabella.
Isabella: You good? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.
Me: My uncle just gave me an ultimatum.
A moment later, her reply comes through.
Isabella: Figured it’d come to that. What are you gonna do?
I stare at the screen, the weight of everything pressing down on me. There’s no easy answer.
Me: I don’t know yet.
Isabella sends back a single word: Hurry.
With a sigh, I grab my phone and pull up the photos from the rooftop. The meeting between Ethan and Xavier is still ongoing-perfect.
I send the photos to Xavier’s second-in-command, along with a message:
Me: Thought you should know what your boss is up to.
A moment later, I get a response.
Unknown: Who is this?
Me: Someone who knows the game better than you do.
I close the phone with a snap. Let them wonder who’s pulling the strings. Let them all wonder.
I rise from the chair, my mind whirling. I have two days to decide my future-or someone else will decide it for me.
Just as I’m about to leave, the phone buzzes again-this time with a video message. My stomach twists as I open it.
The screen flickers to life, showing my uncle seated in a dimly lit room. He leans forward, a slow smile spreading across his face.
“This is your final warning, Alyssa,” he says softly. “The clock is ticking.”
And behind him, I see Ethan and Xavier’s lieutenants-standing side by side, waiting for orders.