I slam the office door behind me, the sound echoing off the wood-paneled walls. My uncle glances up from his desk, calm as ever, as if he was expecting me.
“You’ve been busy, Alyssa,” he says, his lips curving into that infuriatingly smug smile.
“I know,” I snap, cutting straight to the point. “I know you’ve been working with the third player.”
His smile falters-just for a second-but it’s enough. I see the flicker of recognition, the confirmation I needed.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says, leaning back in his leather chair, his fingers steepled under his chin.
“Don’t lie to me,” I hiss, stepping closer. “I found the messages. I know you’ve been pulling strings with them-whoever they are. So, why don’t you stop playing games and tell me the truth?”
He regards me with cold amusement, as if I’m a child throwing a tantrum. It makes my blood boil.
“You have no idea what you’ve stumbled into, Alyssa,” he says softly. “You think you’re in control, but you’re just a pawn in a much bigger game.”
“Then tell me who’s behind it,” I demand, slamming my hand on the desk. “Tell me who the third player is.”
He chuckles, the sound low and humorless. “Even if I told you, it wouldn’t change anything. They’re untouchable. Go after them, and you’ll end up just like your father.”
The words hit me like a slap. I feel the ground shift beneath me, but I refuse to show weakness. Not now.
“So that’s it?” I ask, my voice sharp. “You were in on this the whole time? You helped them kill him?”
“I did what was necessary,” he says coldly. “For the family. And if you had any sense, you’d do the same.”
I step back, my chest heaving with anger. “You think I’m just going to fall in line like you did?”
“I think you’re smart enough to know when to stop digging,” he replies smoothly. “This isn’t a war you can win, Alyssa. Walk away before it’s too late.”
“Why?” I sneer. “Afraid I’ll find out something you don’t want me to know?”
He narrows his eyes, the easy charm draining from his face. “Be careful, girl. You’re standing on the edge of a cliff. One wrong move, and you’ll fall.”
The Warning
I meet his gaze, unflinching. “I’d rather fall than live under someone else’s thumb.”
He leans forward, his expression darkening. “If you push too hard, Alyssa, they won’t just kill you. They’ll erase you. No one will even remember your name.”
I swallow hard, but I keep my face blank. He’s scared-and that tells me everything I need to know.
“If they’re so powerful,” I ask quietly, “why are you so afraid of me?”
For the first time, I see fear flicker in his eyes.
I don’t wait for an answer. I turn on my heel and leave, my pulse pounding in my ears. He’s hiding something. Something big enough to scare even him.
And if he won’t tell me the truth… I’ll find it myself.
The next morning, I wake to the shrill ring of my phone. It’s still dark outside, and the glow of the screen stabs at my eyes.
Isabella’s name flashes on the display.
“Yeah?” I mumble, sitting up and rubbing my face.
“Alyssa.” Her voice is sharp, clipped. “You need to get down to the estate. Now.”
My heart skips a beat. “What happened?”
There’s a pause, heavy with tension. “It’s your uncle. He’s dead.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. For a moment, I can’t breathe. Dead? He was alive-goading me-just hours ago. And now…
I throw off the covers and scramble to get dressed, my mind racing. Who killed him? Was it the third player, tying up loose ends? Or was it something worse-something closer to home?
When I arrive at the estate, the place is swarming with police and paramedics. Blue and red lights flash against the morning sky, casting eerie shadows over the manicured lawns.
Isabella meets me at the gate, her expression grim. “It’s bad, Alyssa.”
I push past her, my stomach twisting with dread. I need to see him. I need to see it with my own eyes.
They let me into the study, and there he is-slumped over his desk, blood pooling on the floor beneath him. His throat is slashed, the gash so deep it’s almost surgical.
I clamp a hand over my mouth, fighting the urge to be sick. This wasn’t just a murder-it was a message.
A detective steps forward, clearing his throat. “We found something.”
He hands me a plastic evidence bag, and my heart plummets when I see what’s inside: a cufflink. Gold, with Ethan’s initials engraved on it.
My fingers tighten around the bag. It can’t be. Ethan wouldn’t-he couldn’t. Unless…
Unless he’s been playing me this whole time.
I stumble out of the room, the weight of the discovery pressing down on me. Isabella follows close behind, her expression unreadable.
“You don’t really think Ethan did this, do you?” she asks quietly.
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “But someone wants me to think he did.”
She grabs my arm, forcing me to meet her gaze. “You need to be careful, Alyssa. If Ethan’s involved…”
“I know,” I say, cutting her off. If Ethan’s involved, I’m next.
As I stand outside the estate, the morning sun rising over the horizon, my phone buzzes again. I pull it from my pocket, dread curling in my gut.
It’s a message from an unknown number.
Unknown: Your move, Alyssa. Don’t make the wrong one.
I stare at the message, the cufflink heavy in my hand. Someone’s playing me-again. And this time, the stakes are higher than ever.